New 718 GTS - Cut out; won’t start

Tetris Keyring · Mar 20, 2023

Whilst I’m stood waiting for a pick up truck thought I’d share tonights story.

Car is a 4 week old GTS 4.0 PDK. Leaving work at 6pm, auto start/stop stopped the engine at the car park gate and that was it. Wouldn’t start. Only warning was the little yellow explanation mark on the right hand instrument screen.

Pushed the car out of the car park exit and called Porsche Roadside Assist (the AA) who were there at 7.45. Guy spent about an hour and a half trying to get it started and gave up. In the mean time twice I spoke to Vodaphone connect to confirm not the tracker and they even sent an engine restart message just to be sure.

I’m now waiting for a tow truck (due 10.15) to take me and the car home in Leeds (35 miles away). Apparently someone will then come between 8am and 10am tomorrow to take the car to Leeds Porsche

What a night!

GregThoma · Mar 21, 2023

Sorry to hear about that on such a new car, hope they get to the bottom of the issue soon.

Tetris Keyring · Mar 21, 2023

Thanks Greg.

Quick update. Managed to get home at midnight after the winch blew up while pulling the car into the truck so the guy had to connect up a second winch. You couldn’t make it up.

To be fair both the AA and truck people that came out were good.

Spoke with Porsche Roadside Assist this morning and apparently they’ll be picking up the car at 9.15.

I’m most intrigued as to what on earth has happened. It’s some serious and very disappointing fault to cause this. Porsche need a very good explanation as to what’s happened and convince me it won’t happen again.

ralphmusic · Mar 21, 2023

See https://www.porscheclubgb.com/forum/FindPost/1136678 and later posts in that thread

Seems similar to mine which was in Exeter Center for 2 weeks while they puzzled away. They first re-tried starting it from cold and it always started. I reminded them that the engine cut-off when car had been driven so they took it out for a drive and when they returned, they switched the engine off then ignition on (but did not try to start engine) and noticed the Volts shown on the dash started falling from 12.4V down and down indicating a failing battery. The battery testers they had used in the early stages of process had not detected any failure conditions and so perhaps a really odd set of circumstances for battery failure. If Leeds have problems in identifying issue perhaps suggest they call Exeter (Gold Tech is Lee) to see if their experience helps suggest a cause.

You might also complain to Porsche Assistance about the delay in pick-up (contact@porsche.co.uk) as they need a kick up the rear!

Tetris Keyring · Mar 21, 2023

Thanks Ralph. That is interesting. Unfortunately mine won’t start at all, even cold. The battery point is interesting as that’s what the AA guy thought it would be at the battery was showing 11 volts. He tried both charging the battery and starting it from a battery starter neither of which worked at which point he ruled out the battery. I’m expecting it to be with them for a while then based on your experience.

Billybod · Mar 21, 2023

When you say it won't start, do you mean that the starter runs and the engine doesn't fire up, or it appears as if the starter is jammed even with an auxiliary battery (jump start) connected?

If the latter, my 718 Spyder (Nov 2021) was recovered and in the OPC for 8 weeks over last Christmas.........

Regards

Bill

ScottishSpyder · Mar 21, 2023

My 2020 718 Spyder was in the OPC for 5 weeks this summer and a new battery solved the issue but Porsche Germany are so tight they make the OPC jump through hoops before they authorise a replacement under warranty. All the readings were normal on the old battery when tested.

Billybod · Mar 21, 2023

ScottishSpyder said:
My 2020 718 Spyder was in the OPC for 5 weeks this summer and a new battery solved the issue but Porsche Germany are so tight they make the OPC jump through hoops before they authorise a replacement under warranty. All the readings were normal on the old battery when tested.

I've still got the old Durite battery checker which is the "splash a load resistor across the terminals job" and read the voltage. Nowadays, I use a four wire digital read out one that you input the Cold Cranking Amps and it'll give you state of charge and % capacity. Very useful as you can get the full 12.7 Volts even with only 25% of the cells being effective. Years ago I saw it being used at local Auto-electrician workshop and theirs had a thermal print out that accompanied the battery when it was returned to the manufacturer under warranty. They're also used at that major High St motor and bike accessory place. However, to my mind you cannot beat real life of drawing 200 A or so and seeing if any of the cells "bubble" and see what voltage it'll maintain under load. Your experience may vary..

Back to vehicle warranty, as mine didn't show any immediate signs of being given back to me, I took up the courtesy car option. They use Enterprise and you're given a "premium car", typically an Audi A4. With these costing, I would have thought around £60 a day with "group purchasing power", a new battery would have cost the equivalent of 3? days so do the figures for 5 weeks! Another thing to bear in mind, is that the warranty on any replacement expires at three years from date of vehicle registration, not from date of replacement.

My warranty repair was probably in the region of 9 months hire......................................

Regards

Bill

Tetris Keyring · Mar 21, 2023

Hi Bill. The starter doesn’t even fire so no attempt to turn the engine over. All the electrics are fine and you can hear the fuel lines and fuel pump engaging. It is almost like the starter motor is ‘jammed’

Tetris Keyring · Mar 21, 2023

Quick update. It finally made it to Porsche Leeds about midday today. Not been looked at yet.

Very disappointed with the service. I had to chase them to find out if they’d got the car and what the plan was. Initial update was a diagnosis in 10 working days.

I reminded them I only got the car 30 days ago, so after having to have it recovered and brought to them on a truck, 10 working days to check it isn’t acceptable. Apparently they will call me back tomorrow am on how they’ll get it checked quicker.

Very underwhelmed. Better customer service from Vauxhall.

AndrewCS · Mar 21, 2023

Maybe ... as others have done, suggest that it is `not fit for purpose` and request a refund ...

BenMKaye · Mar 21, 2023

Sorry to hear. That doesn’t sound great at all. Please keep us up to date as things progress.

Scrounger · Mar 22, 2023

That's not good. I'd be having a word with the Sales Manager and if you get no joy from him then I'd go to the Dealer Principle. 10 days for a diagnosis is crazy...how difficult is it to plug a PIWIS in? I'd also be looking for some form of compo, whether it be in the form of gift vouchers for the shop or the first service for free.

Dan

Peter_Bull · Mar 22, 2023

AndrewCS said:
Maybe ... as others have done, suggest that it is `not fit for purpose` and request a refund ...

Thats what I did under the Consumer Right Act.

Basically it was faulty and the battery was draining. I got a full refund. I put details about this on the forum somewhere in June 2020.

Motorhead · Mar 22, 2023

Rejecting the the car might be a bit drastic Kerry, but it’s certain to get their attention!

The offer of 10 working days just to have a look at the problem is totally unacceptable. Granted, chasing the cause of this type of problem often can be very time-consuming, but surely a tech can be allocated an hour to have an initial look? Maybe the service/workshop manager could be persuaded to get up from his desk and spreadsheets to do it himself!

Good luck with your quest to get a quick resolution to the problem.

Jeff

Tetris Keyring · Mar 22, 2023

Thanks everyone. Update as if this morning is after chasing Porsche Leeds (of course they didn’t call me) they are apparently doing diagnostics today. TBH at this stage, given the AA diagnostics came back clean, my concern is they don’t know and like others this becomes some long drawn out process of them scratching their heads. Have to wait and see I guess

Rejecting the car is an interesting idea and not one I’ve consider. I guess ultimately I do want the car though, assuming it works! I’d imagine if I was able to reject it and get a refund, I’d have to start the order process (and 12 month wait) all over again? May well be worth doing though if they’re stumped.

Billybod · Mar 22, 2023

I was told by the service adviser that they have to make an initial diagnosis within 48 hrs.

"It won't start."

Oddly enough, that's why mine was recovered.....................

It had to be taken to the nearest OPC from where it broke down..... As it happens it was my local OPC, but it could have been taken somewhere miles away from me had I ventured on a long journey when it happened.

I did ask for images and I never expected to receive any, but they were indeed emailed to me. I couldn't see Headquarters being impressed though with me being provided with evidence from the OPC.

Have you asked for a courtesy car Kerry as that may focus the attention the car gets?

Regards

Bill

Tetris Keyring · Mar 22, 2023

Thanks Bill.

Updated after chasing them this evening (obviously they didn’t call me) is diagnosis is inconclusive, and they asked what time it happened and were there any warning messages before or when it happened. So in summary they’ve no idea.

Bill, that’s a good idea. I don’t need one as I’ve a 13 year old Astra I can use but out of principle I will

Peter, I’ll try and find your post as that may be the route I have to go (or threaten to go), although I really rather wouldn’t. It’s on PCP so I can also potentially invoke section 75 of the consumer credit act, which I’ve done before (not for a car) and should be a robust process.

I’ll give them a bit longer before considering drastic measures.

Tetris Keyring · Mar 24, 2023

So good news. Car is fixed and back home!

To conclude the story, Porsche Leeds called me Thursday afternoon saying after spending all day on it they think (although not conclusive) it’s an engine issue and possibly engine failure. By this stage I was expecting this but still very disappointing to hear. To be fair they were really apologetic, understanding of what a bad situation this was and said they’d call back when they knew what the course of action was.

They then called back today saying good news it was fixed. Apparently it was a poorly mounted grounding cable connecting the engine to the car body. They’d replaced the cable and remounted it and all fine. Their thinking is it came from the factory like this. It was evident it had been a nightmare to find and they were pleased to have fixed it. Fair play to Porsche Leeds.

I guess if anyone else has a similar issue, maybe this can be helpful in telling the garage where to look.