Wheel Sensors

[Dandock]

My MY17 Macan is currently residing in OPC Avignon awaiting new wheel sensors - all four!

First raising its head 12 months ago my local OPC (Tewkesbury) dismissed the serial amber warnings that were popping up after about 3-4 hours driving time as probably nothing significant.
Anecdotal evidence from other owners suggests otherwise - that of consistent time/mileage related failure.
Having not driven in excess of 3 hours at any one time since last summer we headed off to France last week fingers crossed.
And shortly before Folkestone - ping, ping, ping, ping.
Several exchanges with my OPC and having Porsche Assist and a deep resistance to cancellation we carried on.
So not unexpectedly they regularly reappear after having cleared at every rest break and overnight so seeking further reassurance and in a vain hope that parts might be in stock we called at OPC Dijon - luckily just before they closed for lunch and began karting around the perimeter.
Albeit very helpful (the CP did point us to an excellent lunchtime restaurant) they sadly didn’t have the parts and being Friday and no prospect getting them before Tuesday there was little to be done. So with some sort of temporary fix - probably a clean - we carried on the next day.
An hour or so in and the dash lit up amber again and then threw up a RED brake imbalance warning.
After the initial pulse rate increase I decided it must be sensor related and 4 hours later without ABS etc, etc we arrived safely if a little frazzled at our destination.
So Monday morning saw us at OPC Avignon who, whilst giving off an air of negativity said OK but go back to your residence and call PA.
Car was then uplifted later that day, an Avis provided the next day and I’m hoping to collect sometime tomorrow. And all hopefully covered by the extended warranty/PA.

Long rambling tale but my point is that non of this needed to happen because a) sensor failure is a consistent weakness b) many OPCs fail to take it seriously, and c) given the failure rate should they not be subject to regular service schedule monitoring/replacement.

 

[Lancerlot]

The sensors each have their own battery power with an average lifespan of around 5/6 years. If yours are original fitment, they've lasted quite well. It's sensible to replace the TPM sensors after 5 years or so as a matter of course at the time tyres are due for a change.

Even though the TPM system has failed, the car is still driveable and shouldn't prevent you from completing your journey, should it?

Regards,

Clive

 

[Dandock]

Interesting. In which case one might imagine there would a routine check/replacement regime in place.

And that OPCs might be less guarded in their assessment.

As you remark, and as I have discovered having covered a few thousand miles since the initial event the car is absolutely drivable albeit various elements don’t function - ABS, suspension settings etc, and latterly, with the red brake imbalance, smooth braking. I only had one heavy braking event on the autoroute last Saturday and, whilst she slowed, the noise from the brakes was truly awful.
But perhaps the most bizarre event was on Monday having not driven since Saturday when on start up there was virtually no power for several minutes until suddenly the entire system buffered all the accumulated warnings and button settings.

 

[Lancerlot]

I'd be interested to hear if extended warranty covers it or whether they're considered a consumable.

Regards,

Clive

 

[Dandock]

Yes, I’ll let you know later today. Mike

 

[Motorhead]

For the sake of clarification Mike, I assume that since you’re experiencing braking problems you’re talking about the ABS sensors, whereas Clive appears to think that you’re talking about the TPMS sensors, the failure of which wouldn’t prevent you from driving the car safely? ABS sensor failure is another matter - as you’re finding out! - but I would have thought that it should be covered by your warranty?

ABS sensor technology is well-developed and generally robust, and unless a problem is flagged-up in a diagnostic check I can’t see that there’s any necessity for them to be a serviceable item, although with hindsight your dealer could/should have taken more notice of the warnings you received and reported.

I hope you get the problem sorted quickly so that you can enjoy a stress-free car journey.

Jeff

 

[Dandock]

Jeff. As OPC Avignon have not charged anything at all I’m guessing you’re correct albeit the Red warning only appeared latterly and unlike the ambers did not reappear over the short distance from hotel to OPC.
Neither have OPC provided any documentation. The service liaison did, though, indicate wheel sensors albeit an exact definition could have been beyond his English.
I am in touch with Tewkesbury so will question them when I return as I presume there might be a record of some sort.
Thanks. Mike

 

[Dandock]

I'd be interested to hear if extended warranty covers it or whether they're considered a consumable.

Regards,

Clive

Clive. No charge at all. But see also see Jeff’s take on it. Mike

 

[Dandock]

Hi Clive. Further to your question please see (I hope) attached pdf.

Also below is OPC Tewkesbury’s response to my complaint that they hadn’t reacted appropriately to my originally mentioning the issue in 2023. Mike

Looking through the history on PCSS, I can’t see any complaint relating to warning lights last year (all lines should transfer from the job card) however when the car was in in June 23 for a campaign and new wing mirror there was a passive fault for the right rear wheel speed sensor.

Passive faults are cleared and only investigated if they return and become active. It looks like the fault cleared as there was nothing in the after repair VAL.

From a warranty perspective, it would need to be a permanent active fault to justify replacement.

We saw the car in March 24 for service, there was no faults in the VAL relating to the wheel speed sensors so assume there were no issues between June 23 and March 24 (just over 2000 miles)?

Looking at the PCSS from France, both rear sensors had implausible signal and failure fault codes. There were also codes in the PSM control unit which we didn’t have previously in June 23 – showing it’s a more permanent fault.

If the sensors are a certain part number, you have to replace all 4 together which I assume was the case with his vehicle.

 

[Dandock]

For the sake of clarification Mike, I assume that since you’re experiencing braking problems you’re talking about the ABS sensors, whereas Clive appears to think that you’re talking about the TPMS sensors, the failure of which wouldn’t prevent you from driving the car safely? ABS sensor failure is another matter - as you’re finding out! - but I would have thought that it should be covered by your warranty?

ABS sensor technology is well-developed and generally robust, and unless a problem is flagged-up in a diagnostic check I can’t see that there’s any necessity for them to be a serviceable item, although with hindsight your dealer could/should have taken more notice of the warnings you received and reported.

I hope you get the problem sorted quickly so that you can enjoy a stress-free car journey.

Jeff

Hi Jeff

Please see my response to Clive which includes both OPC Tewkesbury response and (internal) Avignon’s invoice. Mike

 

[petercook]

The sensors each have their own battery power with an average lifespan of around 5/6 years. If yours are original fitment, they've lasted quite well. It's sensible to replace the TPM sensors after 5 years or so as a matter of course at the time tyres are due for a change.

Even though the TPM system has failed, the car is still driveable and shouldn't prevent you from completing your journey, should it?

Regards,

Clive

Interesting, my car is 9 years old, original batteries, checked last month at tyre change and are still OK.