Newbie worry bag questions – 987.1 2007

[Minimalist]

Hi All

This is my first Porsche – a 987.1 2007 YM
What I have noticed
Whining noise from the engine – assume this is all the belts and driven bit behind my seat.
Stiff gear change until the engine is up to temp + a little more, then it does free up some, but still heavier than I am use to – is this normal ?
Bit of a judder/delay/clunk milli seconds when changing 4-5-6- at circa 4000 ish, no grinding almost a delayed millisecond takeup – is this me being a little quick on the gears / or amount of torque.

Anything here to worry about
52k miles

Cheers guys - Nige

 

[PaulJ]

Hi Nige,

You could take it to your nearest Porsche specialist and ask (pay) them to have a drive without telling them of any specific concerns you have. They may or may not report anything untoward, and you can move forward from there. If it's payday you could use your nearest Porsche Centre for the same task!

 

[Motorhead]

Hi Nige,

There's a lot going on just behind your seat, so expect more noise from the ancillaries than you would in a conventional front engine set-up.

If it's not been replaced already, at 52k miles perhaps the clutch/DMF is reaching the end of its useful life. If the clutch is dragging slightly and the DMF is on the way out this might account for the problems you've noted.

Jeff

 

[richardfleming]

congrats!

whining noise - yes they all do that - but not unpleasantly so - gentle background whirring really. If you accelerate the whining gets drowned out by the exhaust noise - if your whining noise gets a lot bigger then something to look into. but probably fine. if you press down the clutch does the whining go away or stay the same (same is normal). Once you get used to the engine behind your shoulder, you will get to know it's whirrs and rumbles pretty well - and when it's not normal you'll know straight away - kind of reassuring in a way - but takes a little 'tuning in' and getting used to how it runs.

stiff gear change with cold oil in the box is normal too - after 10 mins it should fell looser - at least mine did - unless someone wants to disagree.

clutch is heavier than other mainstream cars - but again not unreasonably so. If it's really stupid-heavy then might be clutch on it's way out.

judder might be you being unused to where the bite point is - but could also suggest clutch on it's way out.

as you've got a 52k mile car - when was the clutch last replaced? service record should show you that - it should have been at some point before now - if a long time ago - then suggests maybe clutch on the way out again.

worth you driving another 987.1 to compare - gives you a reference point for your noises and feel - to check if yours is really different or not.

hope that helps

 

[Brian_Innes]

Nige,

My first Cayman was a 2007 987.1 2.7 5 Speed manual. At less than 20k miles I also experienced a whining noise from the transaxle when accelerating through the gears, which lessened when the throttle was closed.

As the car was still under warranty, I had my local OPC check it out with a test drive.

Result, the bearing on the pinion shaft of the differential had started to break up causing the gear mesh with the crown wheel to mis-align, thus the whining noise. When the transaxle oil was drained, it was found to be contaminated with silver deposits from the failed bearing. Luckily for me, the whole transaxle was replaced under warranty.

Some early 5 speed manual gearboxes had issues with bearing failures. When the 6 Speed gearbox became standard on all Caymans this problem disappeared.

I'm not saying for sure that this is the case with your car, but I would get it checked out anyway. The transaxle oil requires changing at 40,000 miles. If this has not been done on your car, maybe worth doing it now. If the transaxle oil is free of silver sediment, then the bearings are likely to be fine.

Finally, on the 5 speed manual, it's quite normal for the gear change to be sticky when cold. This frees up when warmed up.

Good luck with your investigations.

Brian

 

[Minimalist]

Guys - thanks for the replies.

So when the Clutch is dipped the wine goes away. And it does get drowned out at around 3.5k rpm, mind you the rear cats are removed so the noise at that rpm pretty much drowns out everything.

Good idea on the drive another 987.1 that will put my mind at rest.

No history of the clutch being replaced.

Have booked it in with local indy specialist for a post purchase inspection. if all is good then I will probably get a major carried out also.

 

[Motorhead]

Nige,

If the whine disappears when you dip the clutch it sounds as though it's engine rather than transmission related. Easily confirmed by running a stationary test, revving the engine with the 'box in neutral - with or without dipping the clutch will give you further insight.

As Richard has said, a heavy clutch is an indication that it's on the way out - your Indie should be able to advise you - and juddering/clunking could mean that the DMF will need replacing too.

Jeff

 

[Minimalist]

So stationary, this whining is not there, certainly not the whine noise present when moving. Its when moving and dipping the clutch that the whine simply disappears so its when under load. It does not so much get louder as you speed up however the harmonic (perhaps not the right term) changes as you go up the box, nothing really that audible in 1 and 2 but perhaps that is because I am up to 3k rpm quite quickly.

If kind of coasting in 4 it somewhat disappears, when you slightly get on the gas, say slight load, it kicks back in.

I have it booked in for an inspection next weds - including the bore scope for piece of mind.

 

[richardfleming]

sounds like a good plan - would be interested to hear back what they find.

hope all goes as well

 

[Motorhead]

Impossible to diagnose without actually hearing it but it sounds more like a diff moan if you only get it under load. I'm sure that the technician will check the condition of the driveshaft CVs and the rear wheel bearings too as part of the inspection.

Fingers crossed it's something simple. If you've purchased the car recently from a dealer - either with or without a warranty - I'd be inclined to take up the matter with them ASAP.

Jeff

 

[Ray]

Clutch release bearing? Garage is the best option.

Ray

 

[Buddy]

Some of this depends on the kind of driving and driver who has had the car before 52K is low for transmission problems ( my gen1 was going strong at 88K with only a change of shift cables at 80K ) but a car used in traffic a lot has punished the transmission far more than one which has spent it's time on the open road and I would say to try another 987.1 6 speed since you say that is what you have and so I expect most your car is most likely a 987S. I can tell you that the 987.1S is noisier to drive than the 987.2S as I have had both but age has an effect as well as mileage and so I would think possible release bearing or maybe DMF, check your tyres in case of a mismatch even a few Db can make a lot of difference! And the noise transmits up the rear body from the arches Michelins were the quietest tyre last time I checked at 70Db! The Clutch pedal mechanism can give problems of a heavy pedal but so can the clutch itself whatever you do check and recheck before committing to having work done but try another or get someone else to try yours so that you know what another feels like, if someone takes a drive in yours sit in the passenger seat and see how it behaves from that viewpoint then try in both seats of the car you are comparing it to.

 

[Contraband]

For the stiff gear change.. I would recommend spraying a lubricant onto the cables and linkages that are accessible at the gearbox. I do this every year and I feel it keeps the changes smooth.