Transfer box

[tigertrout]

I am posting on behalf of a friend who has a Cayenne Gts 2015 with Fpsh and 59k on the clock. The transfer case has just gone(confirmed by a well know specialist) and I was wandering if anyone on here has had any luck with Porsche steppping in to help with the costs of the replacement. He has no warranty on the car.

 

[SwimAce]

I have had 2 transfer box replacements on my 63 plate S diesel. both were whilst an extended warranty was active. However, I understand that the extended warranty was not used in either case because Porsche has extended the warranty on the transfer boxes of certain Cayennes to 10 years And on others to 8 years. I got all my ammunition from Google searches albeit many are not from Porsche UK for example https://www.porsche.com/taiwan/en/accessoriesandservice/porscheservice/vehicleinformation/warranty-cayenne-modelyear-2011-2014/ and both UK OPCs concerned accepted it was an issue. There is a similar post for 2015-2018 cars https://www.porsche.com/taiwan/en/accessoriesandservice/porscheservice/vehicleinformation/warranty-cayenne-modelyear-2015-2018/

My argument was that the fault is with the model of car - they are all built to the same spec so it doesn’t matter which country the faulty vehicle ends up being driven in.

 

[Octane]

[cross-posting from Macan forum thread on the Transfer Case issues https://www.porscheclubgb.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=1010816&mpage=3 ]

I have a Cayenne 2011 Turbo with just over 70k miles on it. The transfer case had been replaced in July 2021 by an indy for £2k at the expense of the previous owner. Date of 1st reg is in Oct 2011.

My questions are:

• How can I tell if the transfer case that has been fitted includes the modified ‘breather pipe’? I’m not sure if that is an additional part or an updated model of the transfer case itself (any pics?). The transfer case fitted is listed in the invoice as part number 958 341 042 DX.
• If it doesn’t have this, any idea how to rectify it? Has anyone had success getting an OPC to update an already-replaced case?
• I gather the problem is water ingress. I’ve only done 1k miles with this case but I drove through very heavy rain on the motorway for a couple of hours last week. How much exposure does it need to start causing problems?
• How could the previous owner go about getting reimbursed if he can’t find a letter from Porsche about the extended guarantee?

Thanks!

 

[ray1236472]

Porsche uk is very unclear if the transfer case is covered by an extended warranty, similar to that offered around the world

Mine has just been replaced in Switzerland whilst I was on holiday, and was covered by warranty.
What is not clear is if the replaced part was the same or a modified one, it seems some posters have had them replaced several times looking at other forums. I am not mechanic so have no idea

Would be good if Porsche UK could be a little more open on this issue

 

[Octane]

OK, well I figured out a bit more from Rennlist and from talking to the garage I took my car in to.

• Q: How can I tell if the transfer case that has been fitted includes the modified ‘breather pipe’?
  • A: The modified breather pipe reaches up above the transfer case into the vehicle. The original version doesn't have a pipe, its just vented on the top of the transfer case. The garage I took mine to confirmed that this version has been fitted in my car, so I’m happy about that.
• Q: If it doesn’t have this, any idea how to rectify it?
  • A: Didn’t need to pursue this, would be a "debate” with OPC. I imagine a garage could fit a breather tube to any transfer case; I think this is standard in all off-road 4WDs. I wonder if the diffs also have this…
• Q: I gather the problem is water ingress…
  • A: This must have at least been a concern, probably since it should have had a proper vent. However, it seems the reported failures are from particles coming off the internal clutch and fouling the oil, turning it black. I guess if there was water ingress, the oil would form some kind of emulsion and look a bit different. Best fix seems to be – (a) fit breather tube, (b) regular change of transfer case fluid, maybe every 10 or 20k miles (?) as per engine oil.

"Porsche uk is very unclear if the transfer case is covered by an extended warranty”

This is very disappointing. It seems like similar behaviour to the variocam recall: starts in the US where there is legal risk, then reluctantly followed up elsewhere with UK the last. I really expect better from Porsche as a company that prides itself on quality. It’s not possible to make a vehicle 100% reliable, but when systematic defects arise these should be rectified whether or not they are critical safety issues, and not just taking the least possible action based on what they can get away with in each locality...

 

[ray1236472]

Thanks this is really useful.

 

[cjhyman]

My 16' Turbo S has just had the Transfer case replaced by Reading Porsche under the transfer case extended warranty program. It had just started to feel like a misfire as torque peaked. booked it in, they confirmed TC and replaced it within 2 days.

 

[GGillespie]

I am posting on behalf of a friend who has a Cayenne Gts 2015 with Fpsh and 59k on the clock. The transfer case has just gone(confirmed by a well know specialist) and I was wandering if anyone on here has had any luck with Porsche steppping in to help with the costs of the replacement. He has no warranty on the car.

I have had an offer of £500 goodwill gesture - estimate for work: £2112.59

porsche gb customer service said final offer, and gave me the number of the motoring ombudsman.


im going that route as it’s a warranty issue in most other markets.

 

[Cherub77]

My 65 plate Turbo S is going in on the 23rd Jan to have the transfer box replaced under warranty, the car is under extended warranty as I only bought it last July from Porsche Swindon. My local dealer, Porsche Wolverhampton, have ordered the part in without even driving the car as they are so sure. The car is having a few other jobs completed the same day.


For info, started to notice juddering under load at the end of a long road trip, car has only covered 37k miles, it’s much worse once it’s warm and has been driven a few miles, it’s now banging away quite loudly, can it completely fail? No warning lights but it’s miserable to drive.

 

[Hscottjones]

I recently phoned Porsche Reading about getting one of their engineers to see what they thought of how my gearbox behaves and they quoted me just shy of £300 for an hour of their time!!
If they don't find anything during this period and have to book it in again, I may as well just risk it if I can get an Indy to fit a new transfer case for £2k.

What are the actual tell tale signs of a failing transfer box please as you hear different stories?

Thanks.
Henry

 

[GGillespie]

It initially feels as if it is just going over regular bumps in the road as you accelerate, but then as it gets worse it really judders at intervals almost clunk, clunk, clunk under load, I too thought gearbox but have had an Indy and porsche cardiff confirm that this is typical feel of the transfer box issue.
hth

 

[Cherub77]

It initially feels as if it is just going over regular bumps in the road as you accelerate, but then as it gets worse it really judders at intervals almost clunk, clunk, clunk under load, I too thought gearbox but have had an Indy and porsche cardiff confirm that this is typical feel of the transfer box issue.
hth

Exactly this, all I would add is that when cold it wasn’t as noticeable, once everything is at operating temperature if you were to park for 5-10 mins then go to drive off again it was really noticeable especially with some steering lock on during low speed manoeuvring.


Picked my car up this evening and it feels amazing, I didn’t realise how bad it had got to drive

 

[Hscottjones]

This is great info, thank you.

Luckily my S Diesel isn't showing any if these signs (touch wood).
The gearbox just feels clunky sometimes, mainly when cold and when you catch it out.

Appreciate the responses, thanks.