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718 Cayman S - Spark Plug Issue

TimG

PCGB Member
Member
Hi Tony,

I can't comment if this has occurred before or not, I'm sure others will pipe up if it has (hopefully with positive outcomes etc...) but I'm rather alarmed at your comment about the OPC indicating that this issue 'may' not be covered under the Porsche Warranty... Surely an unforeseen issue like this regarding the engine would be covered?!?!

 
Hi All,
My 2016 718 Cayman S has just had its four year service carried out by an OPC. When they came to change the spark plugs, they could not remove one of them (cylinder 4). It's currently awaiting 'an expert' to provide more information but meanwhile has anyone ever heard of this happening? The car is under Porsche Warranty so I will try to explore that if necessary, but so far the noises I am getting back is that they don't cover this eventuality!
Any advice/thoughts please?
Thanks,
Tony
 
Hi Tony,

Rather alarming to hear that your Centre is indicating that the problem may not be covered by the extended warranty especially because I think that the 4-year/40k mile service is the first scheduled plug change which would mean that they were factory-fitted. Do you know if they’ve been changed at any time before now? If not then that could be a strong bargaining position if the Centre is being obstructive.

Steel plugs and aluminium alloy heads aren’t a great combination but I wouldn’t have expected a seized plug at this stage of the car’s life. Unfortunately the extended warranty is an insurance policy and you’ll need to look carefully at what is and what isn’t covered.

Jeff

 
Thanks for your prompt responses. I will wait to see what the OPC comes back with but the car has only ever been touched by two OPCs and to Jeff's point - still the original spark plugs as far as I know. I will update this thread in due course but meanwhile thanks for your views.

 
Latest news - the OPC seems to have accepted that it's a warranty issue and the car is booked in next week to be looked at. Stay tuned...

 
Well the car is back on the road but... Turns out the problem was the engine coil pack bolt which was seized so they had to drill it out and replace the coil pack before changing the spark plug - which apparently isn't covered by warranty and may have been caused by a previous owner leaving the car outside for long periods! It rather makes me question the value of the Porsche Warranty and 111-point check. I just may have to consider an Independent next time.

 
"leaving the car outside for long periods". Wow, that's one of the best I've heard. Does the warranty not cover outdoor use!

I still have 9 months of my extended warranty left but won't miss it when it's gone. I paid around and extra £2k for a model with the warranty. I definitely wouldn't in future.

Few of the posts on the forum give positive feedback on Porsches approach to warranty issues. Really disappointing.

 
Wow … that`s a poor and less than credible perspective from the dealer !

As Jeff noted, it`s the first plug change hence possibly down to initial installation

 
I’ve heard some pathetic suggestions before now Tony but takes the biscuit!

The problem is that the Extended Warranty is an insurance policy with very specific conditions attached and the Centre won’t get paid for any work that’s not included in those conditions so they’re passing on those costs to you. If they won’t budge I think your only course of action is to take up the matter with Porsche GB, perhaps along the lines I suggested previously.

Maybe you should just offer to pay for the caphead bolt? [;)]

Jeff

 
Thanks for your support guys! Needless to say, I am continuing my 'discussion' with the OPC and I note your thoughts. I now have the car back on the road and during a first run out yesterday found that they haven't replaced the engine cover properly - honestly, you couldn't make it up... [:(]

 
Hi

I have just had a call from my local OPC to say my Cayman has the same problem with seized bolts holding the coils down.

I have not been told about the 'keeping it outside' issue yet, but they have primed me for the cost of removing the bolts, something I am far from happy about.

Did you get anywhere with the OPC?

Adam

 
Hi Adam,

Maybe... The Service Manager is now back from holiday but is waiting to speak to someone else (currently also on holiday!) before updating me next Monday. At the moment I have paid to get the work done and hence the car returned to me but I'll update you on progress when I have something. What I can say is that so far the cost of drilling out the bolt and replacement coil pack was £245.99 but I don't yet have any sensible explanation on cause.

Regards,

Tony

 
Thanks Tony

That's very helpful, especially having an idea of ball park costs, before they drop that bomb shell on me.

I hope you get some joy on Monday.

Adam

 
My car is booked in for the 9th and never kept outside and has extended warranty. Unfortunately all the nice things of having your car serviced at Porsche are almost lost. No courtesy car no free drinks and extended time of service due them working shifts. I assume prices have not been reduced accordingly but I am happy to support them during this period and hopefully Porsche Colchester will do the same if there are any borderline issues. Time will tell if our relationship will flourish ✨

 
Hi Chris

Good luck for the 9th.

I have just had a call from the OPC to say that they need the car until next week now, apparently that's when the Technician who has worked on my car is next in. So they haven't worked on it since Monday or Tuesday and I do wonder when they knew the guy wasn't back until Monday.

I do have a loan car, but you are right the costs has not gone down in the slightest and it seems as though they are trying to find work.

Adam

 
Latest update: my OPC has agreed to refund the £245.99 so the work will be paid for by someone other than me! I am still being told that they have never seen this before so Adam and I are apparently a select group so far... I would be interested in hearing from anyone else who experiences this problem because it feels like there may be an underlying cause that Porsche GB don't yet know about or that they haven't yet informed anyone about. I wonder whether any of the early 718 Cayman S's in Germany or elsewhere experienced this?

Tony

 
That's really good to know, well done Tony.

My Cayman is still at my local OPC, apparently waiting for a Technician who can remove 2 bolts, a very technical task I appreciate!!

I have put my OPC on notice that this is not my issue and I see no reason why I should pay, so assuming they find someone who can remove bolts, I will let you have an update on my Cayman also.

 
Adam, Tony,

It may be worth searching or posting on the Porsche 718 Forum, Planet9 or Rennlist. US posters always seem to me to be more active than owners on this side of the Atlantic.

Good to hear that you got a positive outcome Tony. Hopefully Adam can use it as leverage with his Centre to get a similar result.

Jeff

 
All

An update on my Cayman.

I finally got it back late today, they only finished working on it this morning, that’s 2 weeks after I took it in!

In terms of the Spark Plug / Coil issue, the reports stated 2 cylinders had seized coil bolts which needed extraction, but no cost to me, all put through as warranty. So for anyone else who has this problem, a precedence has been set, this is a warranty item. There was a cost noted under the plugs replacement of £543, which I can only assume is the cost they put through the warranty. How it could be that much to drill out a few bolts amazes me.

The good news, the service was only charged at £1,000, £300 less than the fixed charge, so my bill was less than expected, which was good 😊.

So in summary, it’s nice to have my car back and no issues with the seized coil bolts.

Adam

 

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