Transfer Box Number 2

All Porsche Macan Related Discussion
mancman2608
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Joined: Sun Jul 15, 2018 1:27 pm

Post by mancman2608 »

I’ve been experiencing similar symptoms on my 2015 Macan diesel S with just over 30000 miles on the clock. This is my first Porsche BTW. When I pull away from a standstill on perfectly smooth tarmac it feels like I’m driving over small bumps also judder when reversing up any sort of incline. Is this an acknowledged problem by Porsche whereby they will replace the transfer box as a gesture of good will? My vehicle is now out of its standard warranty. I feel this is totally unacceptable on a car of this “quality” which has had just one service and is barely run in by my way of thinking.

Deleted User 611

Post by Deleted User 611 »

This has also been a problem on the Cayenne for years, Porsche should have sorted this before the Macan was released.
JKNHants
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Joined: Sat Jun 13, 2015 4:10 pm

Post by JKNHants »

Don't know whether yours is a Diesel Matt but I wonder whether this is related to the very significant torque available at low revs on the diesel. My Petrol S so far clear at 25K miles so keeping fingers crossed.
Petrol S delivered Apr 16
On-Track
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Location: Staffordshire

Post by On-Track »

mancman2608 wrote: Sun Dec 02, 2018 2:51 pm I’ve been experiencing similar symptoms on my 2015 Macan diesel S with just over 30000 miles on the clock. This is my first Porsche BTW. When I pull away from a standstill on perfectly smooth tarmac it feels like I’m driving over small bumps also judder when reversing up any sort of incline. Is this an acknowledged problem by Porsche whereby they will replace the transfer box as a gesture of good will? My vehicle is now out of its standard warranty. I feel this is totally unacceptable on a car of this “quality” which has had just one service and is barely run in by my way of thinking.
Speak to your OPC. There have been instances of good will but it's not a given.
Peter

Current: 2020 Carmine Red GTS http://www.porsche-code.com/PMST9ZI9
Gone- 2015 Sapphire Blue Diesel
Gone -2013 Cayenne Diesel
RICH.P
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Joined: Sun Apr 08, 2018 8:44 pm

Post by RICH.P »

There seems to be no pattern with these transfer boxes.
Just had mine done on GTS with 18,000 miles.
mancman2608
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Joined: Sun Jul 15, 2018 1:27 pm

Post by mancman2608 »

I would say there is a very clear pattern here. Lots of online comments on various forums about transfer box failures on relatively low mileage units. I have contacted three North west main dealers about the matter. The Leeds branch where the car was purchased new ( not by myself) did say they generally carry replacements for macans in stock because of ‘high demand’ you don’t need to be Sherlock Holmes to work out why. It would take two weeks to be booked in for a diagnosis check at approximately £180 per hour then a further week before any work could start. The total cost including fluids & labour in excess of £3500. As mentioned previously Porsche may, depending on undisclosed criteria contribute an undisclosed amount to a problem resulting from their own flawed design. Apparently worse on cars with larger wheels, mine are 21” sports classics. I’ve decided to dump the Porsche main dealer system. Any Porsche specialist outfit will tell you the same and there are some excellent ones out there too. It’s a common fault. I’m going to go with Nienmeister in Warrington. The person who answered the phone was very knowledgable, the company has great reviews and I’ve been able to drop the car off for them to have a look at the next day. It’s a scandalous matter of affairs and should be the subject of an official recall as I see it. Hopefully at some point they will be held to account. I will leave further comment upon completion of the work.
Crawford
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Post by Crawford »

Hi there I have had two transfer boxes replaced within 5 months of each other, my car is a diesel car first replacement at 16.5 K
on July then the second replaced 3 weeks ago week with 26k ? Revisiting dealer again on Saturday after the box been in for 3 weeks, new box very clunky already and drives like I have got a clutch with a high bite point. Let’s see what the technician say it’s book for a road test with them
http://www.porsche-code.com/PHLKU4L5
JKNHants
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Joined: Sat Jun 13, 2015 4:10 pm

Post by JKNHants »

I share your unease Mancman. The Audi/VW Group have plenty of experience of 4WD systems and I haven't heard of transfer box problems on other vehicles in the Group (including the Cayenne). Surely Jaguar/Rover do not suffer these issues with their 4WD vehicles (and nor has my 13 year old Mitsubishi). Although I do not expect to run such a quick vehicle cheaply this is neither routine maintenance nor a minor repair cost. For "Goodwill" I would read "Obligation" and wonder whether the sale of goods act has application in this case. I should add that the OPC I use (Portsmouth) has been nothing but helpful in resolving (pre-delivery) problems in the past.
Petrol S delivered Apr 16
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Guy
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Location: Warwickshire

Post by Guy »

There's lots about this on the US Forum, including:

The fundamental problem is the viscosity of the oil in the transfer case that made the clutch plates grabby. It was being highly affected by moisture from a poorly designed vent tube. This problem has now been solved, they claim.


From watching the forums it appears to me (as I have said before) that the majority of transfer cases fail at 'about' the 2 1/2 year point. Thus the failure is 'time based' rather than mileage based - moisture ingress over time. Given that moisture is the problem, it could be that other environmental factors come into play, such as whether it was garaged, and prevailing weather when driven.

Of course it would be in Porsche's interest to design a fix, and I believe that they have done so. MattMacan's initial replacement (one of the first) could have been before Porsche fully understood the problem and designed a fix, whereas Crawford's (two boxes within 5 months) sounds like poor fitting (even an 'old stock' replacement transfer box) or perhaps a different problem.

One chap on the US Forum clearly doesn't trust the Porsche fix and has fitted his own 'after market' transfer case breather tube, which brings the vent access up into the engine compartment!

EDIT: For anyone interested, here's the US thread with the aftermarket differential/transfer case breather kit: https://www.macanforum.com/forum/engine ... nge-3.html
Kasfranks99
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Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2016 8:38 pm

Post by Kasfranks99 »

Guy wrote: Wed Dec 05, 2018 1:56 pm There's lots about this on the US Forum, including:

The fundamental problem is the viscosity of the oil in the transfer case that made the clutch plates grabby. It was being highly affected by moisture from a poorly designed vent tube. This problem has now been solved, they claim.


From watching the forums it appears to me (as I have said before) that the majority of transfer cases fail at 'about' the 2 1/2 year point. Thus the failure is 'time based' rather than mileage based - moisture ingress over time. Given that moisture is the problem, it could be that other environmental factors come into play, such as whether it was garaged, and prevailing weather when driven.

Of course it would be in Porsche's interest to design a fix, and I believe that they have done so. MattMacan's initial replacement (one of the first) could have been before Porsche fully understood the problem and designed a fix, whereas Crawford's (two boxes within 5 months) sounds like poor fitting (even an 'old stock' replacement transfer box) or perhaps a different problem.

One chap on the US Forum clearly doesn't trust the Porsche fix and has fitted his own 'after market' transfer case breather tube, which brings the vent access up into the engine compartment!

EDIT: For anyone interested, here's the US thread with the aftermarket differential/transfer case breather kit: https://www.macanforum.com/forum/engine ... nge-3.html
Guy I think you are spot on. I have a 2 year old GTS and only 3000 miles and I am having a new transfer box fitted. I asked as part of the service if they can check it and they said they will replace it with the modified version. I don’t really notice much of an issue apart from when on full lock or almost full lock it feels like a hope skip jump. Not always.

There is a new modified transfer box which stops the water getting into places it shouldn’t. This has a different part number which I don’t have currently. So if anyone has had a replacement transfer box and gets the issue again I would check if it is the modified box.
I don’t know when this modified box was available but something tells me it was end of last year?

My transfer box is being ordered in and not one that has been sitting there which could be potentially be the non modified version.
GTS 😀
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