System Failure

[Taz]

Finally had the call from the service department yesterday to say that the car was ready. They tell me that a full software reload was necessary to clear the faults, however what caused the faults in the first place has yet to be explained; that conversation will be held later today !

[Taz]

A pleasant trip to the OPC and the pleasing news that my car was fault free. However, when I asked what the original fault was the service agent could not answer me. When I suggested that without knowing what caused the original series of faults he could not guarantee that it would not happen, he simply had no reply.

I suggested that he raise a technical query with Porsche GB which suddenly he thought was a good idea.

The car remains at the OPC until I get a satisfactory answer.

[Fairynuff]

worrying!

[Nuclear Nick]

A pleasant trip to the OPC and the pleasing news that my car was fault free. However, when I asked what the original fault was the service agent could not answer me. When I suggested that without knowing what caused the original series of faults he could not guarantee that it would not happen, he simply had no reply.

I suggested that he raise a technical query with Porsche GB which suddenly he thought was a good idea.

The car remains at the OPC until I get a satisfactory answer.

You're going to have to decide what constitutes a 'satisfactory' answer with something like this. Unfortunately software glitches can and do happen randomly without leaving a fault trail. When there's nothing to fix, there's nothing to fix. Other forum members have reported issues like this occasionally and the faults have not reappeared.

I once had an intermittent engine fault with a Volvo years ago. Again, there were no fault codes. The dealer had it and drove it for two weeks without the fault reoccurring. Eventually the problem was believed to be a dodgy contact with a plug-in fuel pump relay and it didn't happen again while I owned the car.

[Taz]

Feedback from Porsche and also from a technical manager I know within Porsche AG is that the likely cause is moisture in a connector. This has happened with other vehicles apparently.

My OPC has now tested the battery (no fault found), the alternator (no fault found), checked as many connectors as are accessible (no fault found) and reloaded the software. They have started the engine more than 20 times without any issue so I am going to accept that the fault has been cured and will collect my car on Monday.

In fairness to my OPC, as compensation for my troubles, they have said that they will include a tank full of fuel. Sounds fair to me.

[Taz]

So, barely a month after the last fiasco, once again my car is on the back of a recovery wagon going to the dealer. Frankly I never want to see this car again.

[Taz]

The same dash warnings as last time.

[Tom 2000]

That’s a massive PITA. Are these things managed by a central processor like a mini computer that can go ape shit?

[Deleted User 2325]

I have had similar electronic warning hysteria from a BMW X3 Msport which produced a magnificent display of warning lights about parts of the car I didn’t know existed. It turned out to be a suspension issue which set the whole computer into a panic. Similarly in an old Jeep, a rash of warning lights - the dealer there started changing the 3 main computer chips at huge costs each time and to no avail. They went bust and it transpired they had not EVER checked the transmission oil from new despite 6 monthly services ..... ( Car died the week after they went bust).

Very surprised Porsche let you have it back before identifying the cause.

Best not to give up on your car as there’s often one dud chip in a batch of hundreds. (Ask NASA!). Mind you, you could swap it for a Macan GTS .

[MikeM]

Can be a bitch to find, could be a component but usually electronic components fail on bathtub principle I.e. either very early or very late in life. Your car is neither and as it’s clearly intermittent and throwing out random faults it would point to a connection or earthing failure somewhere. Would still replace the battery to start out and test from there. Don’t lose heart keep their loaner until you are satisfied.