The word is I may need a new transmission. This would be the second time. I am currently searching the internets about the dreaded Lemon Law. I am hoping it doesn't come to it. The Florida law requires it to be in for three times before anything happens or for it to be unavailable for 15 days or more.

The first time this happened was late October, taking it in for a few 'campaigns'. When they removed the underbody panel they noticed wet spots. Long story short, PCNA was told to replace the transmission.

I mentioned in another post that the car was stalling after it warmed up. This would happen when reversing or simply going forward in standard mode. The techs were able to reproduce the results too, so it wasn't just me. It is a PDK and the RPMs normally hover around 600-800 when stopped. As soon as I move my foot from the brake to the gas, the RPMs can be seen to drop down to 400 before it catches and goes. Obviously, it doesn't always catch and it stalls. Funnily, if I put the car in Sport/+, there are no issues.

However, while driving the loaner, a new Cayman, I am noticing some things that it does very smoothly, that my car didn't do. Such as no RPM staying steady when going in reverse or the initial acceleration from stop. My car would at times practically lurch when starting from a stop. I'm not saying the Cayman is better, I'm just saying it seems to be behaving the way mine should be.

I drive the car quite a bit, but I don't whip it like a race horse. I'm quite benevolent with my car, partly because the roads here are fairly crowded or because my wife is with me and may give me the stink eye. It has been tracked over two weekends though. I did get the X51 installed a year after the purchase. It was installed by a Porsche tech. Everything done to it has been by the dealer, except me adding the clear side lights, not applicable.

Has anybody else had to follow through with a Lemon Law Arbitration and how did it go, Porsche or not? If it comes to it, I intend to get another Porsche. I tend to think it's just the situation of my car being part of the first releases. Just looking for feedback and or advice. Don't need a shoulder to cry on yet...

 

If you go with the lemon law, is the X51 package a total loss since it was an add on?

 

More than likely I would lose that. Much like the tint job and such. I could always backdate it and have them remove it and then reuse it on another one. I think it would be much better to get the X51 installed at the factory in my opinion.

 

I'm going to Orlando dealer to order my car tomorrow. I've been back and forth on X51? It sounds like you would pay to get it again. Would you?

 

Honestly, I would not. I like the rarity of it. Just having it makes the car rare. The power boost isn't really that much. I could tell the power increase was there at the track on the straight. I could get to my previous high speed from a slower start and in less space. It's subtle, but its definitely there. Remember, the change only takes place on the higher end of the RPMs. It's not something that will be felt or seen in regular driving. I believe it does increase the 0-60 speed by a tenth of a second to 3.8 sec for PDK.
As for resale value, it won't pay for itself. I would rather have upped the brakes and added the PSE as well, possibly PDCC if I were to do it again.

 

Who is your salesman that you're working with? Just curious. They are all good guys and not pushy. I never had a better buying experience than when I worked with them for my car. My only complaint with the dealer, is the lack of communication from the service personnel. I shouldn't have to call them to hear what is wrong with the car. I would like to be contacted as the car passes the steps in repair/updates/completion. I've talked to them about that. The less I know, the more the mind wanders to negative results.

 

Thanks man. I was about to change my whole order, but your advice is well received and much appreciated. Maybe I'll see you around town. Are there any Porsche meets around?

 

Heiner. A few of my friends work with Andres, but I started with Heiner before I was actually serious. I liked him, so I stuck with him. They have been great thus far.

 

Not sure about the lemon law but how does the stalling compares to "hesitation" that has been a talk of the town lately?

I just had the pdk software update applied today and now there's virtually no hesitation that I could detect...even with normal mode...

 

Chup:
Your car should not lurch when starting. On a level street, if you take your foot off the brake it should move forward. They used to have the clutches fully released in the 997 PDK, then when accelerating, they would grab. Now they are partially engaged and even slip to 3000 RPM to take advantage of the torque curve coming in higher. I believe they can use this strategy now based on the cooling management system.

ChuckJ

 

The reason the car is stalling is that there is probably a noisy sensor. Have them pull the diagnostic codes. The most notorious sensor to have issues is the camshaft sensor.

 

You could take it to this guy.

 

Ha!
Yeah, I'm not going there.

 

The hesitation wasn't the same. The problem is only in first from what I am feeling. There can be a lag from first to second when doing manual shift of close to .5 sec.
Here's a question back to you. Car warmed up, sitting at a stop. What does your tach show? When moving to the gas, does your tach drop significantly if at all? The cayman I'm driving, the tach is steady. It could be the fact that it is a different car. I don't think it would be that far off though.

I should be getting an answer tomorrow on what PCNAs answer regarding the transmission.

 

Here is what the tech working on the car said about your idea

'That's more for self stalling opposed to trans engagement stalling. Sadly your vehicle does not have any fault memories in any modules. But on older 996 and 986 cars, yes cam position sensors have been an issue.'

I send him your guess as a just in case, no dice.