Here we go, picture the scenario.

Having owned my 2004 C4S cab for the last 4 weeks the car went for a good 120mile motorway drive on saturday and run like a dream. Sunday started her up 1st time and head into town for a few hours work, sunday night volunteered to get the girlfriends rail ticket and just happened to find myself driving for an hour or so...........just me, the road and my car.

Car sits for 3 straight days facing down hill, the first 2 days were great but day 3 was wet and damp (the fine mist like rain that annoys and soaks your clothes).

And here we are today, i start the car 6am for my drive to the train station when the engine light comes on, first im sure it was just the icon on the bottom row but then the 'check engine drive to workshop' flagged up, car felt lumpy and crawled up the street where i decided to leave it and walk.

so many threads about CEL faults but im wondering if facing downhill (oil to front) or the misty damp weather could be the cause of the CEL suddenly appearing.

I suspect its more a case of 'welcome to Porsche life, you've had it a month and now here comes the stress' and a far greater issue will soon be uncovered

Help please

 

In order to help we need to know what codes it's throwing. Do you have a place that can use a duramatic and let you know the codes?


Just so you know, I've had my 2003 C4S for over 2 years and no problems, so chin up!


Check you gas cap to ensure it's tight.

 

thanks, i'm currently ringing aorund for an Indy to take her in for a check up. Funny you say about the fuel cap, many websites and threads say the same......i wonder if i should turn it until the cap clicks??? Spark plugs seem to get alot of mentions too

Now regarding the judder, i assume this is an actual judder and not a sign of being in limp mode? Air/fuel mix could caused a judder right?

Payday tomorrow, looks like the ££ have gone before i even get it.....this will please the g/f who happens to hate the car anyway

 

Wild guess based on the lack of info would be coil packs. The worn out ones tend to complain the most in wet or damp situations.

When it gets dry again and you find that the car is running good, the cel will eventually go away if it is indeed worn coil packs. And if this is the case, you can test the theory further by spraying water underneath the engine area to see if it happens again.

OR, you can just pull the codes...

 

Yes you have to turn it until it clicks.

 

Yep my guess with the damp weather and lumpy drive afterwards, coil packs. Easy to replace and a relatively inexpensive fix.

 

just got back to car, it's cold damp and dark. Checked the fuel cap (it was tight and clicking) started the car and to my disappointment the CEL is illuminated along with the dash message 'check engine drive to workshop' heart sunk. Car started first go, still feels lumpy and sounds awful almost like exhaust blowing or misfiring maybe and appears to come from right hand side (I'm in the UK and a RHD car) took a slow crawl home and parked up. Looked underneath using iPhone torch and see oil on the rear corner of engine, again this seems to be the right hand rear. Not sure if this is related but I feel gutted. It's late and dark here to do anything with her and will have to wait until the weekend before being towed.

 

Could be AOS (Air Oil Separator), but check you oil level and check the coolant. If the coolant looks like a milkshake you have innermix.


But it still sounds like misfire.

 

Don't fret too much, nothing to worry about yet. Also if it sounds like a misfire from the right exhaust, it is most likely an issue with the left cylinder bank. I suspect the oil is an unrelated issue. I suspect coils still. Left cylinder bank.

 

Thanks for all the advice, had it flat-bedded to an Indy yesterday and reversing off the low loader the CEL went out which is just typical. Anyway plugged the magic machine in and turned out to be 2 x coils. Had the lot replaced along with spark plugs as the engineer said they were the worst he's ever seen (nice sales technique). A cool £600 later she feels like a brand new car

 

I replace all the coils and plugs on mine and had the same experience. Amazing how smooth she runs now!

 

It's funny how people come here to get advice but do not always listen to it or ignore it and suspect their own theories until a mechanic says otherwise. Glad you got it resolved.

 

I listened and took the advice on board. Decided/hoped it was the coils based solely upon the majority of opinions on this forum. Took it to the mechanic to repair for coils and plugs as i do spreadsheets and finance not dirty work

 

Ah gotcha. I hope you don't have too many more repairs then.