hi guys
I dropped my car off at a valet parking and when i returned two days later the clutch was acting up between gear changes:

1- feels like the pedal isn't engaging and pops back in late an causes the revs to act up.
2- while driving 75-80 the revs suddenly accelerated on their own a few thousand rpm and then settled back down. my foot wasn't on the clutch and i wasn't accelerating, just cruising

it feels like the clutch is slipping but would that account for symptom #2?

What else could account for this? I tried looking up online for something similar but not sure.

also, is there a way for the dealer to plug the computer in and read whether my car had been driven over a certain period of time? if it was then i can go after the hotel.

at least a Porsche tech had driven my car just two months ago and he told me my clutch was perfect.
TIA

 

The only thing the computer at the dealer will tell you is the total running hours on the engine (useless unless you have a pre-dropoff reference point) and if the engine has been over revved. The latter has occurred, it will tell you the time (based again on operating hours) that the over rev took place in.

It would take some pretty serious abuse to completely cook a clutch that quick.

The second problem where the RPM lurches is tough to diagnose unless you can repeat the problem. One way to check condition of the clutch is to accelerate as normal until about 3.5K RPM and stomp on it (using good judgment when choosing the location to attempt this is important) If the RPM increase and you don't go faster, it's slipping.

 

thanks. i'll try that on my way to dealer.

 

No way I would let a valet park my Porsche. I can't even imagine letting a complete stranger drive my car. I tipped a a valet once for not parking it. It was a real cold out and the valet was a young guy freezing his but off. I wasn't going to let him learn how to drive a stick using my car but I asked him if I could use one of the close in valet parking spots. He agreed and I gave him $ 5 for for using what would have been, for him, a paying customers spot. He smiled and said thanks and so did I.

 

I hate to tell you this... giving car keys to a valet is asking for trouble. I never valet my cars.

 

^^^^^^ I agree totally, I stayed in a Hotel one time, and the garage was around the corner in the basement. I had forgot something in my trunk, so i had to go down to the garage, and what did I see? I saw the valet guy racing the other valet guy with my friends Maserati ( thank god for camera/recorder phones ) I taped their a$$ and the hotel comp us, and allowed us to park up front......Valets are simply the worst......

 

Valets are one of the scums of the earth....

 

Ok. Besides the valet rants. Here's what the dealer is saying right Now. Took it in. The tech say in it for 1 min. Came out and said that regardless of the clutch I definitely have a hydraulic issue first. They're going to look at it Monday.

 

Hmm... how are your brakes? hydraulic fluid is shared between brake and clutch. Did the valet go on a joy ride and overheated the brakes?

 

*****************UPDATE************************

So Porsche wanted $1700 JUST for the labor to remove and reinstall tranny and this didn't include whether they had to replace one single bolt.

took car back.

shopped around to shops.

Truespeed in Costa Mesa is turning out to be a rip off shop. bad experience with my spark plug change and now they wanted some crazy money for cucthh job.

Finally went to Hergesheimer which i used for an oil change and was happy with them.

They quoted $1700 without flywheel which i've been told generally have been ok with 997s.

So here's what they found:

-My clutch was fine
-my flywhell was fine.
-The pressure plate was broken
-The slave cylinder was also busted
They're replacing clutch at this point since they're in there
total $2071

so here's my question: can i contact pcna and have this covered under my CPO since it's really not a wear and tear item? any chance i will ever get any of my money back?

thanks to everyone for their suggestions and help.

marc

 

I would doubt that PCNA would pay for it as the work wasn't performed by an authorized service centre (dealer).

sorry about the bad luck, I have heard great things about Hergesheimer from Keninirvine.