Hi! So happy to have found this site!



I am pretty desperate for some advice because I’ve been given conflicting information by the Porsche dealership.



I’m sorry it’s so long. It’s pretty complicated and I’m afraid I’m being ripped off.



I really did not even want to go to the dealership but I had a tire go out and after using the spare (coolest spare tire ever), it would not deflate all the way.



The tire shop said I would have to go to the dealership because they don’t know anything about this ‘weird tire.’

(I told them they should change their name from Metroplex Wheels & Tires to ONLY SOME Wheels & Tires)



So I’ve had my 2008 Cayenne 3.6L for almost 3 years now and I’m in love with it like the first day! I have towed a fully packed Uhaul 6 x 12 enclosed trailer SOOOO many times on it and i forget there’s even something attached behind me. I love it! No waiting for the ‘friend with a truck.’



So I went to the dealership with two issues:



1) I had a warning that beeped very loudly with a flashing message that said Brake Lights



2) I could not close my Trunk Lid because the spare tire would not deflate all the way.



I was about to drive several hours and could not bear to have that sound for five minutes, let alone 5 hours, and I wanted to put stuff in the back like usual.



They took my car back and after a while they gave me their determination:

1) I needed new front brake pads and rotors ($1250)

2) a new spare tire. ($1300)



They said the flashing warning and loud beeping would not go away until I replaced the spare tire.



They said nothing is wrong with the brake lights; that the trunk lid sensor is causing that loud noise and flashing warning.



Note: Brake Lights was the flashing warning I had



I said how is the spare tire in any way related to brake lights? They said there is a sensor by the spare tire and if it’s not fitting in there properly and preventing the trunk lid from latching, it makes this warning go off.



it still made no sense to me. I said I thought this warning would be a simple light bulb issue.



they said the trunk lid sensor was causing that warning because my trunk lid would not close all the way, since they tried everything to deflate the tire all the way but the tire is too badly damaged and would not deflate anymore. They insisted that until I replaced the spare tire so it would latch in the back, I would have to continue driving with that loud sound.



i then asked Well what if I have no spare at all so the trunk lid latches? And they said there’s also a sensor under the tire that will cause me problems if it’s empty, that something has to be there. (Which thinking back I’m mad at myself now because obviously when I had used the spare on my car there was nothing in the trunk!)



Now I understood the brake pads part.... but I did not have time right then nor the money to shell out...



I was in a hurry and I was expecting only quick lightbulb change and tire deflation.



I was on my way to Uhaul to get a trailer attached like many times before.



I had to pay the $175 diagnosis fee at Porsche and I drive off to Uhaul.

Here’s where the bigger problems began!



I noticed on the way from the dealership to Uhaul that I could not adjust my seat back from wherever the service guys had moved it to. It was way too far from the wheel for me, but when I pressed the buttons nothing happened. I was already driving so I just had to keep driving that way, stretching my legs uncomfortably to the pedals, (I have had to drive like that ever since!)



also a huge thunderstorm suddenly hit, such thick rain brand new wipers wouldn’t help you see an inch.



The Uhaul guy quickly hooked the trailer onto my hitch and plugged in the signal cable underneath like always. But after I drove away I could see my left turn signal on the trailer was flashing nonstop and my brake lights weren’t coming on consistently. The lights were just acting crazy.



But I had to get on the road and I had another family member driving behind me, so I got back on the road anyway.

Then just outside of town I turned the radio on.... only nothing happened.

it wasn’t until the next day I realized it had all happened at the same time at the dealership.



I had to call U-Haul roadside assistance and they sent a mechanic who did a whole bunch of testing and finally determined it wasn’t the trailer that was the problem. It was the failure on the part of my car to adequately power the signal cable.



So all of a sudden three issues that all are electrical,

the seat adjustment controls,

the stereo

and the signal cable failing to get enough power from my car

And the warning beep and the flashing warning were gone!

All immediately after leaving the dealership. Clearly they had shorted out something in the electrical system, it seemed to me.



Now that I’m finally back in town, they tell me there’s no such thing as a sensor in the trunk at all, and no sensor under the spare tire, and that would not be the reason for the warning I was getting



They said it was the brake pads that had caused the warning



I said Still, the warning said ‘Brake Lights - It was specifically Brake Lights, not ‘somewhere in the brakes department’



Then they said the radio was unrelated. It just happened to die at that time and would be an additional $5,000.

I really don’t believe that.



And they replaced a fuse that had been shorted out and now the seat adjustments were working just fine.



But they didn’t even check the electric that would go to the trailer signal cable. They forgot to check on that.



So my car is at the dealership and I have to decide what to do.

thanks!

Rebecca