GT3 weak diff and warranty claim help
Discussion
Hi all,
When i had my car serviced at JZM, they said the diff was very weak.
Under the items covered under warranty, the warranty booklet lists "differential".
The car is at OPC west london who tell me that i need to pay £1200 + vat to have it stripped and checked.
If it transpires that the diff is worn, "it may not be covered under warranty sir"
If its a manufacturing defect, its covered and i get my £1200 back.
I thought i'd read that people ahve had worn weak diffs replaced under warranty. Also, the wty says "differential" fullstop - not restricting it as a wear and tear item like the clutch.
Could anyone advise please?
thanks
Ajit.
When i had my car serviced at JZM, they said the diff was very weak.
Under the items covered under warranty, the warranty booklet lists "differential".
The car is at OPC west london who tell me that i need to pay £1200 + vat to have it stripped and checked.
If it transpires that the diff is worn, "it may not be covered under warranty sir"
If its a manufacturing defect, its covered and i get my £1200 back.
I thought i'd read that people ahve had worn weak diffs replaced under warranty. Also, the wty says "differential" fullstop - not restricting it as a wear and tear item like the clutch.
Could anyone advise please?
thanks
Ajit.
Ajit
If by 'weak' diff, they mean it's not achieving much lock across the axle, then it could be that you just need a service pack for the diff, i.e. new plates. You can check this realtively well by getting the car on a ramp, jacking up the back, then seeing if when holding one wheel, you can spin the other one. It should offer a lot of resistance as you 'ride up the ramps'!
If the CW or pinion are worn then that's a different matter, and would be worth pursuing under warranty. Get a diff specialist to set the diff up, as setting the preload on the pinion and the correct shimming is a black art, which if not done propoerly, can result in a knackered diff in not many hard miles!
Good luck.
If by 'weak' diff, they mean it's not achieving much lock across the axle, then it could be that you just need a service pack for the diff, i.e. new plates. You can check this realtively well by getting the car on a ramp, jacking up the back, then seeing if when holding one wheel, you can spin the other one. It should offer a lot of resistance as you 'ride up the ramps'!
If the CW or pinion are worn then that's a different matter, and would be worth pursuing under warranty. Get a diff specialist to set the diff up, as setting the preload on the pinion and the correct shimming is a black art, which if not done propoerly, can result in a knackered diff in not many hard miles!
Good luck.
Diffs often have plates in them that are wear items. This would not be a defect but be a wear and tear item. I know this applies to 964RS LSD etc but not sure about GT3 one - be careful to get your facts straight before kicking off... it may not necessarily be a manufacturing or design fault.
I agree its probably wear and tear - but the cars only done 11k miles.
Also, the warranty booklet makes no exclusion as to wear and tear on the diff. It simply covers the diff.
For other wear and tear items, there's either no mention of them eg brake discs or a specified exclusion eg clutch.
Ajit.
Also, the warranty booklet makes no exclusion as to wear and tear on the diff. It simply covers the diff.
For other wear and tear items, there's either no mention of them eg brake discs or a specified exclusion eg clutch.
Ajit.
singh911 said:
I agree its probably wear and tear - but the cars only done 11k miles.
Also, the warranty booklet makes no exclusion as to wear and tear on the diff. It simply covers the diff.
For other wear and tear items, there's either no mention of them eg brake discs or a specified exclusion eg clutch.
Ajit.
Contact Gary Bullen or Steve Russell and get a straw poll on who has had this sort of failure at this sort of mileage.
Armed with that, (assuming that the answer is Zilch) I would have thought you have a stronger case when talking to your OPC saying you have checked with the other 105 RH drive Mk1 GT3 owners and none have suffered this problem so the 'wear and tear' guff does not wash.
If they refuse, tell them, in writing, you cannot afford their exhorbitant costs, take it to an indie and get them to check it out. If they discover a manufacturing fault or enhanced wear and tear then return to your opc with the bits and demand replacement, in writing, including your indie' bill.
BTW anyone, what would cause accellerated wear and tear of the diff plates????
1200 pounds! that is outrageous!
if it is covered under warranty then throw the book at them and tell them to get on with it!
wear and tear around a diferential does not stand up!
have you got a courtesy car from opc for the mean time?
well I had a warranty dispute with them (oil selas) and I just said well I will keep the car until we sort this out.
at 100 pounds per day charge to them then it soon got them thinking and finding a resolution!
if it is covered under warranty then throw the book at them and tell them to get on with it!
wear and tear around a diferential does not stand up!
have you got a courtesy car from opc for the mean time?
well I had a warranty dispute with them (oil selas) and I just said well I will keep the car until we sort this out.
at 100 pounds per day charge to them then it soon got them thinking and finding a resolution!
singh911 said:
I agree its probably wear and tear - but the cars only done 11k miles.
Also, the warranty booklet makes no exclusion as to wear and tear on the diff. It simply covers the diff.
For other wear and tear items, there's either no mention of them eg brake discs or a specified exclusion eg clutch.
Ajit.
Ajit
Apart from your 10 track days, the other 2000 miles were done spent doing donuts by the previous owner
I know that JZM talk a lot about MK1 diffs being rubbish and they offer a fixfor it. I wonder if JZ are trying to get you to buy one of their replacement systems. My instinct would be to get a detailed explanation of the problem from Steve McHale and press him on the need for a replacement. I would strongly suspect that whatever you learn, it wouldn't be covered by the OPC warranty. I just know what they are like at wriggling..... You will then be in for a £1200 investigation bill plus the cost of supplying and fitting a new diff. What did JZ ask for the replacement?? My MK1 has 33k on the clock and as far as I am aware the diff is still functioning. If it's not, then I can't tell anyway as the bloody thing is too fast for me to handle anyway.
Don't rush in to a quick decision, but whatever you do I would not go near the OPC unless you felt you had a solid warranty case. Good luck.
Steve
Thanks all,
There's no way i'll pay £1200 to the opc to do the check. I think jzm rebuild them for half that but i'll check. Some of the titanic guys have said they rebuild in a better material.
Makes me wonder if its worth shelling out 750 notes each year for the warranty if its going to be so much hassle making a claim. Put that money towards repairs would go a long way. Only problem is if you get a big bang - but unheard of on the gt3 and with the amount of track miles peopole have done on them, makes a fair case for no warranty.
Ajit.
There's no way i'll pay £1200 to the opc to do the check. I think jzm rebuild them for half that but i'll check. Some of the titanic guys have said they rebuild in a better material.
Makes me wonder if its worth shelling out 750 notes each year for the warranty if its going to be so much hassle making a claim. Put that money towards repairs would go a long way. Only problem is if you get a big bang - but unheard of on the gt3 and with the amount of track miles peopole have done on them, makes a fair case for no warranty.
Ajit.
Ajit
In the good old days, Porsche would let indies like JZM undertake warranty work. Since Porsche tookthe warranty business back in-house, that has now all but disappeared. I believe they will let the indies do little isues, but anything big they want themselves. I don't trust the OPC's and believe that they have now become Judge and Jury on virtually all warranty work. For me the annual premium is just an insurance against the engine blowing up. Daft I know, but the cost of a replacement is enough to keep me hanging on in there until they will cover me no longer.
Steve
In the good old days, Porsche would let indies like JZM undertake warranty work. Since Porsche tookthe warranty business back in-house, that has now all but disappeared. I believe they will let the indies do little isues, but anything big they want themselves. I don't trust the OPC's and believe that they have now become Judge and Jury on virtually all warranty work. For me the annual premium is just an insurance against the engine blowing up. Daft I know, but the cost of a replacement is enough to keep me hanging on in there until they will cover me no longer.
Steve
Singh, when I was buying my car I spoke to the lads in Parr, they said to me when turning on full lock the diff should make a "knocking" noise and feel crabby when turning, if it doesnt make any noise its knackered.. Dunno if this helps. Dave
>> Edited by Dave 321 on Saturday 11th March 01:43
>> Edited by Dave 321 on Saturday 11th March 01:43
The diff on my GT3 make a clear knocking sound when turning on full lock, yet when the car was on the bridge at Manthey and the mechanics turned each rear wheel independently, there appeared to be almost no locking effect left in the diff and they said the friction plates had almost totally worn. If that is true, then the test for a knocking sound would not be fool-proof. (?)
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