Macan Transfer Box Issue
Discussion
Porsche Cars GB Ltd are telling me service campaign WLE9 (transfer box fluid change) is totally unrelated to transfer box failure. I’m arguing both are inextricably linked, do any of you Pistonheads have documentary proof of this, which would have been supplied to ALL Porsche Centres in UK. Maybe some nice guy/gal in dealer would supply this? anonymously of course. rod.plumb@yahoo.com Thank you.
Sorry to hear of your transfer box issue. If you’re still getting a judder you might not necessarily have to replace the transfer box. Having researched this subject I came across a number of Macan and Cayenne owners with the same issue, skipping/vibration/light judder on normal acceleration. The vehicles were all higher mileage 80 plus thousand unlike the vast majority of vehicles where the transfer box was replaced where the mileages were very low to medium. I believe the manufacturer of the TB, which is not Porsche, experienced quality issues in the manufacture of the TB at different times over a period of years leading to the main TB failing. I now agreed with Porsche customer service who, as I indicated in my first thread, say the two issues are unrelated. The service action was implemented by Porsche because they found the TB fluid needs to be changed at as part of regular rather than extended servicing. Changing the fluid at a much lower mileage doesn’t allow for the breakdown of the fluids lubricating properties and therefore leads to better longevity of the TB.
In my case, the car went in for mot only, there were no issues with the TB. When I called to check on progress, much to my surprise, I was also informed of the TB fluid change. When I ask why this had been done I was told it was as “a preventative measure”. It wasn’t for three years and twelve thousand miles later at eighty thousand miles that I experienced the skipping etc, of course at that point I assumed it was the start of a TB failure. I had covered, relatively speaking, a low mileage over the period since the fluid change, so I was somewhat perplexed by what the Porsche dealer had told me three years earlier and why the issue had occurred with the new fluid in the TB box at such a low mileage? As indicated earlier in this thread I researched the issue and found a number of other owners had experienced the issue at similar mileage.. Rather than replacing the fluid with the Porsche product they had introduced RAVENOL DTF 1 TRANSFER FLUID TF-0870, which I understand is of a better quality. As a mechanical engineer (retired) I drained the old fluid finding 200 millilitres over the maximum in the TB! It is clear from this the Porsche dealer failed to complete the two point draining procedure and introduced the correct amount of new fluid thereby over filling the TB! In my opinion it was a mix of old and new fluid in a larger capacity that lead to my issue. I have covered three thousand miles since introducing the RAVENOL and the TB operates perfectly as it should. A couple of the other owners have covered up to thirty thousand miles with no issues so all looks good. To keep things working as they should I will be replacing the TB fluid with RAVENOL every twenty thousand miles, which is what I understand Porsche now recommend (not RAVENOL, a change). Personally I would consider getting the Porsche fluid replaced with RAVENOL in your Macan, it MAY resolve the slight issue that remains? Importantly though, make sure who ever does the job gets ALL the fluid out, the first part is a drain off the second part has to be sucked out. Good luck
In my case, the car went in for mot only, there were no issues with the TB. When I called to check on progress, much to my surprise, I was also informed of the TB fluid change. When I ask why this had been done I was told it was as “a preventative measure”. It wasn’t for three years and twelve thousand miles later at eighty thousand miles that I experienced the skipping etc, of course at that point I assumed it was the start of a TB failure. I had covered, relatively speaking, a low mileage over the period since the fluid change, so I was somewhat perplexed by what the Porsche dealer had told me three years earlier and why the issue had occurred with the new fluid in the TB box at such a low mileage? As indicated earlier in this thread I researched the issue and found a number of other owners had experienced the issue at similar mileage.. Rather than replacing the fluid with the Porsche product they had introduced RAVENOL DTF 1 TRANSFER FLUID TF-0870, which I understand is of a better quality. As a mechanical engineer (retired) I drained the old fluid finding 200 millilitres over the maximum in the TB! It is clear from this the Porsche dealer failed to complete the two point draining procedure and introduced the correct amount of new fluid thereby over filling the TB! In my opinion it was a mix of old and new fluid in a larger capacity that lead to my issue. I have covered three thousand miles since introducing the RAVENOL and the TB operates perfectly as it should. A couple of the other owners have covered up to thirty thousand miles with no issues so all looks good. To keep things working as they should I will be replacing the TB fluid with RAVENOL every twenty thousand miles, which is what I understand Porsche now recommend (not RAVENOL, a change). Personally I would consider getting the Porsche fluid replaced with RAVENOL in your Macan, it MAY resolve the slight issue that remains? Importantly though, make sure who ever does the job gets ALL the fluid out, the first part is a drain off the second part has to be sucked out. Good luck
Hi
So are you saying you had the Porsche fluid changed for the RAVENOL following my last reply, and that the concern which existed after the Porsche change is now gone? If so I’m pleased to learn of this! I think damage would only exist if issue was ignored and the vehicle driven on for some period of time like this, in this situation RAVENOL would not help.
So are you saying you had the Porsche fluid changed for the RAVENOL following my last reply, and that the concern which existed after the Porsche change is now gone? If so I’m pleased to learn of this! I think damage would only exist if issue was ignored and the vehicle driven on for some period of time like this, in this situation RAVENOL would not help.
Hi
Personally, based on my own experience and that of others after the introduction of the so called updated Porsche fluid, I would seriously consider having that drained and introducing RAVENOL, it’s must be worth trying if you still have slight issue, otherwise you could be into a £2.5k transfer box replacement!
Personally, based on my own experience and that of others after the introduction of the so called updated Porsche fluid, I would seriously consider having that drained and introducing RAVENOL, it’s must be worth trying if you still have slight issue, otherwise you could be into a £2.5k transfer box replacement!
Again Google search or Macan forums will supply the information on this subject. Briefly, tb failure appears to happen, in the main, to lower mileage vehicles, there are a number on forums where two new tbs have been fitted, again lower mileage vehicles. Porsche initially changed and rerouted the breather to prevent water getting in the tb. They much later had the manufacturer modify, I believe, drive plate(s). Unfortunately this has not, from what I believe, resolved the problem 100%. Having said all of this not every Macan has a problem with it’s tb. For what its worth this is my opinion. Some not all owner drive their vehicles in water above the maximum limit 300 mm, page 221of the owner manual states clearly how the mechanics of the car can be damaged by exceeding this limit, unfortunately some owner think it a Porsche suv it’ll go anywhere do anything, IT WONT! They should read the owner handbook! Secondly, there is in the manufacture of all mechanical components machine tools involved. Every tool has what is referred to as ‘end of tool life’. As it cuts or grinds it wears very very progressively so by the time it’s say cut/ground a thousand single components, whilst the last cut before a tool change is less than the
first it’s still without tolerance, the problem comes if the design engineers, in error set that tolerance too low! If this happens then the last components of the tools run fitted in the assembly, in this instance a transfer box, may experience operational problems in service?
The air suspension does not required service, it is however checked as part of a service. No maintenance, other than if a fault occurs, is required, which as indicated previously, is not likely, but not impossible!
first it’s still without tolerance, the problem comes if the design engineers, in error set that tolerance too low! If this happens then the last components of the tools run fitted in the assembly, in this instance a transfer box, may experience operational problems in service?
The air suspension does not required service, it is however checked as part of a service. No maintenance, other than if a fault occurs, is required, which as indicated previously, is not likely, but not impossible!
My pleasure. Just go for it! An average mileage with a service history, not necessarily Porsche, and ask if any other work. If you do buy and there is no history of tb problem, change the tb oil for Ravenol as I mention in previous post above. Make sure who ever does the job follows the drain off fully and removes ALL or as much of the old stuff as possible and then follows the two stage refill to the letter. It not a difficult job to do yourself, but you must have the vehicle on a lift and level so best let your garage do the job. If you do buy one the shear enjoyment of owning and driving the Macan far out weighs the limited risk of a tb failure. Just make sure you go for the highest spec possible! Good luck
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