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981 Cayman GTS - New Owner with "PSM Failure" Surprise!

AshC4S

AshC4S

PCGB Member
Member
Hey everyone!

New owner here and this is my first foray into the world of Porsche! I'm now the proud owner of a beautiful white, 981 Cayman GTS - and I'm absolutely loving it!

I had a bit of a rocky start to ownership though - having just purchased the car privately from an individual, I was driving home and happily enjoying the delights of Sport and Sport Plus with the amazing PSE exhaust [;)] when all of a sudden I saw this dreaded message on the dash:

[attachment=IMG_7483 Large.jpeg]

I spoke to the seller and he mentioned this could have been a residual fault caused by him having recently replaced the battery. This seemed plausible and I hoped this would be something that would eventually go away. Sadly the problem persisted, so off to Porsche Centre Brooklands we went. I checked the forums and saw that this was a really common issue with the most common cause being brake bushes/switches. That said, I kept an open mind and a day later the techs provided their diagnosis:

"PSM warning on dash due to intermittent misfire on cylinder 2. Req new ignition coil - warranty”

Thankfully this was covered by the Extended Warranty and a replacement was arranged. Happy to say that the car has been just brilliant since that time and I am thoroughly enjoying the new (to me) car! I'll be keeping the car standard - the only change I have planned is to move the insurance from Admiral over to Lockton who offer a far more comprehensive coverage which better suits my needs :)

[attachment=IMG_7484 Large.jpeg]

Hope to see you about sometime!


Ash

 
Hi Ash. Welcome to the club and the Cayman register. Great car you have there.

Sorry to hear of your early issue, but as problems go this one is fairly common and easily fixed (Annoying though!). Such are the complex electronics that the fault indicator on the dash often flashes up a symptom rather than the cause. I am sure a technician might explain how an ignition coil creates a PSM failure but it is beyond me. Good to hear that you do have a new battery as that is another potential cause of random messages - now sorted.

Anyway, now you can enjoy the miles and the smiles.

Best wishes, John

 
Absolutely!! Thanks for the warm welcome, John! Love the red!!

My (very basic) understanding of the situation is that the PSM acts as a safety feature and has the ability to override user throttle input. As one of my cylinders had a misfire, this was freaking the PSM system out as it basically said “I can’t do my job properly unless the misfire is corrected“.

Like you said John, the ”PSM fault” was just the symptom and not root cause. Thankfully, the car has been running like a dream since the coil replacement so I’m looking forward to many more happy miles bonding with the car.

Ash

 
I think you’re right in saying that a PSM fault light is a catch-all for all sorts of things Ash. I seem to recall someone saying that a similar warning on their car was traced to a faulty MAF sensor, so a similar rationale to that which you’ve cited. Thank goodness for comprehensive diagnostics to guide the technicians!😀

As John has indicated, it’s important to keep the battery on these cars in tip-tip condition to avoid electrical problems. If yours isn’t a daily drive it’s worth considering keeping it on a battery conditioner.

Jeff

 
Thanks a lot Jeff. In these warmer months it’s getting plenty of use for now but I can see that usage reducing significantly from Jan - April, so thats a great tip!

I’m also in the market for an outdoor car cover - does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks

Ash

 
My Cayman’s been on the same - now ancient - CTEK battery conditioner for nearly 14-years Ash, which although a bit flaky these days is still functioning OK [most of the time!😀], which I suppose is a recommendation. Their latest offering - the MXS 5.0 - seems to be well regarded if you’re looking for a conditioner, although alternatives are available. Members have reported that the cheapo unit available occasionally from Lidl works perfectly well!

I can’t help with the outdoor cover but I think the general consensus is that even if they’re secured firmly they can flap around and potentially scuff the paintwork. The trouble with any cover - indoor and outdoor - is that ideally the car needs to be clean when the cover is fitted, which is difficult to achieve. I would have thought that if you’re going for PPF or ceramic coating then either should provide more than adequate protection from the elements.

Jeff

 
On the subject of a car cover, I‘ll echo Jeff’s comments. My car lives outside and so initially I got an outdoor cover. However I ended up with marring on the bonnet, roof and wing mirrors. Haven't used it since and the car is fine with just a ceramic coating.

 
My car lives in a garage and is used just for track days but I have PPF and ceramic coating.

However being really really thorough each year I get my local indy to remove the front PU and clean out around the radiators and spray a light protective oil over the various tubes, brake lines and suspension components. I'd suggest you consider this last bit for a car kept outside.

 
Thank you. Is the protective oil recommended only for cars that are sat idle/unused for long periods or is this a recommendation for any car that will be spending time outside?

 
Most people don’t bother and maybe it is over the top but if I keep a car it is just ab annual maintenance item whether outside, driven in all weathers, salt covered roads or not.

 
For the underbody and other hidden areas such as behind the wheel arch liners and PU's, I use ACF50 fluid. It can be sprayed on and does not damage electrics or pipework. (Keep it off brake discs though!). Some people don't like it as is can be tacky to the touch and look dirty, but everything stays pristine underneath.

 
it's not a surprise, everyone get's this, I'm surprised Porsche didn't do a "recoil" on this issue :rolleyes:

 
Lol! I have heard similar on some of the US forums around coils being an item that should be replaced on a service schedule.

It was a surprise for me as the problem occurred in my first 30 minutes of owning the car!

Never mind, car runs beautifully now!

Ash

 
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