Check Engine light on - drive to workshop

[996C2]

Hello all,

On my way to see some friends last night my 2003 996 developed a worrying problem a few miles from their house. I'd driven around 150 miles with no problems but then coming off a roundabout I gave it some power and the car started juddering, I backed off thinking it was a temporary fuel issue but when I pressed the accelerator again the same thing happened. I pulled over into a layby and left the engine running for a bit, it sounded like it was struggling to breathe ( if that makes sense), it wasn't idling properly and seemed like it was going to stall, the exhaust note was very deep and sounded more muffled, it actually sounded great but was clearly not right. After around a minute of running the check engine light came on and the computer displayed the "Drive to Workshop" warning. I got it to my friends place, a very scary few miles of expecting the engine to go bang!

I've arranged for it to be transported back to my local OPC tomorrow but just wondered if this sounds familiar to anyone, any info on what it could be would be appreciated. The car is under extended warranty so hopefully won't cost anything, and before anyone asks no I didn't put diesel in the tank!

Thanks

 

[Rintoul]

Could be one of a multitude of faults, electrical, fueling. I has something similar with my last 996C4. OPC thought at first is was electrical but eventually traced it to a faulty injector that only faulted when hot and pressing on.
Good luck, but as you have extended warranty you should be ok. (I didn't!![&:])

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

Iain's right - it could be one of many things, and at least you have the warranty. Let us know the diagnosis from the OPC, just for the records. That's if you can get someone who knows what they are talking about. Rodney had a pearler from a lady at at OPC the other day. When asked what had caused the tiptronic switching problem she replied........ "It was something to do with wires and cooling, but it wasn't the switch" - Classic!

 

[996C2]

Thanks for the replies, the car is currently on the M4 somewhere on the back of a recovery truck! Hopefully I'll know later today what the problem is, the OPC have said that they're backed up with work and will look at it when they can.

Porsche assistance have arranged for a Merc C-class to be dropped off at my house later today, which is nice

I've been thinking about changing to an Audi for a little while now as my family is about to get a new addition, this latest problem has made the decision much easier.

 

[Watty]

Similar thing happened to my 1999 C4 a while back - I think it was a coil pack, but the problem went away all by itself and hasn't recurred since. Engine check light stayed on for a few more journeys and then went out for good (so far).

Engine check light is more about emissions than anything - if there is no spark in a cylinder, unburnt fuel enters the exhaust and if you use too much full throttle (so too much fuel passes through) it could damage the catalysts and thereby affect emissions.

 

[996C2]

ORIGINAL: Watty

Similar thing happened to my 1999 C4 a while back - I think it was a coil pack, but the problem went away all by itself and hasn't recurred since. Engine check light stayed on for a few more journeys and then went out for good (so far).

Engine check light is more about emissions than anything - if there is no spark in a cylinder, unburnt fuel enters the exhaust and if you use too much full throttle (so too much fuel passes through) it could damage the catalysts and thereby affect emissions.

Spot on, it was a coil pack, replaced under extended warranty.


I must admit I've been very impressed with the way Porsche Assistance and OPC West London handled this. I had a Mercedes E Class dropped off yesterday which I left at the OPC when I collected the car today. West London got the car at 4pm yesterday and I picked it up fixed and very thoroughly cleaned (which it needed!) at 1pm today, very happy with that.