Large repair bill

[Guest]

During the heavy rain in July I came home to find my 18 month old Boxter S windows open to the level they go when putting the hood up or down. I put the keys in the ignition to be told that the hood was not fully up! It had not been down for some months and would not move either up or down. The next morning the windows were fully open and the battery was as dead as a Dodo. The car was collected by Porsche assist and taken off to Lancasters in Colchester. The problem one of my micro fibre cleaning cloths had managed to find itself in the hood storage compartment blocking the water outlet thereby flooding the electronics under the pasange seat. A £1,700 bill for what I understand is not an uncommon problem. I am told I must have put the hood down at some time with the cloth on the roof. So be warned when cleaning your pride and joy.

Rodney Collins

 

[kitchens]

Rodney ...you plonker ( del boy voice )[][]


take it they did not charge you for this?

 

[edgiee]

Where exactly is this water outlet ? It sounds as though it should be checked regularly.

 

[Black80XSA]

The drain holes are under clamshell - one either side

 

[Black80XSA]

There is also a set under the front boot, either side and one under the battery (all under the plastic cover)

 

[Mark Elder]

Friend with a 6 year old MX5 had similar problem (leaves blocking drain in his case) - Mazda said the car was a write-off! - because so much of the electrics was wrecked. Needless to say an indy took a different approach, dried stuff rather than replacing! (the ECU did have to be replaced)

 

[Guest]

Yes Lancasters did charge me, apparently the water outlets are checked every service, as I see with servicing intervals now up tp 2 years, some sort of warning or fail safe mechinisam should be put in place. ( has anyone not known Lancasters to charge)?

Rodney Collins

 

[kitchens]

Hope you took the first remark as a joke as it was intended
.
I think that is diisgracefull charging some one for that in a 18 months old car they could have easely have put this through as a warranty claim no goodwill there then .Yes it will be a warning to us all ,how many of us check these drain holes on a regular basis none I suspect

 

[Guest]

No offence taken, Can someone inform me as to why am I shown as a Non Member on this forum?

Plonker Rod!!!

 

[Gary C]

Had a similar event in an MR2 roadster (don't laugh, they drive fantastic).

Put the brakes on one day and got a free shower !

The drains had blocked due to some sort of growth !

 

[kitchens]

Common question ..I think there is a thred some where ,phone HQ they will sort it

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Rodney,
Look at the FAQ post pinned at the top of this forum!

 

[Guest]

I have just read through the thread posted in September 06 by JW who suffered the same problem. I wish I had read this at the time. Its interesting to see that someone posted a picture taken under the clam shell, this was not where my drain holes were blocked, my blockage was right down at the bottom of the space where the hood is stored. anyway I was told by Lancasters that 6 control units were soaked through, they managed to dry three out and had to replace 3.I agree with a lot of what was said in the thread on this subject last year, It may or may not be a design fault, for the cost of fitting a senser warning of a water build up would save Boxter owners a lot of money. Life goes on so I have put it behind me. Come Christmas day I will have my driving leicence back ( don't ask, and no it was not speeding or drink driving) and I will first take my 1935 supercharged MG for a run and then the Boxter.
I must say I am suprised at what seems to be a general argeement that Porsche customer service has a lot to be desired.I have so far ( this is my fourth new porsche) the service I have received has been pretty good, not quite up to Toyota std's but OK. on the other hand I think porsche sale people need some education on how to treat customers, the problem is that they don't have to work for their business. People who buy these cars know what they want and buy it. I did once remind a salesman at a local Porsche dealership that he only sold the cars! he went a bit red and his air of superiority slipped for a moment or to, but I cancilled the order and bought my car ealsewhere.

Rodney. ps good forum for airing views I wonder if Porsche GB read it?

 

[JCB..]

ORIGINAL: kitchens

Hope you took the first remark as a joke as it was intended
.
I think that is diisgracefull charging some one for that in a 18 months old car they could have easely have put this through as a warranty claim no goodwill there then .Yes it will be a warning to us all ,how many of us check these drain holes on a regular basis none I suspect

Brian

It's not unreasonable to expect an owner to check his or her car once in a while. It isn't a Porsche issue if in turn the car is parked under a waterfall even if it was one of natures making.

 

[kitchens]

I just think that seeing as the car was only 18 months even though it was his fault a bit of leway might have prevailed .in my business even if a product is out of warranty we will look at every individual persons claim and help the clients ,that is why I have been in business for 27 years repeat clients ,so it cost you some times but you get your rewards in other ways

 

[JCB..]

Fair comment but despite things like the RMS people just can't get enough Porsche's.

 

[richardheeley]

ORIGINAL: Rodney Collins

I did once remind a salesman at a local Porsche dealership that he only sold the cars! he went a bit red and his air of superiority slipped for a moment or to

Brilliant!

 

[Guest]

I do agree with John ( JCB) I do check my car, I clean it inside and out most weekends I do clean out any leaves or debrie that has collected both under the bonet and around the boot/claimshell etc, I live in the country so this has to be done anyway. I feel I do my bit, and to be fair it was my cleaning cloth that had gone down behind the hood to block the water outlet. However I will add at this point I am the driver not the mechnic, and I would not have a clue as to how to access the cavernous space at the bottom of the hood storage area where my cloth had made it way to. I will if I can try to post on this sight the photo that Lancasters emailed me to show me the problem. I am sure you will agree that it is not a place that most Boxter owners even know exists. I must say I do enjoy this site, what with this and the MG Tripple MMM register I will not have time to work soon!!

Rodney

 

[jw2015]

I too have always checked my cars regularly - tyre pressures, oil, etc; however, it never occurred to me that there were drain holes hidden away that could block (and I did, on my own, figure out that the air inlets in the front bumper were a collection point for leaves, etc. and I've always cleaned this out). The owner's manual, which goes so far as to tell you to dry off your brakes after washing the car (which I do), does not mention the drain holes. The fact that blocked drain holes can mean a hefty repair bill should mean that it is at least mentioned in the manual in big bold letters. Someone mentioned above that Porsche UK say it's something that gets checked during a service, but my OPC says they don't check it. I think if folks stand their ground on this problem they will get somewhere with Porsche UK, until Porsche UK explicitly put it in the manual or it is stressed by the OPC when they first give you the keys to the car, both of which should be done.

 

[SteveW14]

Found this which might be of use:

http://www.realtime.net/~rentner/Porsche/drains/drains.html

shows all the drain points for the car.