Water leakage and extensive damage - what to do?

[Motorhead]

Mik,

Blocked rear drains are a common feature of Boxster ownership, which sounds like your problem, and there are floor-mounted electronic modules which don’t like water and which probably will account for your electrical gremlins.

If the car was bought from a Porsche dealership this is something which should have been checked before sale. Hold out for a warranty fix.

Jeff

 

[bigmouth]

Hi there

First time poster, have had two Porsches. My second, a 718 Boxster S (2017 year) has had a number of problems and finally is with an OPC to fix. The short version is:

• Noticed the car was starting to mist up inside heavily after any rain
• After the heavy rain of last week, started to get multiple warnings culminating in a System Fault warning and a PSM failure
• As I was waiting for the dealership to have a slot, the car started spontaneously opening the roof, opening the rear boot, and having the rear central brake light on all the time.

Of course, it decided to open the roof while it was torrential rain resulting a pool of water on the passenger side and me and a neighbour spending twenty minutes trying to figure out how to manually close the roof. Even after manually closing it, I kept hearing the sound that is emitted for example when the parking brake is turned on and off.

I'm really hoping this gets fixed under warranty, but I'm wondering:

1. How hard I should push the warranty fix if there's any dispute, especially with the water damage. Anyone any experience like this?
2. If the car will ever be the same. I was soaking up the excess water with towels and noticed the characteristic rust colour on the towel. Should I request they replace whatever has signs of rust, even if surface?

I'm really disappointed. I've only had the car 6 months. At least I have the extended warranty to the mid half of next year.

Any thoughts appreciated. It's an expensive piece of kit to be a lemon.

BM

 

[Scrounger]

Agree with Jeff. Sounds like blocked drains which have overflowed allowing water to collect in the floor. As Jeff has said, it should have been checked before you collected the car unless they've become clogged after collection which may be an excuse they use.

Is the car kept outside and/or under a tree when not being used?

Dan

 

[bigmouth]

Thanks, Jeff. Much appreciated.

I originally bought the car from a Ford dealership but got Porsche Bournemouth to do an interim service before the sale.

Does that change your response in any way?

 

[Scrounger]

Should have still been checked during the service by Porsche Bournemouth IMO.

Do you have a Porsche extended warranty?

Dan

 

[bigmouth]

Agree with Jeff. Sounds like blocked drains which have overflowed allowing water to collect in the floor. As Jeff has said, it should have been checked before you collected the car unless they've become clogged after collection which may be an excuse they use.

Is the car kept outside and/or under a tree when not being used?

Dan

The car is kept outside when not in use on my driveway. It's not under a tree.

I have had a look at the owner's manual, the good to know videos and also the mechanic's service manual found on another post here and none of them say clear out the drain holes. How would I know if it weren't for forums like these?

Seems like an issue with design and an oversight in care and maintenance instructions for the owner.

 

[bigmouth]

Should have still been checked during the service by Porsche Bournemouth IMO.

Do you have a Porsche extended warranty?

Dan

Yes, I do. Til June 2023.

 

[Scrounger]

Here you go. Post 17 gives you an idea what to do. Apparently you can buy a drain cleaning kit which looks like a pipe cleaner

https://www.planet-9.com/threads/981bs-water-leak-in-seatbelt-holder-area.115086/#/topics/115086?page=1&_k=atk4jt

Dan

 

[Robin M]

As you have the warranty and had the car booked into your OPC before this damage then I can’t see why it would not be covered under warranty. If you were waiting for OPC to give you a repair slot and they did not warn you that you should keep the car under cover or offer to store it for you until the repair slot was available I can’t see how you are responsible for this damage as the OPC did not tell you to do anything other than wait for an available slot. if there is any kick back from them then discuss the issue with Porsche GB

 

[bigmouth]

As you have the warranty and had the car booked into your OPC before this damage then I can’t see why it would not be covered under warranty. If you were waiting for OPC to give you a repair slot and they did not warn you that you should keep the car under cover or offer to store it for you until the repair slot was available I can’t see how you are responsible for this damage as the OPC did not tell you to do anything other than wait for an available slot. if there is any kick back from them then discuss the issue with Porsche GB

Thanks. Yes, the OPC I wanted to service it with said they were full and even if they took the car there wasn't anywhere under cover to store it until ready to be repaired. Haven't got a response yet.

What I'm more concerned about is, even if they fix it, the water damage in the car can have more longer lasting effects that aren't noticed in the original repair.

 

[malarcy]

Sympathies on the situation you find yourself in.

regarding drains - I have never understood why the procedure for checking and cleaning is not in the handbook. My local opc do check them as part of their general check over when servicing And will clear small blockages. Larger blocks requiring more time are charged at usual labour rates.

that all said even if the opc did check then 6 months ago then a lot can happen in that time. Many owners I know check weekly if their car is parked outside

i hope this gets covered under warranty and this is just my opinion (based on helping a few owners of 987 with the same problem.) the electronics under the seat(s) are toast. Don’t know the 718 layout very well but on previous cars that was rear control unit (roof spoiler rear lights boot etc) rear parking sensors, telephone module if installed and the sound package plus amplifier.

drying out the carpets and more importantly the sound insulation underneath takes many days to dry out.

if water has been pooling for a while then the wiring loom(s) may also have been affected.

those would be the items that would concern me most for long term damage more so than any rust issues.

See what they say and take it from there

good luck.

 

[bigmouth]

Sympathies on the situation you find yourself in.

regarding drains - I have never understood why the procedure for checking and cleaning is not in the handbook. My local opc do check them as part of their general check over when servicing And will clear small blockages. Larger blocks requiring more time are charged at usual labour rates.

that all said even if the opc did check then 6 months ago then a lot can happen in that time. Many owners I know check weekly if their car is parked outside

i hope this gets covered under warranty and this is just my opinion (based on helping a few owners of 987 with the same problem.) the electronics under the seat(s) are toast. Don’t know the 718 layout very well but on previous cars that was rear control unit (roof spoiler rear lights boot etc) rear parking sensors, telephone module if installed and the sound package plus amplifier.

drying out the carpets and more importantly the sound insulation underneath takes many days to dry out.

if water has been pooling for a while then the wiring loom(s) may also have been affected.

those would be the items that would concern me most for long term damage more so than any rust issues.

See what they say and take it from there

good luck.

Thank you

 

[SpyderDavid]

Sorry to hear of your situation. Physical fix aside I fear it will be tricky for you to pin down accountability from what you have described. You say you bought the car from a Ford dealer - did they have the car on SOR for the previous owner or was it really sold by them? If it was the latter then a Porsche Extended Warranty lapses and cannot be transferred from the previous owner - have you clarified this with anyone?

If you can demonstrate a valid warranty I imagine the provider (which unlike the new vehicle warranty is not Porsche but an insurer) will attempt to evade responsibility by saying that the vehicle was not maintained properly so your recourse would be against whoever serviced the vehicle.

The challenge then will be whether the drains should have been checked or if its said that they were checked (I think the service was some months ago?) and have become blocked subsequently - you would have difficulty prooving this.

Having said all that it’s not an uncommon issue by any means, more usually on older cars so it’s not going to be terminal or likely to have long term effects once fixed.

My advice would be to firstly clarify the status of your warranty, if you haven’t already done this, and to have had a clear conversation with the servicing dealer - even if your warranty is valid I think they are your best chance of resolution. I understand why you’ve done it but I think taking the car to another OPC is going to further complicate the situation.

Fingers crossed for a positive outcome.

 

[bigmouth]

Sorry to hear of your situation. Physical fix aside I fear it will be tricky for you to pin down accountability from what you have described. You say you bought the car from a Ford dealer - did they have the car on SOR for the previous owner or was it really sold by them? If it was the latter then a Porsche Extended Warranty lapses and cannot be transferred from the previous owner - have you clarified this with anyone?

If you can demonstrate a valid warranty I imagine the provider (which unlike the new vehicle warranty is not Porsche but an insurer) will attempt to evade responsibility by saying that the vehicle was not maintained properly so your recourse would be against whoever serviced the vehicle.

The challenge then will be whether the drains should have been checked or if its said that they were checked (I think the service was some months ago?) and have become blocked subsequently - you would have difficulty prooving this.

Having said all that it’s not an uncommon issue by any means, more usually on older cars so it’s not going to be terminal or likely to have long term effects once fixed.

My advice would be to firstly clarify the status of your warranty, if you haven’t already done this, and to have had a clear conversation with the servicing dealer - even if your warranty is valid I think they are your best chance of resolution. I understand why you’ve done it but I think taking the car to another OPC is going to further complicate the situation.

Fingers crossed for a positive outcome.

What is SOR?

The current OPC has confirmed that the extended warranty applies.

I don't understand how anyone can know to maintain the vehicle's drainage system if it is neither in the user manual nor in the good to know videos.

 

[kitchens]

SOR Sale or Return they take an agreed commission on a sale. some have to be done this way as dealers cannot sell a car with a manufactures warranty on to a 3rd party, only the original owner or who's name is on the V5

 

[911hillclimber]

Nightmare for you, and I hope you can get it resolved, but also the car will be reliable in the future.

Ref drains...

On my 987.2 there are 6 drains

2 most important ones under the folding hood I think all refer to here. I clean mine out every 6 weeks and debris that gathers is surprising. I flush mine through using a watering can and observe water flow under the car each side.

There are two each side of the battery which might be your water ingress source. Awkward to get at and properly clean.

There are then two more just behind the B pillar where the roof comes to the body, you get to them at the same time as Sind the main ones, very easy to forget!

nothing in the manual which is crazy.

 

[AlistairF]

My OPC told me my garaged 981 drains were blocked when carrying out a minor (£1000) service, and asked for an additional £140.00 to clear them.

The hood drains on a 981 are quite short…(they can be seen on the exploded parts diagram), however I was told if I did not agree to them clearing them I would have a note put on my service record.

Somewhat miffed I spoke to the service manager who told me that the drains ran all the way to the rear bumper and as it was summer might have accumulated pollen. I kid you not. I knew they were clear as I run water down them regularly. They take 5 mins to check with a flexible tool. I also suspect it takes as long to clean them as it does to check. After a bit of a discussion they climbed down and ‘cleared‘ them FOC.

I did ask if it was so critical they weren’t included in the manual or service schedule. I am still waiting for the answer. I wish you luck. You would think that with such a long production run they would have sorted this potential issue by now.

 

[AlistairF]

My OPC told me my garaged 981 drains were blocked when carrying out a minor (£1000) service, and asked for an additional £140.00 to clear them.

The hood drains on a 981 are quite short…(they can be seen on the exploded parts diagram), however I was told if I did not agree to them clearing them I would have a note put on my service record.

Somewhat miffed I spoke to the service manager who told me that the drains ran all the way to the rear bumper and as it was summer might have accumulated pollen. I kid you not. I knew they were clear as I run water down them regularly. They take 5 mins to check with a flexible tool. I also suspect it takes as long to clean them as it does to check. After a bit of a discussion they climbed down and ‘cleared‘ them FOC.

I did ask if it was so critical they weren’t included in the manual or service schedule. I am still waiting for the answer. I wish you luck. You would think that with such a long production run they would have sorted this potential issue by now.

 

[chrishak]

Hopefully the issue will be rectified to your satisfaction but for future reference, buy a Trombone cleaner and use that to clear the drains every couple of months or so

 

[bigmouth]

An update to this - the OPC fixed this under warranty with no quibbles whatsoever. I decided to extend the official warranty by another 2 years as they couldn't give me a simple solution to maintain this myself. I'll watch the videos people have linked and figure it out. Seems like a crazy design fault.