Mystery Noise - 981 Cayman GTS - X73 Suspension
Discussion
Right, as is the way because life is truly unfair, I am trying to get my CGTS back into warranty via OPC.
They have confirmed (somewhat oddly) that there is a strange bump,clonk noise from the rear of the car, when going over low speed speed bump leaving the OPC, so cannot pass the 111 point check, vis a vee cannot be warrantied.
Confirmed their technicians to check over the car as likely a worn bush, trailing arm, joint, suspension component etc. Well they've had the car two days and cannot find, understand or explain what the noise is. No elaboration just a request for £600 to take out the interior trim. What is also more strange is the noise apparently has moved from the back to the front, so different technicians have differing opinions. It has been up on the ramp and out with three guys and they all have no clue what it could be.
So mine has the X73 suspension, it has always made a bit of a clonk when going over speed bumps, and importantly, has always been warrantied and passed all 111 point checks for summer/winter/servicing etc with this clonk.
Feels a bit fishy to me, I did have a warranty claim last year, so I am of the opinion, they don't want it rewarrantied etc.
I am struggling to understand as they seem quite closed off to any further discussions unless I pay for "further investigation". They won't even posit what it could be, they don't know the location, just want to remove interior trim and investigate.
Anyone else had a similar experience or know what this mysterious clunk could be?
They have confirmed (somewhat oddly) that there is a strange bump,clonk noise from the rear of the car, when going over low speed speed bump leaving the OPC, so cannot pass the 111 point check, vis a vee cannot be warrantied.
Confirmed their technicians to check over the car as likely a worn bush, trailing arm, joint, suspension component etc. Well they've had the car two days and cannot find, understand or explain what the noise is. No elaboration just a request for £600 to take out the interior trim. What is also more strange is the noise apparently has moved from the back to the front, so different technicians have differing opinions. It has been up on the ramp and out with three guys and they all have no clue what it could be.
So mine has the X73 suspension, it has always made a bit of a clonk when going over speed bumps, and importantly, has always been warrantied and passed all 111 point checks for summer/winter/servicing etc with this clonk.
Feels a bit fishy to me, I did have a warranty claim last year, so I am of the opinion, they don't want it rewarrantied etc.
I am struggling to understand as they seem quite closed off to any further discussions unless I pay for "further investigation". They won't even posit what it could be, they don't know the location, just want to remove interior trim and investigate.
Anyone else had a similar experience or know what this mysterious clunk could be?
A simple black and white situation, ask them for the cause of the knock if they can't find anything then nothing is wrong with it, saying there is a strange knock so there must be something wrong is nonsense, question their work pressure them and they will yield...you've paid good money after all.
I had a similar thing with an OPC who was tasked to fix my aircon, they didn't want to commit on their work and said we think its ok...that is not a suitable answer.
I had a similar thing with an OPC who was tasked to fix my aircon, they didn't want to commit on their work and said we think its ok...that is not a suitable answer.
Klippie said:
A simple black and white situation, ask them for the cause of the knock if they can't find anything then nothing is wrong with it, saying there is a strange knock so there must be something wrong is nonsense, question their work pressure them and they will yield...you've paid good money after all.
I had a similar thing with an OPC who was tasked to fix my aircon, they didn't want to commit on their work and said we think its ok...that is not a suitable answer.
The trouble has I want to warranty the car but they want to charge me random figures to just explore, not even fix. This could go on forever and I still have to pay for the warranty.I had a similar thing with an OPC who was tasked to fix my aircon, they didn't want to commit on their work and said we think its ok...that is not a suitable answer.
I think this is most likely due to the £4K of work I got on the warranty last year; but that’s why I pay a £800 warranty every year!
Swine Enthusiast said:
The trouble has I want to warranty the car but they want to charge me random figures to just explore, not even fix. This could go on forever and I still have to pay for the warranty.
I think this is most likely due to the £4K of work I got on the warranty last year; but that’s why I pay a £800 warranty every year!
I don't think any previous claim has anything to do with it, they got paid to do it or it would not have got done, it was just another job to them, warranty rates are not far off retail rates nowadays.I think this is most likely due to the £4K of work I got on the warranty last year; but that’s why I pay a £800 warranty every year!
If the car has a problem and they don't know what is causing it all they can do is investigate until it is found and charge for their time.
Not ideal from your side and no doubt the wrong place to be billed by the hour but how would you suggest they do it?
981Boxess said:
Swine Enthusiast said:
The trouble has I want to warranty the car but they want to charge me random figures to just explore, not even fix. This could go on forever and I still have to pay for the warranty.
I think this is most likely due to the £4K of work I got on the warranty last year; but that’s why I pay a £800 warranty every year!
I don't think any previous claim has anything to do with it, they got paid to do it or it would not have got done, it was just another job to them, warranty rates are not far off retail rates nowadays.I think this is most likely due to the £4K of work I got on the warranty last year; but that’s why I pay a £800 warranty every year!
If the car has a problem and they don't know what is causing it all they can do is investigate until it is found and charge for their time.
Not ideal from your side and no doubt the wrong place to be billed by the hour but how would you suggest they do it?
Now magically the noise has moved and it’s none of the original issues they believed it was.
Originally a bump noise from the rear passenger side. Now it’s not there, it’s the front right.
Swine Enthusiast said:
981Boxess said:
Swine Enthusiast said:
The trouble has I want to warranty the car but they want to charge me random figures to just explore, not even fix. This could go on forever and I still have to pay for the warranty.
I think this is most likely due to the £4K of work I got on the warranty last year; but that’s why I pay a £800 warranty every year!
I don't think any previous claim has anything to do with it, they got paid to do it or it would not have got done, it was just another job to them, warranty rates are not far off retail rates nowadays.I think this is most likely due to the £4K of work I got on the warranty last year; but that’s why I pay a £800 warranty every year!
If the car has a problem and they don't know what is causing it all they can do is investigate until it is found and charge for their time.
Not ideal from your side and no doubt the wrong place to be billed by the hour but how would you suggest they do it?
Now magically the noise has moved and it’s none of the original issues they believed it was.
Originally a bump noise from the rear passenger side. Now it’s not there, it’s the front right.
Take it somewhere cheaper to get the work done if you cannot do it yourself.
Swine Enthusiast said:
The trouble has I want to warranty the car but they want to charge me random figures to just explore, not even fix. This could go on forever and I still have to pay for the warranty.
I think this is most likely due to the £4K of work I got on the warranty last year; but that’s why I pay a £800 warranty every year!
You mentioned three of their Tech's had looked over your car and found nothing wrong...I'd hit straight with that " So three of your fully trained-up Porsche Tech's thoroughly checked my car over and coudn't find an issue...well why do I not have a pass on the 111 point check" honestly I would read them the riot act, get the service manager involved and basically call out their competency to fault find a car.I think this is most likely due to the £4K of work I got on the warranty last year; but that’s why I pay a £800 warranty every year!
An OPC is no different (as much as they like to think so) to any other dealer, if they provide bad service or something you are not happy with you have every right to tell them so.
OPCs don't pay any claims, not even Porsche does, the policy underwriter does, which was Zurich Ins last time I had an extended warranty from Porsche. In fact, OPCs get paid to carry out warranty work, so can't see why they'd be attempting to block a warranty application based on past claims.
That said, I equally can't see how you're going to force them to do anything they don't want to do. If they are saying there's some kind of fault that needs to be fully diagnosed and rectified before renewal, that's the end of that story. I think all you can do is try a different OPC and hope they don't detect anything similar.
You really don't want to be spending big time to put the car on the warranty, defeats the object of the whole thing.
That said, I equally can't see how you're going to force them to do anything they don't want to do. If they are saying there's some kind of fault that needs to be fully diagnosed and rectified before renewal, that's the end of that story. I think all you can do is try a different OPC and hope they don't detect anything similar.
You really don't want to be spending big time to put the car on the warranty, defeats the object of the whole thing.
f6box said:
OPCs don't pay any claims, not even Porsche does, the policy underwriter does, which was Zurich Ins last time I had an extended warranty from Porsche. In fact, OPCs get paid to carry out warranty work, so can't see why they'd be attempting to block a warranty application based on past claims.
That said, I equally can't see how you're going to force them to do anything they don't want to do. If they are saying there's some kind of fault that needs to be fully diagnosed and rectified before renewal, that's the end of that story. I think all you can do is try a different OPC and hope they don't detect anything similar.
You really don't want to be spending big time to put the car on the warranty, defeats the object of the whole thing.
Exactly, you have a potential fishing expedition. What made it really strange is the guy I've dealt with for 6 years has always been great but was very coy and cold, I joked "if you were to guess what could it be" he just said, we have no idea until we take the interior out etc"That said, I equally can't see how you're going to force them to do anything they don't want to do. If they are saying there's some kind of fault that needs to be fully diagnosed and rectified before renewal, that's the end of that story. I think all you can do is try a different OPC and hope they don't detect anything similar.
You really don't want to be spending big time to put the car on the warranty, defeats the object of the whole thing.
Like, you said suspension, now it could be anything. Weird weird weird.
Swine Enthusiast said:
What made it really strange is the guy I've dealt with for 6 years has always been great but was very coy and cold, I joked "if you were to guess what could it be" he just said, we have no idea until we take the interior out etc"
I have no idea of what has gone here, only you do, but keep in mind anyone can have a bad day/week/whatever and that includes people that work in the motor game. Rule number one is don't guess what is wrong with a car, regardless of if the question starts with "I won't hold you to it but ..........." it will almost certainly come back and bite you in the harse.As for the suggestion of going in there and "hit straight with whatever" let me assure not only is that poor advice but it will guarantee you that you will get nowhere with that attitude. You get a lot further working with people than trying to win a fight.
981Boxess said:
I have no idea of what has gone here, only you do, but keep in mind anyone can have a bad day/week/whatever and that includes people that work in the motor game. Rule number one is don't guess what is wrong with a car, regardless of if the question starts with "I won't hold you to it but ..........." it will almost certainly come back and bite you in the harse.
As for the suggestion of going in there and "hit straight with whatever" let me assure not only is that poor advice but it will guarantee you that you will get nowhere with that attitude. You get a lot further working with people than trying to win a fight.
Excellent post. As for the suggestion of going in there and "hit straight with whatever" let me assure not only is that poor advice but it will guarantee you that you will get nowhere with that attitude. You get a lot further working with people than trying to win a fight.
Phrases such as “read them the riot act” etc rarely end well.
Request a conversation with the service manager, and failing that the dealer principal.
I find that all to often service advisors don’t apply basic common sense to how they deal with problems such as this, rather they do everything by the “book procedure” (no doubt to cover their arses, so understandable) but rather they become more firmly entrenched in their stance, and sometimes it takes the application of a modicum of common sense by a manager to quickly circumvent a scenario such as the OP’s.
If they think there's a fault, they think there's a fault. Rightly or wrongly. I'm not personally clear what the opportunity for negotiation is. All they can do is request permission to investigate the fault at this stage. If the owner thinks there's no fault, then there's something of an impasse.
That said, if the fault has 'moved' to the front, presumably the interior no longer needs to be removed and diagnoses ought to be more straight forward?
That said, if the fault has 'moved' to the front, presumably the interior no longer needs to be removed and diagnoses ought to be more straight forward?
One other thought, though the window for this might have closed if relationships have already soured.
If the OP genuinely doubts the fault, one might request the fault be demonstrated with a technician onboard, especially given it's the OPC's speed bump that surfaced the problem and so it would not be much of an endeavour to demonstrate the fault.
If the fault can't be demonstrated in that scenario, you'd be in a better position for a reasonable and constructive discussion regarding the actual existence of the fault and if it's grounds to decline to apply a warranty. To an extent that would also be true should they decline to demonstrate the fault. It would weaken their assertion. Not that any of this would force them to do anything, but it might at the very least help clear up that there is or isn't a fault, especially if they could clearly demonstrate there is a fault!
If the OP genuinely doubts the fault, one might request the fault be demonstrated with a technician onboard, especially given it's the OPC's speed bump that surfaced the problem and so it would not be much of an endeavour to demonstrate the fault.
If the fault can't be demonstrated in that scenario, you'd be in a better position for a reasonable and constructive discussion regarding the actual existence of the fault and if it's grounds to decline to apply a warranty. To an extent that would also be true should they decline to demonstrate the fault. It would weaken their assertion. Not that any of this would force them to do anything, but it might at the very least help clear up that there is or isn't a fault, especially if they could clearly demonstrate there is a fault!
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