skl

Have the car in today for the DME W414 upgrade and the dealer calls to tell me I"ve won the lottery- I'm one of 12 affected by the dreaded valve spring retainer "problem." I'm actually al little nervous even letting them do this DME thing and replacing a non working horn and sure don't want them REBUILDING my engine! I'm not sure the dealer I bought the car from is up to the task either. Living in Iowa you don't have a lot of choices and non of the dealers anywhere near here sell that many P cars and both dealers I've dealt with each sold ONE GT3. Should I talk to the regional Porsche service rep? Would they ever let a Porsche race shop like Kelly-Moss in Madison WI do the work as I'd trust them. Or take it to a bigger dealer in a bigger city in the midwest?? DAMN

Bob Rouleau

Wow, you did win the lottery, odds-wise. The job entails something like 38 hours of labor so it is not a trivial repair. Is the local shop confident? Do that experience on complete rebuilds of these engines? If they have any hesitation, then ask to speak to the area tech-rep. Up here, deals have been made for complex work to be done at an outside race shop so your idea is not silly. Porsche has to consider that after the rebuild, the engine is still under warranty so they have some exposure if the job is not done correctly. Perhaps they could make a deal with Porsche Motorsports who are very good at rebuilding GT3 engines.

Rgds,

jecey

SKL, I'm sorry to hear about that bad news.

Is there an available list of vin for affected cars ?

Are the European cars also affected ?
thanks
/jc

JMcD

SKL,
I fell your pain! I also live nowhere near a dealer, let alone a competent servive department regarding GT3 work. I'am going to wait until next spring before any dealer does the DME update, hoping that things will improve in Service. However, any warranty work must be done at any dealer, nowhere else. Talking to Porsche or a rep is a waste of your time. Trailer your car to the best dealer you can find and demand an engine exchange.
Regards, Jack

Viken

The affected VIN number range was posted a while ago in this thread:

https://rennlist.com/forums/996-gt2-gt3-forum/155616-gt-recall.html

Bill - Chicago

skl -

Porsche motorsport subs out some of there cup engine rebuilts to kelly moss, so I would hope you could talk your regional rep into this. the other question is will kelly moss accept what porsche would pay the dealer for the work.

Bob Rouleau

JMcD - I am surprised that you feel that the local area tech rep from PCNA can be of no help. My experience has been much the contrary.
Rgds,

Jack

My experience dove tails with Bob's -- the local rep has been of great assistance to me over the years.

jim911

I guess I can't blame anyone for being concerned, afterall most Porsche dealers are considered parts changers. The Kelly Moss idea sounds the best. Call Pete Debries at Kelly Moss and ask if he thinks its possible. Good luck Stu

JMcD

Bob and Jack,
If SKL or I lived in LA, or any major Porsche market, service for our GT3's would not be a problem. Competent service on this car there we live is a real concern to us.
Regards, Jack

rockitman

I would talk w/ PCNA and voice your concerns. They should fly a mechanic over from Germany to operate on it at the local dealer's garage facility OR send you a new motor replacement for a swap out, that any reasonable Porsche mechanic should be able to do w/o much difficulty. If that fails, see if you can lemon it...Don't worry about the DME upgrade. You can read the procedure on the TSB the tech follows and you can confirm the procedure with your dealer. Best of luck skl....

GTEE3

skl, there is a procedure that can be done that is less evasive...not requiring the removal of the heads. I am told that it should be a 2 day job.

skl

koepke- I assume you meant INVASIVE, (you've been watching too much potlitical crap on TV lately!) and how would you replace those without removing the heads? The dealer here actually didn't sound any more exicted about doing the repair than I did having them do it... will be interesting to see how this plays out. I called PCNA today and they're supposed to be getting back to me. Wonder what the other 11 are doing about this??? I also wonder how the hell they ever figured out this was a problem in the first place?????

jecey

thanks Viken !

GTEE3

skl,
I have researched the procedure....fairly common w/ Porsche race techs. to change valve springs, etc.
The heads stay intact, 1x1, the cylinders are filled w/ air, the valves close, and the caps can be exchanged...I am told 2 day complete job.
The Porsche tech s/b able to run a diagnostic after, to test for zero leakdown, and give you the report.
Dave Bottom at Arlan Mtrspt. can walk your tech through the procedure.
I feel your pain...but you will not get anywhere w/ PCNA.