Hey guys. I picked up my 996 Turbo a few weeks ago from a private seller. I had him do a PPI and they outlined the issues with the car. Everything was mostly cosmetic or minor, the biggest thing was that the NAV did not know it's correct location.

I've had the car a few weeks now and I noticed some additional problems not outlined in the report. The most worrisome issue is a THUD or THUNK that comes from the rear or center of the car when accelerating from a stand still. I've had the car a few weeks and just heard this today after not driving the car a few days. The only thing I've done that could've affected anything is to pull the negative terminal to try and reset the GPS.

My concerns are a) Is Porsche liable for having missed something and b) any direction on how to troubleshoot this THUD issue?

 

thats why you should pick your own group to do the PPI and not the seller.... anyway:

as for the thud.... is it the tranny? how many miles?.... how does the maint records look. Or it could just be a loose drop link.

As for the GPS, try cleaning the DVD nav disc....

 

PPIs can be very detailed or a simple report based on a drive around the block. What items and areas were checked and to what degree? How much was spent for the inspection? I have found several Porsche dealers not willing to do PPIs for private party sales.

You could have a case if the inspecting party gave you a written certification that all mechanical issues are covered up to a certain future date. I doubt any inspector would.

GL

 

48,000 miles. Maintenance records are normal. Porsche said the car was in very good condition. I've put about 1,000 miles on the car since I got it and never heard the noise until after I pulled the battery cable to resolve the NAV issue. Which unfortunately is something with the antenna or NAV unit cause I've tried EVERYTHING (including different discs) to resolve.

Someone said the car has to remap the fuel mixture after losing power. Maybe that's what's going on? It seems like the thud is more intense as you first drive off and then starts diminishing...but I've not driven more than a few miles in case there is something serious. I'll look up drop link info. Any additional input is appreciated.

 

Sound like a loose motor or trans mount? Dealer forgot to tighten my forward trans mount once and I had a simular noise.

 

Take a Porsche mechanic (sorry Tech.) for a ride from the dealer that performed the PPI. Have you checked the obvious things 1st? ie; something loose in the front trunk, spare, tools etc.

 

The first thing I did was to make sure I didn't have something rattling around in the trunk. I can feel the vibration around the e-brake so I'm confident it's happening somewhere in the center to rear of the car.

I'll call Porsche and see about getting it over there for a glance.

 

Oh have no concern about anyone being liable. They are not. Why would they be?
I am thinking motor mounts or flywheel springs are kaput

 

for the most part you are SOL. with the amount of miles you now have on the car you prob won't get anywhere. After my ppi i had noticed that there was a crack in the windshield right above the rearview mirror when i got the car home. I let them know a couple days after i took possession and was attaching my ezpass.

To their defense, it was hard to see at 1st glance. But, being 4 inches long, i feel that they didn't see it either. There is no concrete way to prove it was there before their inspection.

They are going to say. "how do we know that didn't happen in your possession?"
It is up to you to prove that it was there when they had it. It is a losing battle.

 

double check your work in the battery area and try to wiggle the battery aroung, it may be loose.

 

I think PPI's are over-rated, especially when done by a dealer out of town. A PPI helps spot obvious flaws/defects and gives one a piece of mind about the purchase, but no one will look over a car as meticulous as caring owner.
In your case, given the mileage it is probably out of the realm of blaming the PPI inspector, however, you may contact the seller and ask about the NAV or even the noise. I still e-mail the previous owner of my car from time to time.

 

I doubt you have a cause of action, and not sure you should even pursue it. This is a new noise, after 1,000 miles. The noise wasn't there when the PPI was performed.

A PPI is not a guarantee you will have no problems. It will only rule out a bad apple, or list the problems you need to address.

Do a search on the NAV not knowing the current location. There was a similar question a couple of weeks ago.

GL.

 

If you can get under the car check the mount on the rear of the transmission. If you're feeling the thunk in the area of the E brake handle, the trans mount is directly underneath.

 

Exactly, "I got 200 bucks for your pocket if this deal goes through" one reason I didn't have one done, I had a guy stop by and drive it and that was my ppi. I also checked out everything the po told me. All the way down to the payoff. Basically made sure he was honest.

 

+1

I had a dealer PPI my C4 before buying and they missed the fact that the one front tire was 75% worn and the other brand new, they missed that the front differential was half full and had a leaky seal, that there was a loose drop link and finally that the pinion bearing in the transmission was shot. When I protested their work (immediately after receiving the car), the $550 PPI fee was refunded without objection, but I was SOL to get the transmission fixed ($4K).