First off I love my Cayenne, however I have a couple of questions for the veterans after discovering and researching a couple of quirks;

1. Rear Hatch is hard to close and the window rattles when you close it, and occasionally over big bumps. Should I have the dealer adjust it or just live with it? What should I expect to pay to have it adjusted? Will replacing the oft mentioned switch help with this or is this just something that you do when it flat out won't open?

2. I have an 04 that is running on the original battery and when I had an intermittent air suspension warning the dealer said it could be the battery based on their experience but mine is at 90% of it's original capacity so they did not recommend replacing based on capacity but possibly based solely on its age.

I also have other electrical quirks with the remote unlocking and the CD Changer and while I doubt these are related you never know so I thought I'd ask. Will a slightly weak or old battery cause issues? Are the remotes and the CDC just quirky anyway and likely not related to anything else?

Overall this stuff is just minor nuisances on what is an amazing car.

Thanks,

Tom

 

Is your car an 04 turbo?

 

Oops, not a Turbo, just an S so no auto closure mechanism.

 

Welcome. The rattle in the rear window isn't normal. I'd have your dealer check that one.

As for the battery - I would have it replaced. When the battery starts to fail in a Cayenne, all sorts of strange things happen. This could, potentially, explain some of the faults with the key fobs that you mentioned. I'd also change your key fob batteries. This could be something totally unrelated too. Hard to say.

 

The rear hatch adjustment was a big thing on 04's and should have been taken care of a long time ago, there was a TSB about adjusting the mechanism and replacing a microswitch which used to pop it open all the time. its not hard to adjust, go to Rentech and get an account where you can see the TSB's

 

Which quirk: the silly one button remote or the 1" range?

 

The window opens separately from the hatch, and if not securely closed will rattle.

 

You can improve the range if you stand on one leg holding an umbrella pointed at the rear spoiler...

 

Why do you need to open it from 20 feet away anyway? You can't open the door until you get there! Who needs long range remotes?? (I keep telling my wife these things...)

 

if you press the keyfob under your chin it works better

 

Touch the exhaust while using the remote, you will get better range.

Every Cayenne I have owned has needed the air shocks on the tailgate replaced.

CD issues are considered an "entertainment feature".

And yes, just like a battered spouse, we all start our posts with "I really love my Cayenne".

 

Actually, depending on the revision of the rear window microswitch, the rear window will usually open on its own to minimize the distraction caused by a rattle

 

"I really love my Cayenne too"...but it's a real piece. I've decided it really doesn't matter which model year. Plan on everything breaking. In fact, more things have broken on my 06 than my old beta.

But, I really do love it!!!!

 

It's quirky, but lets face it, it drives better than any SUV on the Planet IMO.

 

Glad to know it is not just me...

Rattle was adjusted away. Brand new key fob has retained the 1" range. CD Changer has decided that only certain CD's are unworthy and the air suspension fault I was seeing on my road trip through the mountains has completely gone away. So now that everything is working as normal I should probably replace something huh? Or at least sacrifice a small animal over the engine or tailgate to appease the gods...