My parents are driving to shreveport right now in their 2004 cayenne S. They called me and told me that whenever they accelerate they feel a thumping sound that shakes the car. It still accelerates but it thumps while doing it. I asked if they felt it in the steering wheel or in the seat and they said seat, so I'm kind of leaning towards a drivetrain problem. It cruises fine on cruise control but once it starts to go uphill the thumping starts. Any ideas?

 

Cardan Shaft, common problem on early model Cayennes.

http://www.vertexauto.com/ShowItem/2...20Rebuilt.aspx

I have heard good things about this particular company but no personal experience.

 

Vertex has a decent reputation FWIW...

You could also contact Sunset Imports regarding the price for new OEM parts.
Sunset Imports is highly regarded and recommended for OEM parts (they were the original "cost + 15% folks).

 

Certainly sounds like a cardan shaft problem...

 

Has the OEM cardan shaft been updated from the "beta" days to resolve the problem? Or if not lengthen the life of the rubber pieces, at least make them replaceable? My dealer told me back in December that mine was showing signs of wear, but that I could wait until it starts making noises before replacing it.

It's interesting that Vertex claims an "improved" design for their rebuilt unit.

 

+1 on the Cardan Shaft.

Ours was replaced under CPO about 8 months ago on our '03 CTT. I inquired with the service manager if he had seen any other Cayennes back in the shop with a second cardan shaft failure after it had been replaced... he had not seen any (Westlake/Rusnak Porsche). By no means is this proof of a design improvement, nor did I ask at the time, but it certainly provides some peace of mind.

 

Glad to hear your CPO covered this. I am in Maine on vacation and was passing a car in my 2006 Cayenne S. Downshifted to third and something happened. Completed the pass and whenever I accelerated, a thumping sound. Got out and checked the drive shaft. The bearing which supports the shaft is gone and not even attached to the support bracket. There was no prior warning or issue of any kind. Car has 93K miles. I was able to limp back to our place in Camden ME. Called Roadside Assist and having it towed to Morong Falmouth Porsche Monday AM. Hoping they have a shaft in stock so I can get repaired and drive home. My Virginia Beach dealership is open Saturdays and they keep them in stock, so it is obviously a common problem. My car is a CPO car thank goodness.

So for any Cayenne owners with some miles and warranty left, get that thing checked out! Now that I have read about this issue on Rennlist I wish I had thought to replace with an updated one. My mechanic did my 90K service before I left town and he said he checked and it was fine. According to him this can just go without warning.

Update 07/26/2010: Marong Porsche Falmouth excellent service. Cayenne towed there this AM. Part had to be ordered overnight and work scheduled for completion tomorrow. Provided Audi A6 as loaner. Pickup Wednesday Am and heading home. Porsche Roadside Assist, CPO, and Dealer all performed as promised!

Update 08/02/2010: Car was ready first thing Wednesday, picked up, drove home, cost $0.00. Very happy with the result and highly recommend the only Porsche Dealer in Maine http://morong-falmouth.porschedealer.com/

 

i am on shaft 2 at 107k

 

I'm still on shaft 1 at 66K, but I know my day will come...

 

50K on my 04S and it's original, I'm sure it will go on me
It's not crazy expansive so I can live with it.

 

Just changed mine on Tuesday. Ordered a rebuilt shaft from Colorado Drive Shaft. They shipped and I had it in 3 days. $475.00. About 2 hours of labor on my part to change it out. Dealer was around $1300 parts and labor. I had 74,000 miles on my 2004 Cayenne Turbo. Went to accelerate and heard the thumping right below the center console. And yes, it does go that fast. Good luck...

 

some of these dealers are really expensive, mine was way under 9

 

My two cents: Mine went out a couple of weeks ago; crazy thumping noise in the right rear and under the center console. Initially scared the $%*@ outta me; thought I was gonna look in the rear view mirror and see CS parts all over the roadway. The thumping came and went intermittently, usually at low speeds (under 20 mph). I did a little Rennlist/Renntech research; quickly learned it was the cardan shaft. The part is $700 + labor.

I bought a rebuilt one from Vertex Auto for $400 (after core exchange) and had it installed at a VW/Audi dealership. (no P dealer in the immediate area). Labor was $200. The Vertex claim is that the rebuilt shaft is superior to OEM....we'll see. Vertex shaft carries a one year warranty.

 

1yr warranty and it's superior to the OEM?
I'm pretty sure the only difference is the 'rubber'

 

You would think that Porsche could design an 'effing shaft after their learning curves on the torque tubes in 928s and 944s....