In my 2013 CD the middle LED lights red if I move the dif lock switch forward. No combination of forward or rearward movement makes the other LEDs light. Moving it back turns off the middle LED if it’s lit.

I have no idea if it is actually doing anything and I thought the LED was supposed to be orange.

Am I doing something wrong or is something not working as designed?

Thanks

Eric

 

No Cayenne Diesels had PTVPlus/Rear Locking Differential as an option. All you have with a Cayenne Diesel is the ability to do "off-road mode 1" which performs software changes to various systems in the car. There is no center diff locking via the switch (position/light 2), and no rear diff locking via the switch (position/light 3), in a Cayenne Diesel.

All you are doing wrong is expecting it to do something it can't.

 

You’re probably right but REALLY???

And just because I’m not terribly bright why does my car have a switch that apparently, on other cars at least, allow for locking difs etc?

Does my car have PSM stability control? It has a button that does nothing to?

Thanks

Eric

 

As I said above, the switch does do something: it turns on off-road mode 1. That's all you have with a Diesel. Don't feel too bad, at least you have Off-road Mode 1 - the S Hybrid does not even have an off-road mode.

All Cayennes have PSM (ESP is not what Porsche calls it on the Cayenne).

 

Actually I just found this:




So that’s a bit of a bummer. And it kind of makes no sense to me that they wouldn’t have included it stock. I would think the turbo diesel would be an excellent power source for an off road vehicle.


So let me ask this: Without the locking diffs how capable or incapable off-road is my Cayenne Diesel? I don’t plan to go rock climbing or muddling but sand and snow and some mildly rough terrain are in the cards.

Thanks

Eric

 

Power sources don't really matter for off-roading, compared to traction and ground clearance. Without preemptively locking center and rear differentials, you might have a higher chance of getting stuck in cases where traction poses a challenge.

 

FWIW my PSM button does nothing. My manual says it should say something in the cluster but it doesn’t.

Thanks

Eric

 

Pushing the PSM button is not the same as the other buttons as you have to old it for a moment or so to actually get it to do its thing. If it's not working, your Cayenne has a problem.

 

So the PSM does work. I didn’t realize you need to be stopped to turn it off.

back to my other question though how capable are the diesels off road?

thanks

Eric

 

They are as capable as a medium sized dog. Does that clear things up?

I mean seriously, how do you want us to quantify that? What tires are you running? Do you have air suspension? Can you actually drive? These variables are likely just as significant as the diff lockers or lack there of in off road performance.

 

I know that not having read the manual and thinking that the off road switch doesn’t do what it look like it says it does and figuring out the PSM while sitting at a light makes me look like a moron but I’m pretty sure I’m not.

Can I drive? Think so. I’ve had two Land Rover Discovery's that I’ve driven out in the desert and in very deep snow (over 3’) as well as a 4matic E500 MB wagon which I drove a lot in the snow. My Cayenne does not have a air suspension which is fine as I have no intention of driving it anywhere the terrain would mandate a lifted chassis. Right now I have HP summer tires on a set of 22” rims but I have the pair of 19” rims that came on the car and I plan to put tires more suited to snow and dirt roads etc. maybe some beach driving. It’s the beach that concerns me the most with the non locking diffs.

Am I going to get dug in 20’ into a beach drive because the right front wheel is spinning or do these lesser Cayennes do a decent job of managing the likes of sand and deep snow?

Thanks

Eric

By the way I have no use for a medium sized dog. I have a Giant Schnauzer named Kaïzer Söze. He loves deep snow!

 

???

 

Maybe PM RS-America. He does a lot of over landing rallies in his CD. I'm sure at some point they've seen deep snow and sand.
https://rennlist.com/forums/cayenne-...meet-otis.html

 

My MY2015 958.2 diesel tiptronic S is the same. One AWD option. I could swear it used to cycle through the other options! I haven’t got the rear locking diff. What I have noticed is that when I select the (one!) off-road option the Sport Plus (in the centre selector) turns on. Is this normal?

So I’m in Comfort mode / on-road mode. Then I push forward the transmission selector and the middle light illuminates AND the Sport Plus light illuminates. On the instrument display the blue off-road banner switches on.