How can one determine if a 2017 Cayenne E-Hybrid High Voltage Controller is defective and qualifies for warranty replacement? I received notice on July 31st that my car qualifies.

This notice came while my car was at an independent mechanic having 2 out of 3 water pumps replaced (supposedly one of which cooled the high voltage system).

As soon as I got the car back, I noticed some of the same problems. (see video) After charging the car overnight at 110v, I get a red light on the charging port and I hear a clicking On - Off coming from the car. Yet, the car is fully charged.

I immediately brought the car to the local Porsche dealership, showing the warranty letter and the explaining the symptoms. After a month, they tell me that they found a P0C4700 - Hybrid Battery Pack Coolant Pump Control Circuit/Open and replace the 958-606-567-00 COOLANT PUMP. (Funny how 3 water pumps can go out at the exact same time AND how that was the one pump that was tested as working correctly). Another bill for $1660.

When I picked up the car and charged it overnight, I woke up to the exact same thing -- a fully charged battery, but a red light on the charge port and a clicking noise coming from the rear.

I bring it back to the dealership, but they cannot explain how to determine if the High Voltage Controller is faulty, nor can they explain why this is happening. (see video)

Any thoughts?

 

For future reference, if you see a P0C4700 code, BEFORE you allow a dealership to change your Hybrid Battery Pack Coolant Pump (958-606-567-00), ensure they actually TEST the pump and associated grounding. I found the attached Porsche bulletin #2305 describing the root cause is often corrosion and/or bad grounding from keeping the pump from engaging. In my case the first mechanic removed and tested the pump and found no problem. However, the dealership insisted that the pump was at fault, replaced the pump, and charged $1660.

Total investment is over $7500 thus far and the car has been in the shop for over 3 months. No resolution yet. I contacted Porsche North America directly about this case.

Nobody can explain how to determine if the High Voltage Controller is faulty or not, nor can they explain why I am getting charging errors.

 

I am sorry to hear bad experiences you had. My 2015 S E-hybrid has two permanent codes, and a few temporary codes related to the control unit when I charge it. My issue is probably different from yours, but I am not optimistic when I take my car to a local dealer next week. I actually contacted Porsche North America, and was told that they cannot advise on technical things, and needs to have local dealers to make technical decisions, so I guess I have to push the local dealer. My permannent codes are:

• B200000 Control unit (SPI) - function restriction (100002)
• B200000 Control unit (sensor) - function restriction (10000F)

and when I charge the battery, some temporary codes show up.

• U016400 Inactive No communication with high-voltage A / C compressor control unit (0058B3)
• C12033 Inactive Communication with A / C compressor
• 000602 Inactive Closed-circuit current, limit exceeded (eEm)
• 000603 Inactive Load switch-off (eEm)

It seems to me that the controller unit is defective, but no check engine light, and I can charge the battery most of time.

 

Hi Ken,

Thanks for the reply. I hope your service center experience goes better than mine.

Does anyone in the DFW area have a 110v charger that they would be willing to lend me overnight?

Here is the letter that I received and my reply back to Porsche NA yesterday:


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[img alt="pastedImage1.png"]blob:https://rennlist.com/4f514381-642f-425c-8d06-e5d99dcd6d2e[/img]Dear Mr. D’Ingianni,

Thank you for contacting Porsche Cars North America. While we are sorry to learn of the situation that prompted you to reach out to us, we appreciate you taking the time to contact us with your concern. We do apologize for the delay in response. I would be happy to provide my support.

We understand that you are concerned with if your 2017 Cayenne E-Hybrid Voltage Controller qualifies to be replaced under warranty due to a defect. When a question of warranty exists, we do rely on our authorized Porsche Centers as our technical resource. With factory trained technicians and technical support from the factory, the Service Department would be in the best position to properly advise on if the components repaired are qualified to be covered under your warranty extension.

Please know, we contacted Porsche Plano on your behalf. The Service Department confirmed that they have been unable to duplicate or reproduce your concern. They confirmed that they have replaced your hybrid coolant pump, and this is not a component covered under your warranty extension. We do stand behind our Porsche Centers and would be unable to provide a different resolution.

Mr. D’Ingianni, I understand this may not be the answer you were seeking and for that I apologize. However, we must encourage you to continue working with your Porsche Plano regarding any vehicle repairs. Our Porsche Centers are independently owned and empowered to aid our customers on a case-by-case basis.

If you ever have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email us at customersupport@porsche.com or call 1-800-PORSCHE. We are available Monday to Friday from 9AM until 9PM and Saturday from 9AM until 6PM EST.

Mr. D’Ingianni, we thank you for your understanding and for providing us the opportunity to respond.


Kind regards,


Wynter J.

PCIC Digital Specialist
Porsche Cars North America
One Porsche Drive
Atlanta, GA 30354

Phone: 1-800-PORSCHE (1-800-767-7243)
Email: customersupport@porsche.com


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Greetings Wynter,

Porsche Plano sent me home with the excuse that they could only reproduce the problem with my 110v charger, and they claimed they had absolutely no access to another Porsche 110v charger with which to test.

Moreover Porsche Plano could not even identify the part number that is actually covered in the High Voltage Battery Control Unit warranty extension, nor can anyone identify symptoms, codes, etc. to identify determine if this condition exists. Part ID 2794 from the warranty letter could not be found. Their parts associate even resorted to Rennlist to see if anything has been identified.

Also, it seemed that all of the chargers and cords were on backorder with at least a 30 day wait.

It seemed like they were more interested in getting their loaner car back than actively debugging this problem, which is understandable since Porsche NA hasn’t published details about this part or how to identify a fault.

Meanwhile, I am attaching 2 new videos showing my car “clicking” AFTER I UNPLUG THE CHARGER. This will continue incessantly until I start the car.

The charging intelligence is supposedly in the car, not the charger.

I am attaching 2 videos demonstrating the problem, as well as, a screen shot from the parts associate’s screen identifying part #5 that we think is the part that is supposed to be covered under the warranty.

I am willing to do another test with a different 110v charger to verify that it is the car and not the charger, but I don’t think I should be forced to cover the costs of a new charger just for an overnight test. If you can identify an overnight loaner in the DFW area, I will be happy to send videos and any engine codes that may arise.

Please identify the actual part that is covered and the official symptoms that an owner would witness if the High Voltage Battery Control Unit is defective.

Thanks,

Vincente




​

 

A knowledgeable parts associate at my local dealership said that the High Voltage Battery Control Unit, Part ID 2794, for my 2017 Cayenne E-Hybrid is actually 958-611-02205.

It is item #5 on the attached picture. He also said the "clicking" that I am hearing in the videos is probably coming from the #18 in the diagram, which is a Relay Plate that is driven by the High Voltage Battery Control Unit.

Still no information on engine codes, etc.

Interestingly, the dealership does not work on this part directly. They send it to a 3rd party. They are going to provide me with that information.


High-Voltage Battery Control Unit, Part ID 2794, is supposedly 958-611-02205

 

Update: The problem still exists after all of this time. But it is worse than I realized.

The car will cycle the fan in the front and the charging relays ON and OFF while the car is UNPLUGGED from any charging unit. This will continue until the 12v battery runs down. It almost left me stranded in the middle of the night on the highway in the middle of Louisiana.

Neither I nor anyone else realized that the car was doing this because it normally stays plugged into the charger overnight.

Porsche Plano says Porsche NA has not given them any information on symptoms of the High Voltage Battery Charge Controller problems.

Porsche NA customer service stonewalls and points me back to the independent dealerships.

 

Update: After 2 months of investigation by Porsche Plano, they are now blaming the problem on my 12v battery.

They want to charge me $1000 to replace the 12v battery. Here is a DIY video -->

You Tube

I believe they are shooting in the dark and just guessing at causes at this point.

It has been over a week since they blamed it on the 12v battery, and supposedly they have not received the battery that they ordered. I find it absolutely astonishing that a dealership does not have simple parts like batteries, EV chargers, gas caps, etc.

EVERYTHING that I need seems to need is on backorder.

My car has been in the shop since 6/14/2024. I am posting this on 11/9/2024. During this time my car has been in my possession maybe 3 weeks.

My love for Porsche is fading fast.

 

One of my concerns with the hybrids is, precisely, that my closest Porsche dealership may not be familiar with the car.

I had a 12-cylinder Phaeton in a very large metro area. I took it to four different VW dealers. Most of them had no idea what to do with it and basically the mechanics were learning on the car, following manuals. Finally, it turned out that only the senior-most mechanic at one of the dealers had taken the factory training and he ended up servicing —essentially— all of the W12 Phaetons in my metro area. Since the W12 Phaetons flocked to this one dealership, the dealership had all the tools, including the special $12,000 German table necessary to remove the engine.

He took very good care of me and I took good care of him for all 8 years I owned that car. I sold it 6 months before my extended warranty expired.

 

Okay so for the 12334124th time I've gotten stranded and I'm getting the Hybrid System Failure error code on my car. I didn't pay attention to the fault codes in the past, because clearing all codes, jumpstarting, and eventually replacing the 12v battery was my fix to get it going again. This time I want to dial it down and scanning for codes shows errors referencing the Battery Control Unit. This tells me that this part malfunctioning is keeping the car from starting, despite replacing my 12v battery. Did a voltage and load test on the 12v battery and that is not the issue. Also, there is an ongoing intermittent clicking noise occurring at the rear of the car, sounding like it's closer to the charging port area. I'm also thinking that's where the battery control unit is located?

Anyways, is this consistent with what could trigger a warranty replacement? I'm tired of this issue. This car better not be 'bricked' or have a failed hybrid motor or battery. At all times, even in between "failures" the car drives perfectly fine and the hybrid battery charges and holds charge perfectly fine! Even holds full charge while the error shows!

 

Did you ever get resolution to your problem . My cayenne eHybrid is current at dealer for diagnostics and waiting to hear . They think it is likely hybrid control unit but will no more in a few days .
My problem is I can drive vehicle and all functions correctly but I have a. alternating hybrid failure message to park safely in red or ok to drive in yellow at random times .
As long as I do not try and charge via plug in all is fine ..as soon as I plug in , charge port goes green-yellow red and vehicle totally shuts down and will not move via electric or engine will not start.
If I leave it overnight unplugged , I can start and drive , but with the big error message .
The hybrid electric machine will work fine until charge is at 25%. And motor turns on as normal I can even recharge battery while driving . Epower and sport all work . I can even park and restart vehicle .
As soon as I plug it in , I'm stranded for a few hours .
Ty

 

Did you ever get resolution to your problem . My cayenne eHybrid is current at dealer for diagnostics and waiting to hear . They think it is likely hybrid control unit but will no more in a few days .
My problem is I can drive vehicle and all functions correctly but I have a. alternating hybrid failure message to park safely in red or ok to drive in yellow at random times .
As long as I do not try and charge via plug in all is fine ..as soon as I plug in , charge port goes green-yellow red and vehicle totally shuts down and will not move via electric or engine will not start.
If I leave it overnight unplugged , I can start and drive , but with the big error message .
The hybrid electric machine will work fine until charge is at 25%. And motor turns on as normal I can even recharge battery while driving . Epower and sport all work . I can even park and restart vehicle .
As soon as I plug it in , I'm stranded for a few hours .
Ty

 

Hey ​​​​@Ken_W Did the dealer root cause what code 100002 meant and provided a solution? My ‘18 hybrid got that code too and wonder what caused that..Thanks!

 

In my case, it turned out that the temperature sensor inside the e-machine seemed to be the issue, but unfortunately it is too expensive to repair it because the temperature sensor is embedded in e-motor, and to replace e-motor, the transmission and engine need to come off.