hvnter_xo

hi everyone i am new here!

my 2016 macan turbo suddenly started accelerating slower than normal after hitting 90,000 miles. i took it to the dealership to my service manager - he test drove it said it was fine, another technician tested the engine in park and said it was weird and another one also test drove it and said it was fine and that i should skip the $300 diagnostic. the dealership has been pushing hard on a 2023 macan gts sell to me but i love the look of the 1st gen macans and want to keep it as long as possible! it's my daily driver so i know my car really well - it accelerates with a heavier lag, less of that awesome turbo sound and slower by seconds.

anyone else have this issue?

a month ago, i had a coolant leak which leaked into the steering wheel rack and the entire out of warranty repair cost $8200 with the new steering rack from germany so i am really not wanting to do any more repairs at the moment 😓 but curious if it could be related? i am not in the market to upgrade the turbo although have considered the pure turbos + cobb set-up maybe in the summer ... i don't mind driving the car less aggressively in the meanwhile...

_RS_

Welcome.
I haven't had this in a Macan but the same principle is true for a newer 911 with turbos - If there is something the ECU doesn't like about engine power being delivered, it will hobble your output a bit.
It doesn't go like a switch when driving, but next time you floor it you just know 25% has gone. No one else can tell you this by driving it after the event, you need to know the car.
Good news is that it clears after a number of restarts. The effect is equally as noticeable.

ozziegt

You really need to find the problem before you start replacing parts. Without more info, I don't know what else to tell you. At this mileage it could be all sorts of things.

DIYDanCars

With such little info on the problem (slower acceleration) I will try and take stab at what might be causing this. I wonder if you have a boost leak somewhere? Have you noticed the car generating less boost (psi) at full throttle on the gauge? If so, this could be caused by a few things, a leak somwhere, bad diverter valves, and even a worn turbocharger.

IMO you should strongly consider selling the car with that kind of mileage. Porsches are not made like they used too. I predict your next problem will be with the PDK transmission which is a $20,000+ repair from Porsche.

Wilder

Rather than taking it to the dealer, take it to an indie and have them inspect it. Many will diagnose for free. Without troubleshooting, it's just guesswork. If you noticed it, it's because something happened.

Fully disagree with this. Macans are some of the most reliable modern luxury cars on the road. No car is perfect and the Macan is no exception. Do a search for common issues and educate yourself so you're prepared. The PDK doesn't "go". It will fail if not properly serviced or operated but it's otherwise bulletproof and fixable. You do not need to replace it for $20k if it brakes. Most fixes are $1,500-$3k. Again, do a search. Plenty of info. Also, you'll find many Macans with 100-200k+ and nothing more than regular service.

Good luck.

DIYDanCars

What do I know? I only work on them.

If you think they are reliable, great! Keep buying them.

Wilder

Well, I only need one Macan, but it's a keeper.

If you have knowledge and expertise on the PDK, by all means share it. My position is based on personal experience and the knowledge I gained through the process but I'm open to changing my mind. So, go ahead, why are the PDK not good after 90k mi?

ozziegt

I agree, if there is knowledge to be shared, please share it. Saying "20k repair from dealer" is a strange statement from someone who has a youtube channel about DIY repair. Funny enough I don't see a single Macan video on the YT channel

Wilder

Exactly. These are DL501 boxes that have been around for ~15 years and have a long history of reliability even under stress. They run stock on cars that have been modified up to 700HP without problems. They are strong but not indestructible and the problem is usually heat, not abuse. Specifically for the Macan with Porsche's programming, the box is optimized for fuel consumption in standard mode which results in excessive shifting and consequently will generate excessive heat when driven in stop-and-go traffic. Solenoids, sensors and harnesses usually get damaged. Porsche's fix for any PDK failure is to replace the box, which is indeed $20k. However, they are fixable and there are specialists in mechatronic transmissions that fix the most common problems for $1,500 to $3k. To my understanding, these boxes should last at least 150k mi trouble free and some RLers have reported mileage north of 200k mi with no issues, including PDK issues.

The biggest issue with the Macan's PDK is that Porsche never instructed buyers on how to operate the PDK and most people who buy Macans think they've bought an automatic when it's really a complex manual box with dual clutches that ought to be driven as such at least part of the time. The best way to prevent failure is to make sure you service it at the recommended interval and that you drive in sport mode when faced with stop and go traffic in order to reduce shifts and therefore heat generated.

But happy to hear what @DIYDanCars or anyone else has to say that contradicts my understanding of these boxes.

s85b50

It could be something as simple as spark plugs and/or ignition coils. Have these been changed? Did you go to a different gas station recently? Poor fuel could also contribute to that.

jbx2

It's standard Porsche service to replace the PDK at or in the area of $20k or more. Porsche does not offer component level repair which is just pure ignorance and greed when some of the cars experiencing failures will not have the inherent value to justify the cost of the repair. Of course there are Independent providers, but how many folks who are not privy to these forums will research a repair? And how many transmission shops are going to accurately repair a PDK? I'll contest the theory that performing the scheduled service will protect the PDK from failure. From the forum posts I've seen failures run the gamut from solenoids to electronic cables to the Porsche version of a valve body. There's an informative thread here Rennlist
Transmission problems...beware - Rennlist - Porsche Discussion Forums

Wilder

If you're referring to what I wrote, I never said service alone will ensure longevity. Read what I wrote again. Beyond that, I don't understand your concerns. The reality is that PDK failures are in the dismal minority and when they do fail it's usually something straight forward to repair like solenoids, harnesses etc. The issues on that thread are the absolute exception. And then you're worried about some people not knowing about options??? You're worried about what people you don't know may or may not do? I do agree that this is grossly mismanaged by Porsche.