Hi Team,

I have a 2016 Panamera GTS with about 97k miles. It was 100% dealer serviced prior to my ownership. Since day 1, the car slips when starting in both 2nd gear and reverse. I see RPMs go high then drop hard as the clutch plates engage.

Reverse is by far the worst. I take my foot off the brake and can count to two before the transmission engages. Each time I put my foot on the brake and lift off, there's the same slow engagement.

No PDK codes, and no slippage once moving. For example, I can lug the car in 6th gear at low speed and it holds without an increase in RPM. There's also no temperature dependence.

The MOST CURIOUS THING: I ran a calibration with my Launch X431. And for a day or two, the car was absolutely perfect, with butter smooth takeoffs and instant clutch engagement. It's since drifted back to the behavior listed above.

I'm dumbfounded. Clearly the issue can be corrected with software. But why is the fix not permanent?

 

My 2012 is the same. Reverse is terrible especially if you are trying to back up a slight incline. From what I've read this is normal to a degree because the PDK is an electronically shifted manual transmission, technically speaking.

I have not tried the reset procedure. I plan on having the fluid changed soon so I'm not going to worry about that until then.

 

Have you owned the car its entire life? Was it this way from the moment you purchased?

I believe I've read recommendations for a fluid change and calibration. That somewhat makes sense to me. If the fluid has changed viscosity or has particles, it could interfere with the car's ability to actuate clutch plates etc.

There also seem to be two compartments - one with the clutch and mechatronics, and a separate one with the gearbox. Gearbox apparently never goes bad.

Does anyone else have experience here?

 

I got my car earlier this year.

 

Have you had a mechanic look at it? Some of what you're describing is normal for a dual clutch transmision. When driving in a parking lot or around the neighborhood, it reminds me of driving my old manual honda civic, where the car is so underpowered you need to slip the clutch quite a bit to take off smoothly. Dunno about 970, but my car is programmed to start in 2nd during low load take offs, presumably to help with fuel economy.

 

Oh ya, if starting out in normal or sport mode it starts in 2nd gear which makes the delay worse. If you have Sport Plus it starts in 1st gear which seems to have no noticeable delay.

 

Normal. The driver needs to be cautious at low speed on inclines like a parking garage. I was creeping up an incline to make a left turn into a parking spot. As soon as the car leveled out the clutch hooked up an nearly drove the car into a concrete wall. Lifting off the go pedal stopped it. Scared me and the passenger. Use first gear only at low speeds!

 

This is normal? I have a 2010 970 4S that is not liking the incline of my driveway. It behaves much like a conventional transmission that is low on fluid.

 

Yeah that's normal.

 

LOL. So much for PDK. Maybe they should make a P Dreifach K with a small torque converter for low speed maneuvering.

 

I notice I need to give it a little gas for it to get moving in reverse but I don't recall experiencing any of the other things you're all describing.

Car starts in 1st and quickly goes into 2nd regardless of what mode I'm in.
Slow crawls on inclines haven't been an issue through parking lot ramps, on ramps, etc.
RPMs dont jump around weirdly when shifting.