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Y'all are the smart ones! I will not make this same mistake again. When I bought mine I was confident that I could repair just about anything on the car if I had too. Wasn't expecting this at such low mileage. I was wrong lol.
To be fair I bought the warranty because I thought I was having transmission issues but discovered the problem was TC which is covered under P- extended warranty for seven years and unlimited mileage. But there are OTHER things on my vehicle that may break. Have the tools and experience myself, but am so disabled from Arthritis I can't hold a wrench anymore. Now I have to take my ride to the tire shop to just to swap wheels as the jack stands in my garage collect dust. Humiliating
I hear you my friend. I have a milder case, but getting up from the garage floor is much more difficult than it used to be🙂. And my hands ..the next day after some moderate wrenching are not good. Sigh......I am 72 and still kicking and screaming a little. Perhaps we have gotten a bit wiser over the years though. I do have two son in laws that I abuse from time to time lol
Here is the latest news on my dilemma. We have been unable to find a Mechatronics unit anywhere. There are some one can get from China but we have no experience with them and do not want to take a chance. The mechatronics unit in my car actually had a small part that melted due to heat from a short somewhere. My unit cannot be repair with new solenoids , circuit boards etc. It has to have the entire unit.The fluid filter was almost completely covered in fine plastic particles. We have been searching for one month for a new unit. Porsche will not sell us one....end of story. No dealer will sell one to you as Porsche will not authorize it.
Now we know that our trans is the ob5dl501 Audi/VW model that has been "modified" for the Macan. We THINK that the only modification done was to the software, gear ratio and maybe the clutch packs but we are not positive. It is possible to get the unit for the Audi from Germany for approx $3000, but since we are not absolutely sure it is the same as the Macans we have reservations of spending that kind of money for what we think MAY work. So what I have had to do is to buy a used Macan transmission, get it shipped here, and cannabilize it for the mechatronics unit. It should be here by the end of the month.
We ( my indie and I) have been speaking of atf heat. The dl501 transmission had a problem with heat in the control side and circuit boards were undated over the years in addressing that issue. So We will be placing a transmission temperature gauge in my trans pan to monitor mine. If it has times it gets to 225f then that is time for concern. ATF starts to be affected at those temperatures and can cause a greatly reduced life expectancy of th trans circuits etc. we are already thinking about a secondary cooler concept. I am almost certain that our atf fluid (control side...not the mechanical side with the gears etc) is running hotter than expected. Audi folks have been seeing it for a while. One must also realize that the Macan is the heaviest vehicle this transmission has been in (I think?) and people are towing with it.
Now I could be surprised and the atf may never get to 200F, But, I have to know......my curse!
I have contacted my Congress people that are looking at the right to repair issues people are being faced with. This is sure one of them!
Stay tuned!
Thanks vagrant....yes I did check with them and also with TVS. They couldn't guarantee that it would work in the Macan and their price is about 3k. I found a used transmission out of a base model with 23k miles on it. The car was lot driving and trans is guaranteed for 30 days. Plus they except returns. All Macans transmissions are the same except for the clutch packs....and that I do not need. I was able to get it at a very good price....much less than $3000. My indie will cut me a deal with what is left in that trans....they are getting more and more Macans with trans issues in. There is a real market here so in the end I will come out better than buying a new mechatronic unit. My car has been down for a month now and we just found this deal. Audi guys are seeing temps routinely at 95-100C in city driving. A small cooler (6 row ) tapped into the pan with its own pump and thermostat will lower the temp approx 20C. That's significant. This transmission has many temp safeguards and these are activated at different temp levels. Still one thing can happen...if the solenoid /part of the mechatronic unit malfunctions that controls that then none of them will work.
Got a deal for $2600 delivered! We looked at piggybacking a cooler to the existing lines but we are still debating the possibility of a pressure drop when the extra cooler's thermostat opens. This transmission is pretty sensitive to things like that and could throw a fault. We just don't know. I have read about one Audi owner with the dl501 that install another bung in the pan and used a small cooler with its own fan/ thermostat. I think I rather have that set up? But first things first...have to install a separate temperature gauge ...I don't know how to tap into the system to read the temp sensors we already have. Anyone?
The fluid temperature can only be read with a PIWIS, as a "Measuring Block", but I think it can also be read with the VCDS tool from Ross-Tech, as I heard that this is one of the few Macan ECUs that can be read with the VCDS (VW/Audi) scan tool. I was going to try this out on my Macan. I am sure Porsche didn't bother changing the TCU from the one Audi uses, they probably just tweaked the shift points in the data tables.
Or, buy an extra drain plug, drill a hole in it for a thermistor to pass thru, seal it up, and you now have an independent temperature monitor for the PDK fluid.
If I keep this vehicle ...and I do kind of like it....I will get a bootleg PIWIS myself. However I am not sure I am keeping it. Macans are not trouble free. I have had to replace both air separator valves, transfer case, two windshields( they are thin and do not repair easily), both exhaust flex pipes, oil pressure sensor and now the mechatronic unit. All in 66k miles. All but the transfer case was on my ticket. It's a great design and performs well, maybe I just got a bad one. There is still a lot that could go wrong though and I really have to consider what to do. It is comforting I have found a good indie....that does make a difference.
It sure was!
Ok any ideas where to mount a transmission temperature gauge? I do have the smokers package ( came that way) and I was thinking of that ...but not fully convinced. All you brilliant designers out there...where would a tastefull mount be located?
It sure was!
Ok any ideas where to mount a transmission temperature gauge? I do have the smokers package ( came that way) and I was thinking of that ...but not fully convinced. All you brilliant designers out there...where would a tastefull mount be located?
Good riddance on the smokers package. I have it too. The first month I had the car a Nickle fell down the socket and blew a fuse. I never use it, even with a dashcam.
Transmission should be here by the 28th. Plan for gauge and cooler being worked out.
pics of my me h unit.....notice the white looking part to the right of the upper solenoid.....that is entirely melted. The transmission filter is usually white ...mine is black from all the particles from the melting of the unit plastic. This shouldn't happen no matter the age of the car. This shop has just repaired one Macan with trans problem and they are thinking it is a voltage problem that is causing this. Time will tell I suppose.
Last edited by Olddragger; 03-21-2022 at 05:16 PM.
I am a 911 guy, all Manual Trans, so the "PDK/DSG" in my 2017 Base Macan is my first automatic Porsche.
In this thread it is stated that the transmissions for Base and Sport/GTS/Turbo are the same except for SW programming, is that true?
Also stated is that this heat issue seems to have been solved by 2017. Is that true?
I have 31k miles on mine, no towing, no stop/go, normal Daily Driving, occasional spirited runs until I realize I am not in the 911! Should I worry?
Finally, is a complete trans service called for at 30k miles? I am planning to change fluids in April/May, and do the complete service, including filter/pan, etc. at 60k miles if I decide to keep it past CPO.
Thanks for any advice, and Best Wishes to OP on his situation.....shameful.
03-09-2022, 05:01 PM
