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Pretty much everything about this little incident is odd so of course I thought I should share it here!
A while back I discovered that the front lift on my 2014 991.1 GT3 wasn’t working properly. The pump was operating, although noisier than usual, but after a couple of cycles where the front end lifted slowly, it stopped lifting altogether. No big deal, I figured, the car is under warranty.
So I take it in to the dealer for repair. The next day I get a call from my service advisor. The bad news: the problem is that a rodent has chewed through the rigid plastic line between the pump and the accumulator. (Apparently there was enough pressure in the accumulator to lift the front end a couple of times before the system failed completely). The really bad news: Porsche offers no replacement part for the line, the damage is obviously not covered by warranty, and per Porsche spec if I want them to fix the problem they have to replace the entire assembly! Then the really, really bad news: the cost of the part would be $10,481.43 + $600 labor!! (With my PCA discount, only $9433 for the part alone. )
Long story short, I put in a claim to my insurance and they paid for the repair including an extra $1054 for air freight shipping to avoid the 4 week+ wait for the part to get here by the slow boat from Stuttgart. I was only out my deductible. FWIW, my SA thinks that I could get the line repaired by an independent shop (or do it myself) and resell the lift assembly for some multiple of what this episode cost me. I might do that or keep it as a spare just in case. Just thinking about all this, if someone had looked at a schematic of the entire car and picked a single hose or wire to cut I’m not sure they could have caused a more costly outcome. The rodent chose well….
As an aside, the question has come up as to how much the lift assembly weighs. By my measurement: 17 pounds.
Pretty much everything about this little incident is odd so of course I thought I should share it here!
A while back I discovered that the front lift on my 2014 991.1 GT3 wasn’t working properly. The pump was operating, although noisier than usual, but after a couple of cycles where the front end lifted slowly, it stopped lifting altogether. No big deal, I figured, the car is under warranty.
So I take it in to the dealer for repair. The next day I get a call from my service advisor. The bad news: the problem is that a rodent has chewed through the rigid plastic line between the pump and the accumulator. (Apparently there was enough pressure in the accumulator to lift the front end a couple of times before the system failed completely). The really bad news: Porsche offers no replacement part for the line, the damage is obviously not covered by warranty, and per Porsche spec if I want them to fix the problem they have to replace the entire assembly! Then the really, really bad news: the cost of the part would be $10,481.43 + $600 labor!! (With my PCA discount, only $9433 for the part alone. )
Long story short, I put in a claim to my insurance and they paid for the repair including an extra $1054 for air freight shipping to avoid the 4 week+ wait for the part to get here by the slow boat from Stuttgart. I was only out my deductible. FWIW, my SA thinks that I could get the line repaired by an independent shop (or do it myself) and resell the lift assembly for some multiple of what this episode cost me. I might do that or keep it as a spare just in case. Just thinking about all this, if someone had looked at a schematic of the entire car and picked a single hose or wire to cut I’m not sure they could have caused a more costly outcome. The rodent chose well….
As an aside, the question has come up as to how much the lift assembly weighs. By my measurement: 17 pounds.
Wow - that is a massive accumulator, about triple the 100 cu ft bail out bottle we use in SCUBA.
If you decide to repair, perhaps consider sending it to Lonnie at the Hoseman. The Irwindale shop is right near the track and they are comfortable with odd and different hydraulics. http://www.hose-man.com/contactinformation.html
Helped me out a while back with the Citroen 2300 psi LHM system for brake/ancilliaries used in my Maserati Bora - Twin cross mounted mutually exclusive braking accumulators, pressure reg lines, etc. The system ended up being superior to OEM with modern materials
What's the Pump Assembly part number Mike? I looked it up and it shows as discontinued. The compressor lists at $1,900 alone. Is it the pressure line that was chewed through? Blows my mind that the replacement assembly is $10,000 plus while the 2014 option was $3,490.
Wow - that is a massive accumulator, about triple the 100 cu ft bail out bottle we use in SCUBA.
If you decide to repair, perhaps consider sending it to Lonnie at the Hoseman. The Irwindale shop is right near the track and they are comfortable with odd and different hydraulics. http://www.hose-man.com/contactinformation.html
Helped me out a while back with the Citroen 2300 psi LHM system for brake/ancilliaries used in my Maserati Bora - Twin cross mounted mutually exclusive braking accumulators, pressure reg lines, etc. The system ended up being superior to OEM with modern materials
Thanks for the tip!
Originally Posted by StudGarden
Wow over 10 grand for a little supply line? Makes you wonder what else is like that. I don't mind "paying to play" but that's absolute insanity.
The pump/accumulator is provided to Porsche by an outside supplier (a German company named Wabco) as a complete unit, so anything that fails requires a replacement of the entire assembly. I don't disagree.....having to pay $10K because of damage to a glorified hose IS insane.
What's the Pump Assembly part number Mike? I looked it up and it shows as discontinued. Blows my mind that the replacement assembly is $10,000 plus while the 2014 option was $3,490.
Hi Mathew. The Porsche part # listed on my invoice is 991-341-263-98 for the new unit. However, the number on the old part is 991-341-263-90. Whether a typo or a superseding part/part #, I don't know.
Excellent point about the cost of the part relative to the original option and something which I pointed out to the service manager. Not that it made any difference....
Wow over 10 grand for a little supply line? Makes you wonder what else is like that. I don't mind "paying to play" but that's absolute insanity.
There is a thread on FerrariChat about an F1 Superfast transmission hydraulic accumulator, actuator and line costing $18,000 (2012 prices) which took $10,000 labor/supplies to R&R.
Feel better, ... almost like you got a deal?
sorry this happened to you
There is a thread on FerrariChat about an F1 Superfast transmission hydraulic accumulator, actuator and line costing $18,000 (2012 prices) which took $10,000 labor/supplies to R&R.
Feel better, ... almost like you got a deal?
sorry this happened to you
04-17-2018, 04:10 PM
I smell a rat....
)
for air freight shipping to avoid the 4 week+ wait for the part to get here by the slow boat from Stuttgart. I was only out my deductible. FWIW, my SA thinks that I could get the line repaired by an independent shop (or do it myself) and resell the lift assembly for some multiple of what this episode cost me. I might do that or keep it as a spare just in case. Just thinking about all this, if someone had looked at a schematic of the entire car and picked a single hose or wire to cut I’m not sure they could have caused a more costly outcome. The rodent chose well…. 
