Hi Pascal..
My 2015 macan s diesel had a loud rattle from the gearbox/transfer box. The dealer acknowledged the problem and sent recordings of the noise to Germany. After extensive back and forth it was decided that the whole assembly should be changed.
I had similar concerns to you so I took a look after the box was removed.
Full exhaust system off, prop shaft and drive shafts disconnected and part of the front suspension subframe and steering rack removed.
This was the first one the dealer had done also.
It sounds scary but when you look at it stripped it is just a mechano exercise.
The good news is that all is well and great service from the dealer.
I was extremely worried but totally unfounded.
Regards Neil.

Located Leeds, Yorkshire, UK


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Forgot to mention all the work is done from under the car, no engine removal.


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.....Can anyone explain to me the replacement process, how straightforward is and whether I should be worried? Will the car need to be reprogrammed?....

I would not be worried. It's a straight forward process. These days they swap out the entire unit, so the amount of disassembly and reassembly is relatively minimal.
In a well equipped shop, with a proper hoist and all the right tools, the work can readily be accomplished in a manner that'll be just as good as when the car was new.

 

My Macan got a new transfer case & front drive shaft last fall. My biggest issue was that it was at the dealership for 7 weeks, since there were no extra parts available here in the US. The dealership gave me a Panamera for a service loaner & PCNA reimbursed me for two months of my car pmt for the time that it was off-line. I appreciated that, but it still sucked to be without my Macan for that long. I don't think that people having this problem now are having to wait that long for the parts. Once they got the part, it only took them a couple of days to switch it out. I've had no problems with it since then, so all's good. Good luck with your repair. Your Macan should be good as new (or better, considering the gimpy transfer case) once it's done.

 

Macanakey. What were the symtoms of your transfer and drive case failure ?

 

Hi, Teddis. I think this thread is probably the most comprehensive to describe the symptoms. They vary a little bit from person to person (some of us "feel" it more, while others seem to "hear" it more), but the core issue of shuddering and/or grinding seems to be consistent. Mine has been working fine since being replaced. Good luck!

http://www.macanforum.com/forum/complaints/87514-tranfer-case.html

 

My transfer Case was replaced last week. My dealer has replaced five in Macan's and fifty in Cayennes.
Grinding noise when turning and feels like going over small bumps when starting off slowly.
'

 

Thanks, no shuddering here, was just curious.

 

Has anyone tried to see what happens with the torque plot (front to rear split) on the display? I don't think the sensors are quick enough to catch it but curious.

 

Add me to this lists needing a new transfer case. 2016 macan s . 22,000 km. Going to be 10 days soon waiting for parts. Have a 2017 macan as well and hope the heck it doesn't need it too down the road. They will also fix bulliten for fuel pipe issue and still waiting for parts for passenger airbag sensor bulliten.

 

Got mine transfer case replaced and also the fuel pipe recall issue. Took a day and half. Happy all is done now.

 

How many people have Macans with significant mileage (say >30k miles) and *haven't* had transfer case problems?

 

Even if it's 32 times as many (a 3% failure rate), that's far too many.

 

The dealership only kept the car 24 hours. I've got it back with a new transfer case. Life is good!
Cheers!

 

Got mine replaced this week. 2017 GTS with 11600 miles.
Took less than 2 days.
Funny enough, while I was waiting for SA, I met another guy who had brought his Macan S in for the same reason.

Symptoms were what felt like something was slipping when starting from a dead stop followed by a sensation of shuddering.
Hopefully these are one offs.

 

I now know what that noise was coming from my drivetrain. It felt like the front diff was too locked when parking the car or backing it up and then it would shudder from a dead stop. Looks like i will be joining the crowd since i'm still under warranty. These forums are awesome for this very reason. :x

 

I have two symptoms that I don't believe are quite like what anyone else has reported.

The first is when I'm backing up and turning very sharply. To me it feels like a bad CV joint as I think I'm feeling some binding through the steering wheel, and at the same time there is a loud clunk that would be noticeable to anyone . It does it a couple of times weekly, and seems to do it only when the drivetrain is cold. It's not new, and does not seem to be getting worse with time.

The second symptom I have only started to notice in the past few weeks. When I am fully stopped at a stop sign and making a right-hand turn, and need to accelerate at a moderate pace, it feels like a limited slip differential grabbing and releasing several times until I have completed the turn and I am going straight. One thought I have is that it might be the PTV in action when the right rear tire starts to unload and slip. But I was also thinking that it might be a symptom of a bad transfer case given that a number of Macan transfer cases have needed replacement. I doubt I would have much trouble duplicating this for the dealer if I needed to, but I would rather not go through the whole process of making an appointment etc. etc. etc. if there is nothing amiss as I was just there recently getting the PCM replaced and the three recalls completed.

Are these two symptoms related to the transfer case?

 

.....The first is when I'm backing up and turning very sharply. To me it feels like a bad CV joint as I think I'm feeling some binding through the steering wheel, and at the same time there is a loud clunk that would be noticeable to anyone . It does it a couple of times weekly, and seems to do it only when the drivetrain is cold. It's not new, and does not seem to be getting worse with time.....

One possibility not related to the transfer case is the Akermann steering effect. It is most commonly felt on all-wheel drive cars at low speed with the steering at full lock, cold tires, and when the road surface is damp, wet, or dirty . It's often more noticeable when the tires are wide. At full lock, the front two tires are pointed at slightly different angles, which can cause the tires to shuffle sideways during low speed parking maneuvers. It can be heard as a growl, a skip, a judder, or a clunk. I've not heard it on the Macan, but my Audi has does this when the pavement is wet.

Not sure what to think of your second set of symptoms. Although I've noticed that when pulling a very tight U-turn with moderate acceleration, one of the rear tires will bounce and skip if I'm too aggressive on the throttle.

 

It got cold this week and i noticed the binding at full turn, probably cv joints as u suggested. Not sure about the wheel spin issue. What tires are u running and are u getting the traction icon on the pcm? This sounds a little different than transfer case symptoms reported previously on the forum.

 

I did not notice the traction icon. I have the Conti 21 inch OEM summers that came on the car, and a week ago I had my Pirelli Winter Scorpions installed. The second symptom seems to be the same regardless of running summer or winter tires.

 

My issues (shuddering, etc) began at about 6800 miles, I took it in on Tuesday at 8:00am with 7200 miles on it and got it back Wednesday at 4:00pm with a new transfer case. They also replaced the "park assist control module" and finally my diamond key will select and display the surround view , thanks to everyone who mentioned this was a requirement for early build (APR-JUN 16) 2017 GTS models.

 

Hey everyone,

I am about to purchase a used Turbo with 53k miles on it. I've been reading about this transfer case issue and I'm a bit concerned as I am buying a macan out of warranty. I have a few questions that I hope can get answered:

- Is this an issue that only manifests itself early on? From the research I've seen it only happens at lower miles.
- How can I find out of the transfer case has been replaced?
- How much would the repair cost out of warranty?

Thanks

 

@ozziegt, I am having this issue right now on 2016 Turbo (built in June of 2015) and had it since day 1. You can lookup up the most recent post "Clacking sound.." where OP is having it on the brand new Turbo as well. Our 14 Base Cayenne is in for transfer case replacement and the SA told me that they would honor any transfer case on the Cayenne even if it is out of warranty but it is a known almost 100% failure rate. The Macan does not seem to be so clear so you may want to consult your dealer before you buy it since risk on 2015 especially very high.

 

I spent over an hour doing some research here and on other forums, and it seems that higher mileage "failures" can be resolved just by changing the transfer case fluid...but for some reason the dealers are still opting to just replace the whole transfer case. I'll talk to the dealer and see what they say, but I am not terribly worried at this point.

 

Had my Transfer case fluid change and dealer also had XL3 friction modifier and works like new

 

Call a Porsche dealer with the VIN number and they can tell you if the Transfer Case has been replaced. Mine was replaced at 12,000 miles. Start driving your car slow and if you feel a slight vibration like going over small speed bumps. Beware! Also back up and turn steering wheel sharp while backing up and you hear like a grinding noise-beware.

 

Repair cost? Expensive. I wouldn’t buy it unless it was from a Porsche dealer with extended warranty.

 

I’ve read through all of the threads I can find on this. I first started searching the forums after noticing a very slight thump like a speed bump when taking off from a stop at around 10mph. This started happening just after 2 years of ownership, and was very subtle and intermittent, but definitely something I’d never felt before.

In another thread regarding lack of torque there was a post talking about the pdk remaining in 2nd gear when coming to a stop (when in Normal mode - e.g. not Sport mode) and then immediately taking off again. If you waited for a second or two it would shift down to first gear. I’ve noticed the times I have been able to reproduce it, is when driving in normal mode and starting off in 2nd gear. I have a number of 4-way stops in my neighborhood, where this happens. If I make sure it shifts down to first gear I have not experienced the thump. Also driving in Sport mode, it is more aggressive when down shifting to first, so even with a “rolling stop” as I normally drive I do not experience the thump.

I have not experienced all of the other symptoms that other posters have described, like the shuddering or grinding in reverse, and it seems to only happen for me when the car is cold, where others have mentioned it needs to be warmed up.

I only started noticing this because I was so used to the silky smooth acceleration. I had mentioned it to the dealer when in for 30K service, and they found nothing wrong, but also told me they had never had any transfer case issues with the Macans, just Cayenes. Now the thump has become more pronounced, when driving in normal mode, but still doesn’t happen all the time.

Anyway thought I’d post my experience with the sport vs. normal mode in case others are experiencing just the thump for now.

For those that do/did have transfer case issues does this sound like the beginning of an issue? Definitely would be great if it’s not a TC problem, but must say it’s in the back of my mind with about 1 year left on warranty.

Thanks in advance.

 

You may also want to do a search of "midpipe exhaust clamp" since others have confused similar symptoms with a transfer case issue.

 

Thanks I had read those but just had another look. I’m not having a shudder issue just the speed bump or clutch slip feel. Guess I’ll need to monitor until it gets bad enough and/or develops the other symptoms.

 

There is a big thread talking about this issue. I have a 2015 Macan with 36k miles and my transfer case was replaced last month at around 35k miles. My car was out of warranty but my dealer replaced the transfer case at no cost. My SA said the number of transfer cased having issues was high enough for Porsche to recall it but since it is not a safety issue they prefer to replace when it fails and that is probably why they are not charging for it. I asked my SA how much would be to pay our of my pocket and he said around $3.5k.

 

Good news! My 2015 S has about 36k miles now and is out of warranty.

Guess when the TC fails I just go to dealer and get a new one for free.

 

ozziegt is on the right path. There was some research done on the Cayenne a few years ago. They too were having TC issues. What was found is you can dodge this problem by changing the TC fluid every 30,000 miles. This seems to work. I believe this is now recommended by Porsche for the Cayenne. I think this is a true statement....