997.2 Targa 4s PDK issues

cardy · 12 Nov 2019

Hi Gents
I have a malachite green Targa 4s on brown natural leather
First post in a 911 forum
My wife has a 996 and I have the 997 in the title
118,00 km's
Checking in on what appears to be a major PDK problem

Total newbie on these forums so excuse me in advance if I botch this effort

My car had extended coverage to 100k from previous owner and the PDK had been tuned 3 times. Low speed pausing, 1st and R

Transmission emergency run message comes up
Here in Canada the cost to replace a PDK is $28,000 CDN ($16,400 pounds sterling)

Faults coming up were for low voltage and CAN?

(I have looked over old posts and seen info on temp sensors . .part#, ignition coils and battery). New battery put in 5 months ago FWIW

I'm upset with the garage I've used as he has tried a new mechatronics ($4k) and that has not worked .. is this a viable fix for a 997.2 ??

The code coming up now is P1733 - Shift Rod 3 Displacement sensor

Help appreciated. I feel like this garage is guessing and now defaulting to a new PDK. And could the mechatronics cause a new error like P1733?

FZP · 12 Nov 2019

Hi mate,
First of all congrats on the car, sorry to hear about your woes. There will be others along shortly to assist hopefully. I just wanted to comment on the colour combo you have. Having never heard of malachite green, I had to Google it, and what a colour it is. Natural leather and it's a ripping combo. Apply that to a Targa and it's a unicorn. Lovely.
Hopefully you can get some direction from the guys here on how to limit the repair bill on your car.
Best of luck :thumb:

cardy · 12 Nov 2019

thanks

I wanted a Targa. I wanted a green one. Preferably a 4. Most preferably a 4s.

The last owner had it wrapped in orange

I've enjoyed it for 3 summers

Haven't had it over 220kmh

deMort · 12 Nov 2019

I'm not sure what mechatronics is ? PDK control unit perhaps ?

Again by tuned do you mean it's not standard ?

Fault code is below .. it would appear thats its either the PDK gearbox , wiring or the control unit ..

It would seem to work on a PWM signal .. so a switched voltage between 2 volts and 10 volts basically .. a wiring check is needed and if possible a scope attached to the wire from shift rod three sensor to see what you have ..

If 0 or 12 volts then its either a short to earth or a short to battery positive .

Not an easy fault to track down i feel and i am concerned due to the lack of parts to repair a PDK box then a new one might be required

A wiring short circuit is what i'm hoping though .

cardy · 12 Nov 2019

tuned mean Porsche dealers "re-calibrated" the PDK

thanks for the detailed reply above

I am not sure why my mechanic went mechatronic route, don't see this much across the forums

Robertb · 12 Nov 2019

I know the mechatronic is the root of lots of trouble with the VW/Audi DSG box, but have not heard of the PDK having similar issues.

The symptom is a juddering at low speeds, like reversing.

deMort · 12 Nov 2019

I'm afraid i still don't know what the Met thingy is ... but a calibration was and is a standard thing .. it's merely setting the parameters in the box for gear changes .. there was also a lot of software updates for these .

None of this is your problem though .. you have a fault where by the control unit is getting a corrupt signal from this sensor and that's what the problem is .

Wiring .. or mechanical .. that's what needs to be found out .

arthouse · 12 Nov 2019

cardy said:
tuned mean Porsche dealers "re-calibrated" the PDK

thanks for the detailed reply above

I am not sure why my mechanic went mechatronic route, don't see this much across the forums

The mechatronic unit in early/the first VW DSG gearboxes was a common fault, it was quite an expensive fix until more recent years. If the PDK is anything like the DSG then the reason for re-calibration is due to clutch plate wear, and garages often re-calibrate them on change of ownership as the mechatronic gets used to your driving style, and is supposed to adapt accordingly, to be honest i never noticed any difference in either of my DSG boxes after re-calibration, but that could explain why yours has been re-calibrated 3 times.
Maybe your mechanic had experience with early DSG mechatronic failures and thought it was the fault with your PDK.

cardy · 12 Nov 2019

is the mechatronic the control unit?

I have seen a rare post were a 997.2 needed a mechatronic but for diff issues (juddering as you say)

I did not have any shuddering prior to the transmission emergency run message

PRIOR issues were just when the car wasn't fully warmed there could be some slight pausing issues in first gear and reverse

My feeling is it can't be mechanical, the car was driving fine before I parked it and the warning came on. The gear select #'s were flashing back and forth and it wouldn't let me select a gear or drive the car.

I'd driven it all week and just come back from the cottage, a 90 min ride
First time seeing this warning

cardy · 12 Nov 2019

here's the malachite for the poster above
I prefer the green
Most like the orange it seems

cardy · 12 Nov 2019

I am just off the phone with a specialized Porsche mechanic about 1 hour away who owns four 911's

He tells me he can fix it 99% without a new PDK.

From the info sent, it is almost a lock it is electronic / voltage / sensor and between him and his transmission specialist he thinks we will be fine

If it is the PDK mechanically he has 4 or 5 units laying around he can use to repair that with as well

I may have just gotten extremely lucky

wildej · 12 Nov 2019

Hi I had the transmission emergency run message appear on my old 4S with pdk.
The pdk box used to go into limp mode and it was put down to a bad coil pack.
Had the coil packs replaced and the problem was solved.
Not sure if this similar issue to yours but thought I would mention it.
Good luck getting it resolved.

cardy · 12 Nov 2019

thanks for the feedback and help so far

I am a newbie on Porsche boards, cut my teeth on the golf boards

It seems the wife's manual 996 has been a lot less problematic and I was worried that would be the difficult one with the IMS history

Robertb · 12 Nov 2019

Fingers crossed... seems DeMort is on the right lines as always...

Ps I love the green!

chunkymonkey1982 · 12 Nov 2019

Still worth checking the battery, there could be a reason why the battery isn't being charged properly. Also the Canada cold could make things worse. Maybe try starting the car with a jump start pack connected in parallel.

997.2 Targa 4s PDK issues

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