Staying aware of the common issues certain cars experience is an important task for Porsche drivers, as certain models are more susceptible to specific issues over others. If you drive a Porsche and have heard of the common transmission valve body failure drivers tend to experience, this article will provide you with a little more information.
What is the Transmission Valve Body and What Does it Do For Your Porsche?
The transmission valve body plays a critical role in your Porsche’s performance and function. Your car’s transmission utilizes a hydraulic transmission fluid in order to keep the parts well lubricated and allow pressure to build in the system for optimal gear shifting and clutch engagement. The hydraulic fluid travels through a system of interworking hoses, channels, and pathways—the transmission valve body is what opens and closes to allow the fluid to flow freely when it is needed—primarily during clutch engagement and/or gear shifting processes.
Recent technology has streamlined this part’s functioning for optimal driving conditions through the use of various sensors and control modules. The valve body considers where the throttle position is, how much weight the vehicle is carrying, and how quickly the car is traveling or braking in order to shift gears more smoothly. When the valve body fails, it can cause significant changes in your Porsche’s performance.
How is This Issue Unique to Porsche Cars?
Every car manufacturer runs into issues during the design and engineering process that are usually perfected with each subsequent model. For certain Porsche cars, a failing transmission valve body is quite common. The Porsche Cayenne in particular is known to run into this problem more frequently than other models. Although the valve body issue has been addressed by the Porsche manufacturer in newer Cayenne models and is no longer as prevalent, Porsche technicians are still seeing the issue come into their shop in older Cayenne models. Depending on what type of Porsche you drive, you may need to be more vigilant about the potential for the transmission valve body to fail.
Signs of Valve Body Failure to Be Aware of
Staying in tune with how your car performs on a regular basis can help you identify concerning symptoms or any changes in performance. Driving a Porsche comes with the privilege of luxury and high-end standards; when the valve body fails, it can be highly upsetting to Porsche drivers. Noticing symptoms and addressing them early on can help keep repair costs down to a minimum and keep your car out of the shop. These are the most common signs of valve body failure that you should be aware of in your own Porsche:
Shifting Difficulties
Gear shifting issues are common in Porsche cars with failing valve bodies. These are the two most prevalent ways that drivers may experience shifting difficulties:
Gear Slipping
Gear slipping occurs when the clutch can’t become engaged correctly and gears aren’t able to move smoothly from one to the next. Gear slipping impacts the power exerted by the car.
Hesitation
Shifting hesitation is common when drivers experience valve body failure. Abrupt or sudden shifting that isn’t smooth seriously diminishes the quality of the experience for the driver.
Concerning Sounds
Any time your car exerts concerning sounds and noises, it’s time to listen. In the case of a failing valve body, your car might make a knocking noise when shifting into reverse or when applying the brakes.
What You Can Do To Prevent Transmission Valve Body Failure
There are a few things you can do to keep your Porsche in excellent working condition at all times. Here are the three most important things to start doing for your car that will keep it out of the shop in the future:
- Hire a Porsche Specialist
- Follow Your Routine Maintenance Plan
- Follow Up with Concerning Symptoms
The more diligent and on top of maintenance you are with your Porsche, the better chance you have of avoiding valve body failure.
How We Can Help You
Working with a Porsche specialist means that your car will receive the highest level of care possible. At Dell’s Service Center, we provide high standards of specialized care to Porsche drivers all over Green Bay, Manitowoc, and Sturgeon Bay, WI. With a passion for Porsche, our technicians are aware of lurking potential valve body failure in every model that comes into our shop. If you’d like to schedule an appointment for an overall inspection, or if you have a concerning issue to address with your Porsche, please contact one of our helpful professionals right away.
* Porsche Emblem image credit goes to: tomeng.