997.1 C4S transmission howl

[Singe]

Searched for over a day here and at Rennlist w/o luck so I thought I'd post. Have a 2006 Carrera 4S Cabriolet with a Ruf R Kompressor, PSE, 6 speed with short shift kit.

In the past week I've had what appears to be a transmission problem get worse quickly. It started with a slight howl or winding down of the engine, like a jet airplane shutting down it's engines, whenever I left the clutch in on that last 500-1000 rpms to a little under 2000 rpms slowing down for stop signs and traffic signals. Then it began when starting up in 1st gear from a stop. Drove yesterday and all seemed OK after the first block or two - kept top down thinking I'd hear more.

Then last night on the ride home from going out with my wife I noticed the howl in forward gears and an added noise that seemed to come from just in front of the firewall. Top was up/closed. Today prior to backing out of the garage that all I had to do was put the car into reverse keeping the clutch in to cause the howl in back (parking break on, not moving) or barely start to engage the clutch in first. Sound did not happen with clutch was in and first gear engaged at idle. No howl reving engine in neutral. Top was up/closed for all in this paragraph. This would seem to eliminate the supercharger as it doesn't come on until engine speed exceeds about 1500 rpms.

No blunt force trauma, always warm it up to operating temp before going over 3300 rpms (most around town driving is done 2200-3300 rpms), and rarely exceed 5000 rpms because the opportunity on public roads to go that fast in a Ruf R Kompressor is really not available.

About a few weeks ago I noticed some oil on the rear passenger side garage floor. Up until a few years ago I had a 1984 Euro 911 that leaked a lot of oil however I though these new models with their integrated dry sump wouldn't leak. Yea, there is also a creaking from the left rear that happens when putting on the brakes to stop from a slow (<5 mph) roll or going down an incline slowly - like into my driveway.

Have an appointment with the dealer on Tuesday morning. I'm thinking the two sounds are unrelated, however the howling from the engine bay and drive train sounds serious. No effect is felt driving the beast. Has anyone seen or heard of the root cause for the drive train howling? Thank you in advance for any replies.

[PAULSPEED]

Coud it be a throw out bearing on the clutch. I

would guess this until you talked about an oil leak. Good luck.

Paul

[355bhp]

Have an appointment with the dealer on Tuesday morning. I'm thinking the two sounds are unrelated, however the howling from the engine bay and drive train sounds serious. No effect is felt driving the beast. Has anyone seen or heard of the root cause for the drive train howling? Thank you in advance for any replies.

I suppose the s/c voids the warranty, but I think it would be worth it to ask the Porsche service rep about it. Sounds to be an expensive fix.

[Singe]

The SC only is supposed to void the engine warranty. Clutch, 4 wheel system, and other drive train components are to be covered. We'll see.

[Singe]

Looks like the culprit was the power steering system. Funny how it manifests itself early in what seemed to be a transmission related problem. It appears that with slight loss of power steering fluid one gets a howl from the back when in gear under no or light load which progresses to the front of the firewall as more fluid is lost. Only when there is an appreciable loss of fluid does one get the characteristic sound of a power steering system issue when just turning the wheel.

When the Ruf R Kompressor is installed the Factory power steering line from the engine to the steering rack is modified to accommodate the new manifold plumbing. Ruf Centre in Addison, TX fixed it at no charge. :clapping: Lucky me, as the local Porsche dealer wouldn't touch it after identifying the issue.