Helicopter v Cayenne & Gremlins

[Medicaribe]

2006 Cayenne V6 Base model (sorry long story)

I bought this vehicle in June 2014 and I replaced the battery in late July.

 

On July 30 a forest fire came to my home, the Cayenne was in driveway as the fire approached.

When the fire got closer to the house I moved the Cayenne to the other side of my house near front door.

I put my dogs inside and opened the windows about 6 inches each, I also left the AC on.

While moving car to front of house I had to drive over front lawn and a small retaining wall when it tore a rock loose.

Firetrucks and fire was blocking driveway. 

The fire was about 20 feet from the house & the Cayenne was on far side when the helicopters arrived with huge bags / buckets of water. They started dumping water on fire, house and ended up hitting Cayenne as well.

The helicopters kept going back and forth dumping water for about 3 hours pushing fire away from my home.

 

After fire was pushed away, the car was still running fine, I finally shut it off when I knew I was safe from the fire.

2 days later I went to drive it, it was raining and the AC and wipers kept turning off for a second or 2 and then came back on. 

I called insurance company and they took it to Porsche. When tow truck arrived the new battery was completely dead.

 

The dealer ended up replacing the Transmission module clearing the drain plugs and replacing the sun roof headliner. 

No mention of water. 

 

When I got the vehicle back, it seemed fine for about 100 miles, then the AC issue came back along with the headlights flashing when in the off position, when turned on they did not flash. 

Then it seemed like the car would shut off according to the gauges, the radio would shut off the windows stop working the alternator gauge would drop to 0. the cruise control stops working, then will all come back on again. 

The car would flash a warning "System Fault Workshop" with a diagram of a key above it. \

The tach and speedometer keep working and the car stays running just fine. The oil pressure does not drop nor does gas gauge or temp gauge, they all keep working. 

The turn indicators inside work intermittently while outside lights working fine. When car is shut off, sometimes tail lights stay on and sometimes courtesy lights stay on. 

 

Insurance company brought it back to the dealer for repairs, the dealer 1st thought it was battery without checking with me and replaced the battery, they then thought it was the key, so they replaced the key but did not program it! ???

Next they thought it was another module, then they said (after 1 month) that there was water on the floor boards and that the repair would cost $18,034.37 plus tax to total $21,004.80. They also had an estimate for $28,221.62, for complete repair with labor. 

 

So insurance company decided to total it and give me $1700 while paying off loan. 

I said if I was only getting the $1700 I wanted the car as salvage as well. 

Insurance company came back saying they would not total it and give me the car + $10600 to get out of claim. 

I accepted this offer because I knew the car was still running just fine, it just has gremlins. (or bad module?)

 

Now it is for me to fix. Here is what the dealer said would need replacing;

955-610-127-02 Control Unit                   $336.13   Gateway

955-618-040-12 Control Unit                    $280.85  Trailer

955-618-036-05 Control Unit                   $527.17   Immobilizer

955-641-113-AX Instrument Cluster        $1995.28  

955-618-601-10  DME Control Unit         $1354.25  Engine Control

955-618-020-21 Control Unit A                $554.58   Automatic Transmission

955-618-027-01 Control Unit                   $420.13   Body control

955-612-913-05 Wiring Harness             $410.92   Sub -P Front Drivers Side

955-612-914-05 Wiring Harness             $410.92   Sub-P  Front Passenger Side

955-612-901-00 Harness                         $15695.52  Passenger Compartment

955-618-518-03 Rain Sensor                  $264.51

 

I do not really believe all of this needs replacing, I think they did not want to work on it and gave a high number so they would not need to repair it. (maybe I am wrong). I drove it home and have driven about 200-300 miles so far. 

 

So any ideas where to start?

I have been able to rescue control modules after they have been in water using distilled water gently cleaning and the drying in air and then a few days in a bag of rice. 

But again where should I start?

 

thanks and sorry for long post. 

Edited October 9, 2014 by Medicaribe

[jagman1]

If I had to guess, the wiring harness that runs on both the front passenger and drivers side has some corrosion damage at some of the crimp connections.  If you search "wet footwells," you'll learn more about the issue.  In the end you'll find that there are several exposed crimp connections in those wire bundles.  I expect they're corroded or wet. 

 

I'd recommend you pull of the lower sill trim, and lower a-pillar trim on both sides.  Look beneath the carpeting and foam padding and find the harnesses.  They run from the lower a-pillar region (near where the front door lower hinges are), to the front seats.  Each wire bundle is wrapped in electrical tape and plastic.  Unwrap them, and you'll see most wires are continuous and will be safe from water damage, but there will be 4 or 5 that have a small amount of electrical tape to protect a splice.  If corroded, cut out the corrosion, and re splice the wires then see what you get. 

 

You may have fried a module or two, though I doubt you've fried as many as you've listed. 

 

I learned of this when I had issues with the Terminal 15 relay failing.  It's under the drivers seat and gets its signal from the wire bundles I described.  Bottom line, is the relays in this vicinity power the CANBUS and if they are suspect you'll get all sorts of crazy errors; namely every module will say that it has failed. 

[Medicaribe]

Ok thanks, this is the type of info I needed. I will look up wet foot wells and start opening up the harness.

The dealer said they cleaned the drain plugs and changed the sunroof headliner due to water damage, this was the 1st time I brought the car in. 

With the amount of time it took Porsche to find the water I can easily see some of the connections got corroded. (7 weeks)

 

I am a bit disappointed with the dealer, they didnt check for other water damage when cleaning the drain plugs and changing headliner.  

I do see it is a common problem after looking it up.

On the day I found the problem it rained 6 inches in 3 hours and the helicopters were also dropping water all around it 2 days earlier. 

 

I do know the dealer never dried the car out. I did start trying to dry it as soon as I got it home, although I did not remove anything. 

I will try and get it opened up this afternoon and update what I find.

thanks again

[wrinkledpants]

Honestly, it's a base model Cayenne.  Take the money and run.  Once you get water intrusion on that level to the interior - you're destined for a life of weird issues popping up.  

[Medicaribe]

Honestly, it's a base model Cayenne.  Take the money and run.  Once you get water intrusion on that level to the interior - you're destined for a life of weird issues popping up.  

Thanks, I have taken the money but for me worst case scenario I would also part it out. (the parts that did not get wet)

As far as how much water got in, that part is still a bit unclear to me because the carpets dont seem wet nor did they ever feel wet under my bare feet.

Although I can also see how it could be wet under the carpet. 

I will consider your opinion, so thanks again. I will post what I find.

[Medicaribe]

After some removal of trim and carpet I found the passenger foam under the carpet to be wet. No puddles, just wet. All the wires /cables looked ok and I checked each one. None of the modules under the seat were wet, all were dry. 

I completely dried out the car and then drove about 110 miles without any faults, wife then noticed cold water on her foot (passenger side).

I did end up blowing air thru AC drip line. 

drove back the 110 miles and the fault had come back on and off. But the car drove fine the full 220 miles.

Once I got home I noticed the fuel pump sounded like it was turning on and off while the car was shut off, I then also noticed a clicking from the lower module to the side of the steering column, clicking on and off. 

So my guess is that the heat from fire damaged this module.

 

I believe this is the electronics control module, maybe the chassis control module? or body control module?

Online I found some people listing it as the headlight module...?

Can someone please confirm the name or names of this module?

tia

[wvicary]

If you can get the part number off the module in question? That would be the best why to find it's correct description. I very much doubt you have a module failing but more of a wiring harness fault due to water migration. Have you inspected the wiring harnesses that run down both sides of the door sill areas?

[Medicaribe]

If you can get the part number off the module in question? That would be the best why to find it's correct description. I very much doubt you have a module failing but more of a wiring harness fault due to water migration. Have you inspected the wiring harnesses that run down both sides of the door sill areas?

I did manage to see part # 7L5937049 on the module that is clicking on and off. Online Ive found various names not sure which is right or if all are right.  

It clicks on and off when the key is off or removed from the car. 

 

I have very carefully checked each wire singularly, taking the ties off and opening the wire races (flat tubes) up to and going up the A pillars. None of them showed any sign or wear or damage or wetness, the wire splices were all good without any sign or corrosion or breakage. The area where the wires were running was not wet. It was more wet or damp up at the front of the passenger footwell near the AC Drain. 

If it were a wire problem which wire or wires would turn this module on and off?

Edited October 21, 2014 by Medicaribe

[Doohan]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/05-PORSCHE-CAYENNE-CHASSIS-ECM-HEADLAMP-CONTROL-MODULE-7L5937049C-18450/261408320867?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D26942%26meid%3Db217cd1f33ac41b790f36c07a5fb9e9a%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D11184%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D181047582365

Edited October 22, 2014 by Doohan

[Medicaribe]

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/05-PORSCHE-CAYENNE-CHASSIS-ECM-HEADLAMP-CONTROL-MODULE-7L5937049C-18450/261408320867?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D26942%26meid%3Db217cd1f33ac41b790f36c07a5fb9e9a%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D11184%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D181047582365

Thanks, I went ahead and ordered a module since I cannot find anything wrong with wiring.

With the different names for this module it seems to match my problems somewhat... I will have it on Friday and update after install. 

I may end up needing more but its a start. 

Thanks to all so far. 

Edited October 22, 2014 by Medicaribe

[Medicaribe]

Thanks to everyone, problems solved!

It was the Module part # 7L5937049D the body and or headlight control module.

The lower one next to the steering colulm.

I swapped it out for a used one from same year & engine. Everything works again.

I did not program it yet but I have driven 80+ miles without any failures.

Maybe it does not need programming?

thanks again