Loose crank shaft after clutch replacement

[Guest]

I took my car into a mechanic to have a new clutch installed. When i picked the car up i noticed a major vibrationat about 3500 RPM. The mechanic said he didn't know what it was and said to take it to my local Porsche dealer and have them check it.

They got it apart today and called me to come look at it. The inside of the bell housing had a few scars from the pressure plate and or flywheel. They then showed me where the crankshaft had slop in it. I belive the guy who put the clutch in left something loose or maybe a bolt in the housing and caused the thing to press the crank shaft up and thus screwed up the bearing housings on the crank shaft.

Porsche said they would pay for 1/2 the motor since it only had 40,000 miles on it. Total it looks like it is going to cost me 7000.00 for the new motor installed.

Does anybody know what might have caused this or heard of this problem before? :( Is this a good deal on the new motor?

[teeerex]

I took my car into a mechanic to have a new clutch installed. When i picked the car up i noticed a major vibrationat about 3500 RPM. The mechanic said he didn't know what it was and said to take it to my local Porsche dealer and have them check it.

They got it apart today and called me to come look at it. The inside of the bell housing had a few scars from the pressure plate and or flywheel. They then showed me where the crankshaft had slop in it. I belive the guy who put the clutch in left something loose or maybe a bolt in the housing and caused the thing to press the crank shaft up and thus screwed up the bearing housings on the crank shaft.

Porsche said they would pay for 1/2 the motor since it only had 40,000 miles on it. Total it looks like it is going to cost me 7000.00 for the new motor installed.

Does anybody know what might have caused this or heard of this problem before? :( Is this a good deal on the new motor?

Are you saying that the problem started since you had the new clutch fitted ? If so, and Porsche can without doubt say that this caused the engine failure, then it's really irrelevant how much Porsche are asking for because the mechanic that screwed up will be paying for it surely ? Sounds a bit iffy though because if Porsche are paying 1/2, then they are either being very genereous (unlikely!) or they are partly to blame in some way? Surely if it was a loose bolt, they would be able to find it, or shreds of it anyway ?

[Guest]

Kind of a stange deal. The mechanic that did the work used to work with most of the mechanics at the Porsche dealer for many years before opening his own shop. I did not have any problems with the car as far as scatches to the bell housing or a loose crank when the car was put in the independent shop the first time I asked them to check everything very closely while they had the trans and clutch out and they did not notice any of these issues while they inspected it. When i picked it up the vibration was thier. He told me to drive it, got home with oil leaks and out misfires. Called him and he said take it to the dealer. I am attempting to get him to pay for 1/2 of the new engine but we will see.

As far as Porshe mechanics, they say it just happened, nobody's fault. I am very skeptical though, since all was fine before i let the independent touch it. I am greatful to Porshe for covering 1/2. I figure if the Independent pays 1/2 of the seven thousand then I can live with that, if not I may have to take his but to court. I don't want to do that if I can help it and if it cost me 3500.00 and I get a new motor out of it I can live with that.

I took my car into a mechanic to have a new clutch installed. When i picked the car up i noticed a major vibrationat about 3500 RPM. The mechanic said he didn't know what it was and said to take it to my local Porsche dealer and have them check it.

They got it apart today and called me to come look at it. The inside of the bell housing had a few scars from the pressure plate and or flywheel. They then showed me where the crankshaft had slop in it. I belive the guy who put the clutch in left something loose or maybe a bolt in the housing and caused the thing to press the crank shaft up and thus screwed up the bearing housings on the crank shaft.

Porsche said they would pay for 1/2 the motor since it only had 40,000 miles on it. Total it looks like it is going to cost me 7000.00 for the new motor installed.

Does anybody know what might have caused this or heard of this problem before? :( Is this a good deal on the new motor?

Are you saying that the problem started since you had the new clutch fitted ? If so, and Porsche can without doubt say that this caused the engine failure, then it's really irrelevant how much Porsche are asking for because the mechanic that screwed up will be paying for it surely ? Sounds a bit iffy though because if Porsche are paying 1/2, then they are either being very genereous (unlikely!) or they are partly to blame in some way? Surely if it was a loose bolt, they would be able to find it, or shreds of it anyway ?

[slbates]

I'm not saying this is what happened to your car, but I have seen the results of forgetting to put a pilot bearing back in during cluch replacement. Crank main bearings went away real fast after experiencing vibrations. Please note this was not on a Porsche. Could be a coincidence. Four years ago I took my car in for the gas cap recall...car wouldn't start while at the dealer due to a dead cell in the battery that finally gave up and shorted out. The dealer may just be doing you a favor for someone elses mistake. Be careful on the cost as there is a large variation between list price and what you should actually pay.

Just before I bought my 996 (several years ago), I was looking at a 993 that had just had a new engine put in it by the dealer free of charge. The car had about 50k miles on it and the top end was toast. The second owner took it to the dealer and they replaced it at their cost. The cost scared the owner out of the car and he was selling it after six months of ownership. This looks like a similar case with the dealer wanting/willing to help out. Just make sure your 1/2 is a fair price.

Kind of a stange deal. The mechanic that did the work used to work with most of the mechanics at the Porsche dealer for many years before opening his own shop. I did not have any problems with the car as far as scatches to the bell housing or a loose crank when the car was put in the independent shop the first time I asked them to check everything very closely while they had the trans and clutch out and they did not notice any of these issues while they inspected it. When i picked it up the vibration was thier. He told me to drive it, got home with oil leaks and out misfires. Called him and he said take it to the dealer. I am attempting to get him to pay for 1/2 of the new engine but we will see.

As far as Porshe mechanics, they say it just happened, nobody's fault. I am very skeptical though, since all was fine before i let the independent touch it. I am greatful to Porshe for covering 1/2. I figure if the Independent pays 1/2 of the seven thousand then I can live with that, if not I may have to take his but to court. I don't want to do that if I can help it and if it cost me 3500.00 and I get a new motor out of it I can live with that.

I took my car into a mechanic to have a new clutch installed. When i picked the car up i noticed a major vibrationat about 3500 RPM. The mechanic said he didn't know what it was and said to take it to my local Porsche dealer and have them check it.

They got it apart today and called me to come look at it. The inside of the bell housing had a few scars from the pressure plate and or flywheel. They then showed me where the crankshaft had slop in it. I belive the guy who put the clutch in left something loose or maybe a bolt in the housing and caused the thing to press the crank shaft up and thus screwed up the bearing housings on the crank shaft.

Porsche said they would pay for 1/2 the motor since it only had 40,000 miles on it. Total it looks like it is going to cost me 7000.00 for the new motor installed.

Does anybody know what might have caused this or heard of this problem before? :( Is this a good deal on the new motor?

Are you saying that the problem started since you had the new clutch fitted ? If so, and Porsche can without doubt say that this caused the engine failure, then it's really irrelevant how much Porsche are asking for because the mechanic that screwed up will be paying for it surely ? Sounds a bit iffy though because if Porsche are paying 1/2, then they are either being very genereous (unlikely!) or they are partly to blame in some way? Surely if it was a loose bolt, they would be able to find it, or shreds of it anyway ?