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Porsche has spent many decades refining and fine-tuning how the driving experience feels for their drivers. They are always at the forefront of cutting-edge innovations and technological advancements. This means that when any part of a Porsche starts to fail, drivers will notice the drop in performance quickly. While, of course, Porsche has designed every car they produce to be as reliable as possible, parts do have a projected life span, and once that threshold is reached and passed, part failure becomes much more likely.
To help protect and prolong the lifespan of your Porsche, you need to be aware of some of the signs and symptoms of failure of the important systems of your car, including the pressure accumulator. In this article, we will learn what this important part does, why it fails, and discuss where you can get the issue fixed properly.
Your Porsche actually has several pressure accumulators throughout your Porsche. They are, in essence, a hydraulic component that gives your car’s fluid systems the pressure they need to properly perform their jobs.
The most essential pressure accumulator in your Porsche is the ABS accumulator, which provides pressure to your brakes, making hard braking a controlled and immediate response. If you ever think you have an issue with this accumulator, you should seek professional diagnostic work immediately as your car is no longer safe to drive.
Less essential but still integral, pressure accumulators in your car also exist to help the air conditioning, the fuel system, clutch, transmission, and the suspension. An accumulator is able to provide the pressure to fluid when needed by storing energy at times when there is less of a need or an excess of energy, such as when idle. It will then provide the stored energy at times of need, such as when accelerating or braking.
A pressure accumulator is comprises of various parts such as chambers, pumps, pistons, valves, and hydraulic lines. This means that failure can occur in the accumulator because of a variety of reasons. Let’s discuss how to tell if an accumulator is failing.
As mentioned, the pressure accumulator is an assembly of parts. Therefore, a failure of any one of these elements will cause the deterioration and failure of the overall part. The way in which the issue is fixed will depend on the part in question. Some common symptoms of accumulator problems include:
Your Porsche’s brake and transmission systems need pressurized fluid to work correctly. Lacklustre brakes or a hesitant clutch can indicate accumulator trouble that needs immediate repair by a trusted Porsche specialist.
To successfully produce cold air, your air conditioning system needs hydraulic pressure. When this fails, you will only receive low airflow from your HVAC system.
Porsche uses hydraulic pressure in its suspension to absorb the shock from the road, improving the way the ride feels. When no pressure is provided, the ride will become much more bumpy, which is certainly unexpected from the norm.
Pressure accumulator failure can result in the illumination of warning lights, such as the check engine light or the brake light. It is important to never ignore these warning signs, as they are intended to keep you and your car safe.
The main cause of pressure accumulator failure is pressure loss. Pressure loss is usually case of a leaky system, with the most common areas for this to occur being the seals, valves, or hydraulic lines. The leaks will affect the amount of pressure the accumulators can store, reducing their overall function.
As there are multiple pressure accumulators throughout your Porsche, and with some responsible for essential safety systems such as your brakes, trying to fix pressure accumulator failure at home is never advised. This part can be difficult to access and requires special tools to fix. Attempting DIY repairs won’t save you time or money, and can leave you wondering if your Porsche is still safe to drive.
Euro Plus Automotive services the 
areas of Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, San Fernando Valley, and Los Angeles County, CA. Our friendly team of experts will be happy to check the status of your car’s pressure accumulators to ensure your Porsche is performing safely and up to the standards you expect. Call us today for a convenient appointment.
Porsche is a luxury, high-performance automobile that is coveted by many car enthusiasts. However, it is still a machine and it is prone to broken parts if not maintained routinely. Recently, some Porsche owners have reported problems with their driveshaft supports breaking down.
As an owner of a Porsche, you may want to know about the driveshaft system and what you can do to take action at the first sign of trouble. You do not want to let a problem like this mushroom into a more serious situation, especially when you are talking about repairing an expensive car like a Porsche. The parts and labor can get exponentially more expensive as the problems get worse, so catching the problem early is key in this situation.
The driveshaft is an important part in the drivetrain of an automobile. It is connected to the other parts of a drivetrain in order to facilitate torque and rotation control. Although it is connected to the rest of the drivetrain, it isn’t directly connected to the other parts. It requires a separate support mechanism to keep it in its place. The driveshaft support is what holds it in place and keeps it aligned with the rest of the parts in the drivetrain.
In Porsche vehicles, there have been a number of problems with the center bearing mount. These crucial mounts are made of rubber which will wear down over time. This is due to the vibration felt throughout the car while in motion. If you don’t spot the problem with a worn out center bearing mount, your driveshaft itself will eventually fail.
Indications of a driveshaft failure include loud noises from your car, similar to clunking or thumping sounds. This is a sign that the driveshaft has begun to free itself from the worn down center support mount. It is rattling against another mechanism in the car.
A dried out support mount will also make a whining noise as it begins to crack due to lack of lubrication and wear and tear. The disintegration of the center support mount is usually the reason for a failing driveshaft support in about 80% of the cases, but it is not the only possibility that could lead to such a failure.
The CV joint can become dry as well. If the rollers become worn out, you will hear a grinding noise due to the added friction. If it gets to this point, you may even experience violent shaking and loss of control while the vehicle is in motion. If this begins to happen, stop the car instantly and get it towed to a trustworthy repair shop that specializes in German automobiles.
There is no margin for error if you suspect that your driveshaft support has failed. You must bring your Porsche in for servicing immediately, and you need to find a good mechanic that is experienced in dealing with your 
luxury import. A mechanic who knows all of the intricacies of your Porsche is invaluable to you.
If you live in the Canoga Park, CA area, you have one of the best European import repair shops right in your own backyard. Euro Plus Automotive has excelled in caring for German and Japanese imports for decades now. We are well versed in problems with Porsche driveshaft support failures. We will diagnose the problem and take care of it in a timely and cost-effective fashion to get you back on the road quickly and safely.
If you live in the Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, San Fernando Valley, or Los Angeles County, CA areas and you’ve noticed any of the above symptoms in your Porsche, bring your car in to Euro Plus Automotive immediately. Don’t wait and let your driveshaft deteriorate. Your Porsche and your wallet will thank you for bringing your car into Euro Plus Automotive. Let us become your trusted Porsche technicians for all your repairs and maintenance needs.
Engine sludge can be a very costly problem for drivers. Your Porsche’s engine can run roughly if dealing with a sludge buildup. For Porsche drivers who pride themselves on their quality choice of luxury vehicle, this is simply unacceptable and should be avoided at all costs. In this article, we will take a closer look at oil sludge, find out what it is, what it means for your Porsche, and how you can take action to avoid it.
Also referred to as engine sludge, oi -sludge is a build up of broken down or used up oil deposits that develop around your Porsche’s motor and engine. When this sludge is present, your engine is not able to be properly lubricated, as fresh oil cannot circulate to all the parts of the engine. Without proper lubrication, the moving parts of the engine will start to become stuck and cease, reducing, and potentially causing your engine to stop working. There is no discrimination between luxury vehicles and used cars when it comes to oil sludge; all vehicles can be affected without the proper maintenance.
While built up oil sludge can be a tricky process to fix, preventing it is quite simple and should already be part of your maintenance routine. If these aren’t on your maintenance list already, remember, better late than never!
While poor quality oil may be cheap, it can heavily impact the performance of your engine. Saving money is great. Just remember, you are driving a luxury car. It demands respect. Poor quality or cheap oil typically does not have the correct additives or conditions included to encourage peak engine performance. It can also be higher in contaminants or even possess a shorter lifespan than trusted oil brands. This can directly contribute to oil-sludge buildup.
Oil that is past its best can be a leading cause of oil sludge, as the aged oil breaks down and clumps around parts. To avoid this, be sure to change your oil as directed by either your mechanic or your Porsche owner’s manual.
Oil filters can become clogged for many reasons. Factors such as poor or old oil, contaminants in the oil, and parts failure can all cause the oil filter to clog or become ineffective. When this happens, sludge is likely to build up around the system as well as allowing contaminants to freely enter the engines system, potentially causing deposits in other areas of your engine also.
The number one habitual cause of oil sludge build up is what has been dubbed stop-and-go driving. This driving habit is defined as short commutes which require the vehicle to regularly stop and start in a short time span. This is strenuous on the engine and can cause parts to wear out faster as a result, which directly contributes to oil-sludge buildup.
White the jury is out for many on whether oil-sludge removing products work, if your Porsche appears prone to sludge buildup, purchasing an engine sludge remover might be worth a try. These products are available at many auto parts and auto servicing stores and can be used quickly and easily via following the instructions listed on the product.
The best way to avoid oil-sludge buildup in your Porsche is to 
seek regular maintenance and servicing from professional mechanics. If your car is inspected regularly, it increases the likelihood that a potential series issues, such as oil-sludge, can be caught early. This will result in far more simple repairs that not only keep your car out of the shop for extensive time periods but will save you money, too.
If you live in or around Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, San Fernando Valley, or Los Angeles County, CA, then your number one choice is Euro Plus Automotive. We are experts in imported cars since 1984. There is very little our experienced team doesn’t know about Porsches. In fact, we are so confident in our skills that we offer a 2 year/24,000 warranty on all parts and labor as standard.
If you’re driving a luxurious European vehicle like a Porsche, it’s important to make sure the wheels on your Porsche are properly aligned. Wheel alignment can affect the stability and the directional control of your vehicle, and misaligned wheels can contribute to many problems with the basic driving characteristics of the vehicle. Misaligned wheels in a Porsche can contribute to problems like wear and tear on components of the suspension and the tires, and can negatively affect the efficiency and fuel economy of the vehicle. Wheel misalignment can also decrease the comfort of driving your Porsche because it creates issues with simple functions like steering. Having misaligned wheels in your Porsche can lead to unnecessarily expensive repairs, which can be easily avoided with proper alignment. In this article, we’ll go over some of the problems that can arise due to wheel misalignment in a Porsche.
A common, easily recognizable symptom of wheel misalignment in a Porsche is difficulty steering related to the vehicle pulling to one side. In some cases, a pull to one side of the road may be caused by the intended design of the road, and shouldn’t be contributed to a problem with the wheel alignment in your Porsche. Roads are designed to have the highest point in the center to facilitate water running to one side so it doesn’t pool in the middle of the road. If you’re driving in the right lane of a highway and your vehicle pulls slightly to the right, it’s possible that there isn’t a problem with the alignment of the wheels in your Porsche. However, if you notice that your car is pulling more to one side in a flat parking lot, this may indicate that the wheels in your Porsche are misaligned.
If you notice that your Porsche is struggling with fuel economy, or using more fuel than it normally does, this may be an indication of wheel misalignment. Decreased fuel economy is a symptom of many problems with a vehicle, so it’s important to look for other warning signs in addition to decreased fuel economy. Steering and accelerating with misaligned wheels can be taxing on your vehicle and can lead to decreased fuel economy. No one wants to spend extra money on gas, and it can be troubling to notice that your luxury vehicle is experiencing problems with fuel economy. If you notice that your Porsche is experiencing trouble with fuel economy and efficiency, you should have the vehicle inspected by a professional. It may be related to a number of problems including wheel misalignment.
If your tires have early, uneven wear this can indicate a problem with the alignment of your wheels. It’s possible to diagnose this problem by looking at the tread faces on the front wheels of your Porsche. If the tire tread faces are more worn on one side, it’s possible that you’re dealing with wheel misalignment in your Porsche and should have the wheels properly aligned by a skilled and trusted professional. Every Porsche owner knows the importance of having fresh, high-quality tires. Nice tires are an investment, so premature tire wear is both frustrating and expensive. In order to extend the life of your tires, make sure that your wheels are properly aligned.
The suspension of every Porsche is expertly designed 
and tested with the intention of preserving the components and providing a comfortable, luxurious experience while driving. If you drive with misaligned wheels it can lead to unnecessary wear and damage to essential components of the suspension. Damage to the suspension impacts the quality and comfort of your driving experience. In addition to a decrease in the quality of driving your Porsche, repairing or replacing components of the suspension can be extremely expensive. If you notice any warning signs associated with wheel misalignment, you should have your Porsche inspected immediately to avoid any damage to components of the suspension.
At Euro Plus Automotive we understand the importance of wheel alignment in a Porsche, which is why we’re the most trusted import specialists in Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, San Fernando Valley, and Los Angeles County, California. If you’ve noticed any possible problems due to wheel misalignment in your Porsche, please call us and see why we’re regarded as the best import specialists in California.
Porsche: the name comes imbued with characteristic German capability, speed, engineering, and looks. Flashy, sophisticated, fast, stylish, luxurious—Porsche can (and does) do it all. The car preferred by sporty celebrities and wealthy parents alike, there is no doubt that Porsche cars are a great purchase. Despite their glitz and glamour, however, Porsches can face the same sorts of maintenance and technical failures as a run of the mill family car. One example is the air/oil separator—with turbo-charged engines and other add-ons, Porsches face problems just like anything else.
The air-oil separator is found in all Porsches, and is not unique to a specific style. It’s an emissions device placed in the back corner of the engine, generally on the top right-hand side. Its primary function is to collect lingering gas and vapor remaining in the crankcase, and funnel those gases back into the intake manifold. There, they are burned in the regular combustion chamber. The main job of the air-oil separator is to reduce emissions for the car overall.
When the air-oil separator fails, the results are not catastrophic, but if left untreated for a while, it can result in damage to the engine. If the air-oil separator is not working properly, it cannot separate the oil from the “air” that it is sucking back to be combusted, and oil is pulled into the intake manifold. This is not good for the engine, and can interfere with spark plugs and catalytic converters.
One of the most common—and telling—indicators that the air/oil separator is not functioning correctly is a large quantity of white smoke pouring out of the engine area. While this doesn’t happen every time, it is common enough to indicate air/oil separator failure across the board. Generally, the smoke will be accompanied by check engine light (the oil being drawn into the engine reduces the normal levels), and the oil cap can become very difficult to remove. This is due to the high vacuum levels of the engine.
The engine may also make a high-pitched squealing sound as air is being drawn through the crankcase seal—again, due to the high vacuum on the inside. Other indicating possibilities include oil leaks and dark smoke coming from the exhaust pipe.
If any of these signs occur, it’s absolutely crucial to take your Porsche to a specialized mechanic right away to avoid any long-term or reoccurring damage.
The best way to avoid any sort of problems, especially in a high-end Porsche, is to consistently and regularly follow the maintenance schedule proposed by the manufacturer. This information should be readily available in the owner’s manual that comes with the car, and further (or follow-up) questions can always be directed to a Porsche dealer or your mechanic.
However, it’s possible to do a little diagnosis yourself: measure the engine crankcase vacuum with a slack tube manometer by making a hole in the top of an old filler cap and adhering the gauge. The normal pressure ranges between four to seven inches of water—if the air/oil separator has failed, it will be between nine to twelves inches. If a manometer is not available, a regular vacuum gauge should work fine. If you are not sure—or don’t like to fiddle around under the hood—a mechanic should be able to diagnose the problem easily.
We refuse to be a “generic” car shop, making sure that their specialists are trained to work on each unique type of car that comes their way. Our service technicians provide exceptional and consistent service to those in Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, San Fernando Valley, and Los Angeles County, CA. When in doubt, don’t trust just anyone with your highly-valued car. Look for Euro Plus Automotive, who will make sure that your car is taken care of with the same invaluable service they’ve provided since 1984.
* Porsche 911 image credit goes to: Vladimir Mladenovic.
If you own a Porsche, you have probably heard the term “IMS Bearing Failure.” IMS stands for Intermediate Shaft (Bearing) which supports the intermediate shaft on the flywheel side of the motor. They work to drive the camshafts indirectly off the crankshaft and by using this intermediate shaft, it reduces the speeds of the chains and prolongs their life. The IMS bearing has become a standard build for Porsche’s horizontally-opposed flat 6 engine.
Not all models with IMS Bearings are prone to failure. For instance, the water-cooled Turbo, GT2 and GT3 models have the same internal setup as the earlier air-cooled engines and their bearings will rarely fail, or at least not in a way that would result in catastrophic engine failure. At worst, the engine will develop a slight knocking.
However, if you own one of the following, you should probably be on the lookout for an excellent European auto mechanic like the ones at Euro Plus Automotive.
Most cases of IMS bearing failure in Porsche occur due to multiple causes that focus in on the eventual breakdown of the bearing. Normal wear and tear is part of this, but it is not the most common cause. One of the most significant reasons for bearing failure in the IMS is when a high load combines with a lack of lubrication, which causes overheating. The overheated metal in the bearing causes friction and fracturing, leaving pits behind in its wake. These pits accelerate the cycle of wear and tear exponentially, causing premature IMS bearing failure.
In the worst of cases, a failed IMS bearing will throw your cam timing off, which will then cause contact between the valve and piston. If this happens, you will have to purchase another core. Otherwise, you will pay a continually increasing core charge from Porsche beyond the cost of the replacement engine.
If you have experienced an IMS bearing failure, there is no turning back. Repairing it requires complete engine disassembly and replacing the intermediate shaft. It often needs a complete rebuild or engine replacement as well. Do not ignore your IMS bearings.
Prevention, early detection, and replacement of your IMS bearing before failure are your best options to save you the cost of engine failure. A service technician skilled in European vehicles can help you detect and replace your IMS bearing before it is too late.
There is only one measure to take to prolong the life of your IMS bearings. If you have a model 2006-2008 engine, the grease seals can be removed from the factory IMS Bearings to improve their lubrication and cooling. The only other option is to tear down the engine and install upgraded IMS bearings. If you have an older model (1997-2005), the IMS bearing is accessible without tearing down the engine.
It is important to note that any IMS upgrade you do to your engine must be preventive maintenance. Once your engine fails, replacing the IMS will no longer work. You have to rebuild or replace the entire engine. Otherwise, the new IMS bearing will become contaminated, causing further damage to your engine.
Look for these three warning signs to indicate IMS bearing failure:
* Porsche Emblem image credit goes to: tomeng.
Porsche vehicles are special and unique, making it necessary to enlist the help of a specialist when it comes to providing them with proper ongoing care. One issue that many vehicles experience, including Porsche models in the last twenty years, is water pump failure. This is a serious issue that can sometimes lead to engine failure if not addressed quickly. In this article we’ll talk about why the water pump is integral to your engine’s functioning, how to prevent failure, signs that it’s not working properly, and what you can do to fix the issue.
Porsche engines that were built in the last two decades are cooled with the help of a water pump, designed to help coolant flow through your engine optimally. When your engine is kept at the proper temperature, the motor oil can adequately grease important engine components. When the water pump fails, not only can the engine not be cooled well, it can lead to extensive part failure in other areas. Water pump issues are easily detected, but by the point that symptoms are noticeable other damage may have already occurred. This is why it is important to hire a Porsche specialist who can adequately assess damages in all Porsche vehicles and attend to their need with the correct procedures and parts for replacement.
Water pump failure doesn’t always have to occur. Porsche vehicles are typically well maintained by their owners; but that’s not to say that water pump problems won’t come up as your car ages. Water pump failure is most prevalent in older Porsche cars in which water pump seals, impellers, and drive belts have become worn out over time. This gives us good information to use when it comes to preventing water pump failure. Ongoing inspections and routine maintenance procedures can keep your automotive technician in the know about how your car is aging and performing on a regular basis.
It is most important that you are aware of possible issues your Porsche could be experiencing. Water pump failure produces several different symptoms, depending on where the problem originated. The symptoms your Porsche produces are essential for the diagnostic process, so pay close attention to the symptoms your car exhibits and report them to your Porsche specialist when you bring your car in for servicing. These are the most common symptoms of water pump failure to be on the lookout for:
Coolant leaks can occur for a number of reasons. However, if the coolant leak is near the center/front of your engine, it could be related to the water pump. Since the water pump is designed to hold the coolant, it’s not surprising that a failed water pump may leak this fluid if a seal or gasket fails. Leaking coolant can lead to other significant problems, so it’s best to have the problem addressed right away.
A failed water pump means that the engine cannot be cooled by the steady flow of coolant. Engine overheating occurs when the engine temperature rises beyond its normal range. Unfortunately when overheating happens it can cause serious engine damage as time passes. Keep your eye on your engine’s temperature gauge—especially during those hot summer months—and watch out for any steam emitted from your radiator indicating an overheating engine.
The drive belt that is responsible for powering the water pump can become loosened or damaged, which might produce an odd noise as it rotates quickly. This will cause an odd noise to come from your engine, often a high-pitched whining noise. Your trusted Porsche specialist may need to replace the drive belt if this is the cause of water pump issues.
Here at Euro Plus Automotive, we service all models 
of Porsche vehicles in the Los Angeles County, CA areas of Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, and the greater San Fernando Valley. As we mentioned before, water pump issues can occur in any vehicle; yet Porsches require specialized care and a high level of expertise. If you would like to know more about our shop and our qualifications, or would like to schedule an inspection, please request an appointment online or call us directly.
Euro Plus Automotive specializes in maintenance, services, & repairs with certified technicians and cutting-edge tools & equipment for European vehicles including Audi, BMW, Mercedes, & more as well as Japanese cars like Honda, Nissan, Toyota, & more.
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