"Transmission Emergency Run" message

OK, here's a new one. When starting up my '09 CS w/ PDK yesterday morning, I got a red message and a beep: "Transmission Emergency Run". The engine seemed to be running OK, but when I shifted from Park to Reverse to back out of my driveway, the car didn't move. The "R" LED was flashing. Going into D mode did the same thing. Basically, the car was grounded like a rock. No transmission engagement. Putting the car back into Park and turning off and restarting the engine seemed to solve the problem. The car drove normally, and continues to do so. Anyone else ever seen this?

I have seen similar things happen in other cars that have electronics controlling an automatic transmission, basically the computer gets confused for some reason and doesn't accept input for the transmission until you reboot the system i.e. restart the car.

Is it running Windows software?

Apparently, Toyota is the supplier of PDK software!

If that were the case the Transmission would run and not stop wouldn't it?

Hahaha - really Officer I have had to speed around town in reverse because my PDK got stuck in reverse acceleration mode. Of course that excuse would not work on a manual.

I guess forcing a restart is better than the alternative: http://www.spiegel.de/images/image-83153-galleryV9-avvb.jpg

Had the same problem with my 09 CS. Mine was a Launch Car and needed an update to the PDK software by the dealer. It's been running fine ever since.

Hmm..thanks for the heads up. My car is a launch vehicle as well. I'll bring it to my dealership and let them know what happened.

Interpol, I was just reading about this in the owner's manual (page 184). "It is not possible to continue driving. Immediately stop the vehicle in a suitable place. Have it towed to an authorized Porsche dealer." There is also a white warning that results in restricted gearshift comfort and no reverse. Hope this helps, Tamas

Apparently all the 09s need a software update for the PDK .

The same thing happened to me when I got my 09 CS with PDK last July. I had the "Emergency Transmission Run" fault appear about 4 times. The dealer told me they had seen this happen before when the battery charge is low. They told me to run the car (like I would have a problem with that ) to help charge the battery . Sure enough, after about a week of doing extra driving the problem was solved... have not seen that fault code since.

Followup: got two more of these "Transmission Emergency Run" messages in the last week, so I took the car to the dealer yesterday to get it checked out. Result: they're mystified. Not sure why these messages are popping up. Additionally, the car threw some weird OBDII codes that they couldn't recognize, so they sent the codes out to Porsche AG in Germany for analysis. In the meantime, they reflashed and recalibrated the control unit software. If I have any more problems, I'll bring the car back.

Had the same problem when the car was a few days old. The car did not want to get out of 7th gear and the "!" warning light was on. Travelled on like that for over 100 kms. When I had to stop, I switched off the engine, because driving off in 7th gear did not seem such a good idea. Then re-started and the problem was gone. It has not occurred ever since (one and a half year). Dealer did not find anything.

I got my 09 CS with PDK in August 09. Have had the 'Emergency Run" close to 2 dozen times, daily driver. Turning off the engine and restarting always fixed the problem. Had it in the dealer over this last weekend and they reprogrammed the system. Not enough time to tell if its fixed, here is hoping with fingers crossed.

Same thing happened to me today. Took car to the dealer sais they had no idea what was wrong and would contact Porsche . Though car after restarting ran fine engine error light kept popping up. Car now at dealer new Caymen base 210 miles

It has been about 5 weeks since the dealer reloaded the software associated with the PDK . Since I have not had the problem, but not enough time has elapsed to know if fixed. Dealer is Park Place and talked as if they have seen the problem before, and did not balk at looking into the matter. BTW it never threw an engine code so that may be a different set of conditions.

Reading this thread is making me worry that the next time I crank up my CS it will get this message.

is becoming contagious rex

It really is nothing to worry about. My understanding its a timing handshake and sometimes during a start the sync is off enough to throw the warning. A restart has always fixed the problem for me.

Well, a few weeks after a software reflash, I'm still having this issue intermittently. I've been reading reports online that it could be anything from a faulty control unit to a low voltage condition to timing issues. I've noticed that for me, it only happens during a cold start (i.e., the car's engine has been off for several hours or overnight, and a restart fixes the problem. Aside from that, it drives and shifts fine. Although it appears that the issue is not major, the fact that it exists is annoying. I'd prefer not to have to restart my car every time it happens. My local dealership takes pretty good care of me and they've taken a particular special interest in my car since it's a launch vehicle, so one of these days I'll go back and let them know it's still happening. Maybe they'll have some more news from Germany.

Seventh gear ? Do you mean reverse ?

just got the emergency transmission run code this evening. The car locked in 1st gear. tried turning the car off and restarting did not work. Tow truck should be here any minute to bring it to Porsche . Called my dealer and they were very cool about it said not to worry it will be taken car of. Glad I picked this dealer over the other three around the corner from my house. dave-t

Sorry to here that Dave. And your right about picking the right dealer although, your car is new so, I wouldn't think it would be an issue. But down the road, when there are some miles on it, picking the right one could make or brake your wallet. I've found dealers would rather it brake than, track down any problems, transmissions or like wise. At least here in so cal.

Same thing happened to me in January. It was cold, we were visiting friends, so the car was parked outside for a couple of nights. I figured that had something to do with it. Anyway, restarted it and no problems since. Cheers:beer:

I bought a leftover 09 aqua blue boxter s launch car and had the same issue. Dealer said it was caused by low battery . I left the lights on overnight. I am used to the lights going off automatically from my bmw , that should be standard on the car for what you pay. Anyways dealer did some reflash in 15 mins and never had problem since. Does anyone know how to make the pdk in sport mode, even if you dont have sport chrono , i know its just a software thing, is it possible to get a non sport chrono pdk to shift like a sport chrono pdk ???

I have 14500 mi. on my 09 CS with PDK and I've had no transmission issues. I hope it stays that way.

12K miles and no hiccups so far...

Just traded in my 04, 986 5 speed with 50K miles, and my wife's 2007 Mustang for a new 2010 Boxster S with PDK . Wife got a new Toyota with 4wd (snow in winter). Long story short I was driving the car for about 2.5 hours of normal spirited driving after which I was returning home. I am able to make high speed runs on I-80 near my house. I was in D mode (do not have sport or sport+ mode) doing about 65 in 3 gear when I started the run. The PDK had been working great all day when at WOT and 114 MPH the red emergency message came on. I released the throttle and let the car coast and it downshifted as the speed decreased down to 2ed gear. Did not go into 1st gear. When stopped the console nor the steering wheel shifters would change gears. The selector would move from D to M but with no change in the dash indicator. Before turning off the ignition I levered through the tach information notes and found nothing unusual. In doing so the red message left and the little master warning light came on. I turned off the ignition let the car set for about 2 minutes turned the ignition back on and found no warning lights. I drove home at speeds below 65, shifted up and down the gear range and levered between D and M. Everything seemed to work as advertised. Called my dealer, service dept was closed, sales said park it until I talk to Serice Rep on Monday. To be continued.. PS. I will put up a new thread of my impressions of going from the 986 to the 987. 7404

More followup: I'm still getting the "Transmission Emergency Run" message despite 2 visits to the dealership. I have noticed that: - it only happens during a cold start, i.e., the engine has been off overnight. Because of this, I only experience the problem at most once per day, in the morning. - stopping and restarting the car right away gets rid of the message. So I left my car overnight at my local dealership to get it checked out - they wanted to try letting it cool down and starting it up in the morning to replicate the problem. I was told the next day they DID get the message on startup, and hooked up an OBDII reader right away. The code that was thrown: low voltage state. Apparently on every startup the computer checks to see if system voltage is above a certain threshold, and if it's not, it presumes that there's not enough electrical power to run the PDK system correctly. Thus, the error message. The short period of time where the engine runs before stopping/restarting is all it takes to give the electrical system that extra 'jolt' of voltage to get it above the threshold. Essentially, what the repair tech said was that the system is a bit oversensitive. The problem now is, there's no fix for it. My tech thinks my driving habits may have contributed to the problem - I drive less than 7000 miles/year, and my daily drives to work are usually only around 2-3 miles. She suggested that I buy a battery maintainer and see if that fixes the problem, but my car is stored outside and running an extension cord out to the car at night doesn't appeal to me. She also suggesting driving the car more - I would if I could. The good news is that the error is harmless. It's annoying as hell, but it's not hurting the car. At this point I think I am relegated to waiting for some kind of software update to fix the oversensitivity, or I could take it to a different dealership/tech for a second opinion.

You could check the voltage in the cigar lighter prior to starting and keep a log. Couldn't take more than a minute and you might get lucky and catch the problem if it is voltage drop related.

That is a thought. However, even if I do verify that it's a low voltage issue, I'm still stuck with it. It wouldn't really tell me anything I don't already know.