Have I Been Ripped Off?

Well, as part of my investigation into my misfire, I have been looking at the coil packs. I spent 3h today, removing the arch liners, lights, bumper, intercoolers and heat shilds. I removed the coil packs and found that 5 of the 6 had cracked. OK! Missfire Source (hopefully) identified! So, something struck me. I very recently paid for a major service on my 996TT, including a new set of plugs. The work was done by an award-winning Porsche specialist I have always used. However, there is no way that anyone removing the coil packs to get to the spark plugs would miss the fact that the coil packs needed replacing. 3 had clearly visible cracks and 2 were badly de-laminating. Additionally, there were a few very challenging fastners to undo whan removing these parts. Two in particular, mounting the intercooler assembly, were so badly corroded / fused together that I had to drill them out and fit new ones. I.E. there is no way that the intercoolers were removed 60 dry miles ago... So, I removed the plugs and they look rather dirty, considering I have only driven 60 miles since the service. Probably a stupid question, but is there any way a specialist can replace the plugs without removing the intercooler assembly? Thanks, Ian

Coil packs cracking is such a regular occurrence on these cars that they always get checked before replacing the sparks. For them to not have said anything is more evidence they didn’t replace the plugs. I’d keep the plugs and packs as proof and ask for your money back. I had a major service at an OPC once and they didn’t replace the air filter. They gave me a big discount on my next service.

+1 on the above Ian. Time to find a new Porsche specialist! Jeff

In future ... request that the replaced service items are retained for you (My local OPC are happy to do this)

Unfortunately, I’ve also experienced the same - twice! Once with an OPC in relation to sparks. I paid for them to be changed as part of a major service. When I next had a major by a specialist, I was told they were very old and sooty and not been changed in a very long time. The second was with a well regarded specialist who I paid to change my front top mounts. I had supplied the parts, which were of good quality, but not Porsche branded items. I was also charged for alignment as part of the job, so was quite pricey overall. However, I recently took the covers off to check and clear the drainage galleries, which exposes the top mounts, to notice that the original (very old and dusty) Porsche items are still fitted. Clearly they did nothing - and kept the parts I supplied.

surely this is criminal - fraud or theft !

Evening All, OK. I have attached a picture of the spark plugs. Could they look like this after 62 miles? Also the Coil Packs. Surely anyone, let alone Porsche-trained techs at an award-winning Porsche specialist, would see that 5 out of the 6 on the car needed repalcing? These are not minor cracks...

Have you discussed this with the award winning Porsche specialist?

You’ve been ripped off. The spark plugs haven’t been replaced. A blind person could have felt cracks that large on the coil packs. Have you checked the oil and filters to see if they’ve been ‘replaced’ too?

Never in a million years have those plugs been changed recently. Dan

I have written to them to voice my concerns and hear their PoV. There may well be a mixup in the workshop and a disconnect with what I asked for and subsequently paid for.

I spoke to the specialist today and we have cleared it up. I do believe that this was a genuine mistake. Both the owner and workshop manager come across as genuinely good people who are passionate about the cars and their customers. Everything else on the list was completed (of course I have double checked) apart from the plugs. However, I remember they were very busy in the run up to the bank holiday weekend and were trying to get my car completed by the Friday, close of play. Unfortunatey they didn't quite manage it, so the car stayed in the workshop, half done, and they finished the work the following Tuesday. I suspect that this might have been the issue. The workshop manager himself worked on my car and he was convinced he had changed the plugs. However, with the pictures I sent showing the plugs, coil packs and ceased fixings that had to be cut off and replace, he agreed that the plugs had not been changed and moreover he would have not refitted the old coil packs in that condition. They are going to reimburse me of course, but have offered an additional gesture of good will. I am rather relieved to be honest, as I have been with these guys for over 11 years and didn't want to start looking elsewhere. Thanks all for the input. Ian

Hi Ian, I’m really glad you feel confident in these guys and have gotten to the bottom of your concerns. As for your original question though - Have I been ripped off - I’d say ’yes’. Lucky for you, you figured it out and called them out on it. You’ll get it sorted. Luck for them, you’re incredibly understanding. I wish you the best, John

Pleased to see a happy ending, however, didn't they have a job sheet tick list for each car?

I have to agree that it indicates rather lax QA procedures on their part Ian. If you’re planning to continue to use their services then hopefully they’ll have learnt their lesson. Jeff

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Glad it was resolved, I may be cynical but having spent over 40 years in the Motor Industry, this is not an isolated incident.

I agree. You should read the Ferrari forums, full of similar stories. Especially with the older cars that need engine-out major services, so it's much harder to check if it has been done. And because of the low mileage those cars do, owners often don't find out long after the incident to do anything about it.

That is shocking. How did you manage to sort those two examples out?