WARNING: MF on Porsche modules

[evmohney]

2005 911 C2S (997) -- Had it detailed on Saturday and got the "System Failure -- Visit Workshop" on my dash as I pulled out of the driveway. I was researching the possible causes for the failure and was brought here. I can confirm this is an ACTIVE issue with MY05 911's! So now -- off to Porsche for repair -- fortunately still under warranty.

 

[Deep Gloss Auto Salon]

This may seem silly, but....



Electricity seeks ground. Wouldn't removing a shoe and keeping a bare foot on the ground while polshing the headlight and hood assemblies on a Porsche with MF toweling disspate the charge of static electricty that is causing all of the problems?

i am sorry but I laughed like hell from that visual..



Imagine you hire a detailer to polish your vehicle only to look out and see him with one shoe on and one shoe off with the bare foot firmly planted on the ground..

 

[JustinDetail]

Good Lord, it sure must take some aggressive rubbing to generate enough static electricity to cause these problems!



While I am no fan of polyester towels I find it hard to believe that normal use would do that.

You'd be surprised, my dad did it to his brand new 06 997 Carrera S the first month he had it. Wiping off Zaino from the headlight area. Took it to the dealer, and they have to replace a bunch of electronics. Silly if ya ask me.

 

[Saintlysins]

GEEESH! ! ! !

Starting Saturday, I did my 08 997 Turbo Cab top to bottom, bumper to bumper! Must have gone over the whole car with MF towels a hundred times! I didn’t start or move the car once. Sunday had a custom Clear-Bra application applied to select panels, including headlights, fogs and directional’s.

Re-washed the car with all my insane techniques and spotless water system rinses, again MF wipe downs and application of wax to the Clear Bra sections. Of course, using MF’s to buff it out.

Here’s why I’m going crazy at my desk ... I HAVEN’T STARTED THE CAR IN ALL THAT TIME, yes, turned the ignition key on & off for a moment or two, but never started the car. It's raining today, so it wasn't used ... and now I’m going to leave the office immediately and go start it up.

I am surprised at this though ... it would be such a surprise if this was so prevalent as there are so many other factors that would also contribute to the same level of static charge.

Let you know what happens when I get home.

 

[nerdhunters]

Well, I brought a GT3 home a week and a half ago, and detailed the heck out of it using MF towels, wash mitt, and AIO/SG applicator pad. I had no issue at all. But, the car has the clear film on the front, maybe that helped prevent the problem??

 

[Polygon]

Good Lord, it sure must take some aggressive rubbing to generate enough static electricity to cause these problems!



While I am no fan of polyester towels I find it hard to believe that normal use would do that.

You would be surprised at how small of a discharge is required to destroy a circuit.

 

[Saintlysins]

OK … got home, started the sled … and no problems at all!

I’ve got some old racing pals in R&D and track prep back in Germany at both Porsche and VW. I put some e-mails out to them and copy-pasted this thread to them. I’ll do the same off the Rennlist site (however, quick look-see and I couldn’t find it). Any response I get will be posted here.



It seems to me this would be a very big issue across the globe, (especially in dry, arid climates), and by this time there would have been a solution to this. I would hope so anyway?! I’m at ease right now, but will be on edge with each cleaning … and I clean often! Wonder if a simple ground wire would be a solution to preventive static charges while cleaning? Ideas anyone?

 

[Deanski]

I do believe there is a thread of it on the 997 forum on Rennlist.



Another reason I use DF Towels!!:2thumbs:



Deanski

 

[the other pc]

.... Wouldn't removing a shoe and keeping a bare foot on the ground while polshing the headlight and hood assemblies on a Porsche with MF toweling disspate the charge of static electricty that is causing all of the problems?

I’ll have to recommend that to our factory, it’ll save us a bundle on wrist straps. :lol



You’re correct that having the person’s skin touching the ground will bleed off charges accumulated on their body (assuming it’s a reasonably conductive surface like concrete, wet asphalt, moist dirt...)



Along the same lines:

... Wonder if a simple ground wire would be a solution to preventive static charges while cleaning? Ideas anyone?

And the answer is it depends.



Without knowing specifics about the failed component, failure mode and discharge path we can’t say if it would help or maybe make it worse.



Just a gut feeling (since I have absolutely no real data), I’d guess that it wouldn’t help. And while it’s possible that it could make it worse I think it’s most likely that it wouldn’t.





PC.

 

[Saintlysins]

Got word today from my friend at Porsche R&D regarding this issue.

Porsche acknowledged this as a grounding issue, which was addressed in the 06 production run. Any claims today are either from earlier cars that still have these issues, but it’s the first time it happens, or body-shop repair companies using old stock for repairs/replacement.

2007 & 2008 should not have this issue.



My mechanical guru here in the states mirrors this info. He said they were replacing 7 to 10 Front Control Modules a month in the beginning, but can’t remember any 07 or 08’s with this problem.

:woohoo:

 

[a.k.a. Patrick]

Ive tripped 3 of these myself......