'15 GTS Vinyl Wrapping

Following opens a new viewer / window.  I've created a collection of photos of various projects I've had over the past few years wrapping parts of my '15 911 991.1 GTS....

'15 GTS For Sale Photo Album

Following are photos of my 2015 911 991.1 GTS that is currently for sale. The album will open in a new window, not in Google Photos....

'15 GTS Maintenance & Misc Photo Album

The following is an album of photos from my projects and experiences with my 2015 911 991.1 GTS. Displaying a Google Photos album without launching Google Photos:

GTS Front Bumper Cover Removal Porsche GTS DIY *Anyone Can Do It!*

Latest project in my garage!  Check out the video as I demonstrate step-by-step how to remove the front bumper cover on my Porsche 991.1 GTS.  The GTS has the sport design front cover, and also has the center radiator.  However, removal is the same for any 991.1.

This is a follow-up to my prior PLENUM post:  DIY 991 911 Front Bumper Cover Removal

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to comment on the video or contact me directly.
And if you like this and other posts, Please SUBSCRIBE! Please?  https://goo.gl/VJghOQ

BMC Air Filter Install - Porsche 991 GTS

At a bit over 10,000 miles on my 2015 GTS I swapped the stock factory air filters for a set of BMC Performance air filters!

Here's the video on my YT channel:

Thank you for watching!

If you like the video, please do me a favor and SUBSCRIBE!  ;-)

UPDATE!! I Broke My Porsche GTS! PADM Failure!

I finally schedule a time slot to have the PADM Disabled message in the instrument cluster addressed at the dealer.  And yes, one of the PADMs (there are 2 per car) did fail and had to be replaced.  Fortunately for me, the part and labor was all covered by warranty!

For more detailed background, please check-out my previous post and video here:  I Broke my Porsche GTS!!

Anyway - check out the video where I talk about the cost to repair, as well as another warranty replacement (rear engine lid grill) that was made at the same time....  All I can say is WARRANTY took care of everything!  Otherwise big $$$$$$$!

Thank you for visiting - please visit more of my videos and leave your comments with any questions or if you'd like me to get in touch.  Appreciate your time!

I Broke My Porsche GTS!! Porsche Active Dynamic Mount Fail!!

I posted a video up on my YouTube Channel GTSilver: 

Short story is that I was returning home from a "spirited" drive and just prior to reaching my neighborhood a warning appeared in the instrument cluster:  "PADM Disabled.  Seek Service."  I was perplexed by this, as I hadn't felt any change in the handling of the car, any errant noises or otherwise any indication that there might be a problem....  PADM for those interested stands for "Porsche Active Dynamic Mount".  The Active Dynamic mount is an engine mount which is electrically charged at various settings / conditions and stiffens or softens automagically.  I explain more in the video.

So, I must have "broken" the mount somehow?  I'll check it out, then head to the dealer for (hopefully) warranty replacement....  I'll post an update afterwards.

Anyone else have to replace their PADM?

Thanks for visiting!

Porsche 991: Flushing Brake Fluid (replacing)

This is my second blog post in a short series covering brake fluid service procedures for the Porsche 991 model line...

Checking Brake Fluid

Flushing Brake Fluid (replacing)

Bleeding Brake Fluid

All of the procedures I cover in this series follow the official Porsche NA Work Manuals, to which I provide reference with each post.

You don't need to take the wheels off, or jack-up the car...  BUT, getting to the inner bleeder valves will be very tricky and I would highly recommend removing the wheels.  In my case, I chose to get the car up on stands and remove all the wheels.  This way as I begin bleeding I can move from caliper to caliper without having to stop and remove each wheel along the way.  My own preference, YMMV and I am sure some are very content with other ways of doing a brake fluid flush....

So here is my car up on stands:

So let's get on with it!

If you are planning to replace the brake fluid in your 991, you should do the following....
1.  Place cover in service position.

     1.1  Unclip the cover at the left and right, lift it up and engage the yellow support in the luggage                 compartment lid -1- .

Open Servic

2.  Open the cap on the reservoir, which is located on the driver-side under the service cover.
3.  Connect a bleeding device to the brake fluid reservoir.
4.  Switch on the bleeding device. Pressure when changing brake fluid should be ~ 2.0 bar (29 psi).

Connect Bleeding Device

NOTE:

• Check brake fluid quality. Use only new DOT 4 brake fluid. 
• Brake fluid can be ordered using the Porsche Electronic Parts Catalogue (PET). 
• There are two bleeder valves on each brake caliper. Brake fluid must be drained at both bleeder valves.   

NOTE:   The official WM from Porsche doesn't indicate any sequence or order to which (inner or outer) bleeder valve to start with -- just that you need to drain from BOTH.

5.  Continue to change the brake fluid at the brake calipers (no prescribed sequence, although some would suggest that you start at the farthest wheel from the master cylinder and work "towards" it...).

• Use a transparent hose and a collecting bottle to check the escaping brake fluid for cleanliness, absence of air bubbles and to determine the amount of brake fluid used.
• Drain brake fluid at both bleeder valves on each brake caliper. Per brake caliper: → Change brake fluid (on each wheel): approx. 250 cm3
• The shop manual doesn't indicate any amount of time to let bleed, or anything like that.  Just that you should capture the old fluid at each wheel, measure, and when all done replace with same amount (roughly).

6.  After fluid no longer flows tighten bleeder valves to the stipulated tightening torque and remove bleeder hoses. Tightening torque 14 Nm (10.5 ftlb.)

Move to next wheel.... and when done all 4,

7.  Switch off the bleeding device and remove the adapter at the reservoir.

• Visually check the brake fluid level.  The brake fluid level must be between the MIN and MAX markings. Correct the brake fluid level if necessary.

6. Fit cover over the brake fluid reservoir (move out of service position).

The above details and illustrations are from the official Porsche Work Manuals for the 991 platform.

In this case the document you should obtain is "WM 470855 Changing brake fluid"

Porsche 991 COV & Vacuum Lines Overview

UPDATE:  I'm adding links to couple of documents from Porsche specific to the article below....

WM 2400IN

COV Replacement Bulletin (2015)

I've come across soooooo many posts online asking questions about vacuum lines, exhaust valves, change-over valves and related that I thought I'd put together an overview with some pictures and illustrations....

Probably the 2 most prevalent discussions about the vacuum system in the 991 are centered on Change Over Valves (COVs), and periodic "failures" that 991 owners have reported (myself included!).  Also keep in mind that the S cars, and cars with Porsche Sports Exhaust (PSE) rely on COVs to open-and-close the exhaust valving.

Here is a link to one of the Rennlist 991 conversation threads that covers COV failures / replacements:  "Heater quit working again"  Search Rennlist, as well as the 6Speedonline boards, for more details....

Here is an illustration and picture of the COV part:

1. Fresh Air Connection
2. Vacuum Line for the Actuator
3. Vacuum Connection

Here's a pic as posted on Rennlist 991 forums by member STG:

As you can see in this picture, the part # is clearly visible imprinted on the side of the device.

Schematic, showing the basic relationship of each COV and vacuum...

The above schematic is straight from the official Porsche Service Information Book, and posted to 6SpeedOnline forums by member SM_ATL.  I'll get more into the vacuum line routing later in this post.

As for how many COVs are on a 991 (MY2012.5 through MY 2016), # ranges from 7 to 10 per below:

1. Air Cleaner Flap
2. Acoustic Simulator
3. Heater Shut-Off Valve
4. Exhaust Flaps
5. Coolant Shut-Off Valve on Engine Bypass Circuit
6. Tuning Flap
7. Shut-Off Valve on Heat Exchanger for Gear Wheel Set Oil
8. Shut-Off Valve for Clutch Fluid Heat Exchanger (PDK ONLY)
9. Tuning Flap (cars with full X-51 Power Kit ONLY)
10. Tuning Flap (cars with full X-51 Power Kit ONLY)

#9 and 10 are not a mistake on my part.... cars with X-51 option have multiple tuning flaps apparently. 

And here is an illustration from Porsche with locations of each of the COVs listed above:

The most common complaints of COV failures are the Exhaust Flaps and  Heater Shut-Off Valve.  As a 991 owner I've experienced multiple failures of both....!

Here are some vacuum line routing illustrations:

For PDK cars:

For MT cars:

Exhaust Flap line routing....

In the above, the top part of the picture is the 3.8 standard exhaust, whereas the bottom-half of the picture is for the 991 with PSE option.

Based on feedback from nearly all who've posted to 991 enthusiast forums on the topic of COV failures, it seems that no matter what the root cause, the service departments at dealers will NOT proactively replace COVs that haven't failed yet.  There have been multiple part # revisions, perhaps indicating attempts at mitigate future failures -- but other than a brief campaign for the earliest MY 2012 991s there has NOT been any recall or service bulletins to replace suspect parts.  The SB that I refer to here is #TI-64-12 and NHTSA ID #10048760 if you'd like to look it up.

If you'd like to replace yourself, know that there isn't a WM specific to the procedure.  However, there is WM 2400IN, which provides a lot of good pictures and location detail.  

I'll continue to compile other COV resources, and post updates from time-to-time.  Contact me, or comment below, if you have questions or want to share any other experiences of your own!  Thanks!