Recommended Expert Repair Service For
Porsche PDK Transmissions

Transmission Dashboard Warnings
Internal PDK Sensor Repairs

Failure of internal sensors within the PDK is commonplace. A series of dashboard messages and faults are reported through the OBD system. Often the car will have no reverse gear or go into a limp home mode. In some cases, the car will not move. Replacement of the sensors requires disassembly of the transmission, replacement of the sensors, and recalibration of the PDK in the car.

MC Squared Autosport uses the JUMPS speed and distance sensor set developed by Jeff Ricardson from Australia. The sensors come completely assembled with the correct pins and plug so no additional soldering work is required. The sensor set also includes improved internal logic vs. the original factory set. The logic update helps to guard against future failures and improves calibration after repairs.

The sensors are more likely to fail when maintenance is postponed to longer mileage durations. The sensor uses magnetic impulses to read information and is bathed in hot transmission fluid containing metal shavings from normal wear and tear. With a lack of fluid maintenance, they can easily become confused, covered in debris, and fail.

Based on the common failures that MC² sees, they recommend you change the PDK transmission fluid every 30K miles. This helps to improve the longevity of the sensors and the clutch packs.

In the event of a PDK sensor failure, it makes sense to take a additional steps, such as the clutch cover locks, to prevent the need for additional costly repairs in the future.

Rough Gear Shifts, Strange Noises
PDK Valve Body Repairs

Your Porsche PDK should smoothly and rapidly change gears. A drop in performance or poor gear shifting is commonly a sign of valve body issues. The valve body is responsible for the physical change of gears and the directing of transmission fluid to enable that process. Valve bodies can fail or become less efficient at changing gears for several reasons.

Replacing the valve body does not require the removal of the transmission and typically resolves the gear shift issue provided no other symptoms are evident – such as fluid intermix – see below.

Slipping Gears, Loss of Power
PDK Clutch Pack Repairs

Failure in the PDK clutch pack results in loss of power, poor gear changes, and eventually a slipping transmission. Replacement or an upgrade to the clutch pack solves this problem. Replacement of the clutch pack does require the removal of the transmission from the car.

Why Did the Clutch Pack Fail?

Understanding how and why the clutch pack failed may save a good amount of money going forward. The clutch pack can be worn quickly with HPDE or racetrack driving. If this is the cause of the clutch pack failure MC Squared Autosport can easily replace or upgrade your clutch pack to prevent this from happening again.

Leaking PDK Fluid

A common sign of clutch pack failure is PDK fluid leaking from the bell housing and/or vent. Historically, this has been a cause for complete PDK transmission replacement at the dealer. It’s important to note that while the clutch material may look to be in ok condition, if a leak is evident, the pack itself, and the rotating assembly, will have been compromised. Ultimately this is caused by a flywheel failure.

MC² Anti-Rotation Locks for PDK Clutch Pack Cover

MC Squared Autosport has developed anti-rotation locks for the clutch pack cover.  When the flywheel fails, the clutch cover slips, then rotates in place causing the dreaded bellhousing leak. With the MC² locks in place, you can prevent the slip and rotate with the clutch cover and allow for service of the flywheel alone. This saves a considerable amount of money on future repairs.

Fluid Intermix Causes PDK Clutch Pack Failure

Failure of a PDK clutch pack, or valve body on a street car is often caused by the intermixing of the two different fluids in the PDK transmission. The intermix of the fluid causes the clutch pack to fail, valve body issues, and sensor problems. The most common reason for this type of failure is outside influences, such as:

1.      Filling the PDK fluid side with gear oil or filling the gear oil side with transmission fluid.

2.      Breaking the internal axle shaft seal when repairing or replacing an axle.

Choosing the right Porsche specialist to service your PDK fluid is critical.

PDK Leaking Front Cover
PDK Flywheel Repairs

A common sign of clutch pack failure is PDK fluid leaking from the bell housing and or vent.

Historically, this has been a cause for complete PDK transmission replacement at a dealer. It’s important to note that while the clutch material may look to be in ok condition, if a leak is evident, the pack itself, and the rotating assembly, will have been compromised and will need to be replaced.

Ultimately this leak is caused by a flywheel failure. When the flywheel fails, the clutch cover slips, then rotates in place causing the dreaded bellhousing leak.

Signs of a Failing PDK Flywheel

Signs your PDK flywheel needs to be replaced are subtle.  An extra bump when you shift from park to drive for example, or a small shudder when in drive and moving from a stop to the gas pedal. It’s subtle enough and changes over time that with street driving, many people do not notice until it’s too late.

Mileage is not a good means to measure flywheel maintenance, rather, the way the car is driven is a better indicator of potential issues. Flywheel maintenance on the PDK is not dissimilar to that of manual cars.  The flywheel is a longer-term maintenance item. Recognizing the potential issues and addressing the replacement before damage occurs, can save you headaches and much more expense later.

Preventing Damage from PDK Flywheel Failure

MC Squared has developed a unique set of locks that prevent the clutch cover from rotating in place if a PDK flywheel fails.  This is a preventative maintenance recommendation that should be added to any PDK repair. The lock set is designed to localize the failure to the flywheel and prevent damage to the PDK transmission.

MC² Anti-Rotation Locks for The PDK Clutch Pack Cover Saves Future Repair Cost

With the MC² locks in place, you can prevent the slip and rotate of the PDK clutch cover and allow for service of the flywheel alone. This saves a considerable amount of money on future repairs. MC Squared provides a unique PDK flywheel replacement service to prevent the exchange of the transmission being necessary.

Gear Oil and PDK Transmission Fluid Mixed

The intermix of the two fluids in the PDK causes the clutch pack to fail, valve body issues, and sensor problems. The most common reasons for this failure are caused by outside influences. The most prevalent are:

1.      During maintenance, filling the PDK fluid side with gear oil or filling the gear oil side with transmission fluid.

2.      Breaking the axle shaft seal when repairing or replacing an axle.

To avoid this, its essential that maintenance on your PDK transmission or axle work is carried out by a Porsche specialist.

PDK Internal Bearing Failure

The main internal bearings of the transmission are robust, but just like any sealed bearing there is a certain lifespan.  The bearings hold the internal gearstacks in place in their respective housings and there are 2 matching sets for a total of 4 bearings.  Until recently these have been unavailable, but now MC² can completely remove and replace them with new units and prolong the life of the PDK transmission even further.