A very difficult case of repairing a hybrid Porsche. Saving an ordinary Panamera, part 1

None of the car's systems were working at all, it wasn't even possible to raise it on a lift because the air suspension didn't activate either. I had to install the Porsche near the repair box on "goat" stands. First, the electrical wiring was restored, unfortunately, so far with old broken connectors, but it would be better to change them. For example, this one that feeds the hybrid system. The heat exchanger was changed, the cooling system was pumped. There were also some "tricks" here: the standard hose was damaged (had holes) in as many as nine places. As in the case of electricity, we are waiting for a new one, but so that the work does not stand still, non-original pipes of the appropriate diameter have been temporarily installed. In addition, the tightness of the air conditioner circuit was restored (it also got damaged during the impact). The nearest plans are to turn on the diagnostic system and start the internal combustion engine.

If you see the car of your dreams, you shouldn't waste time. That's probably what our client thought when he found a very favourable offer for a Porsche Panamera S at a US auction. The Gran Turismo luxury liftback had a disproportionately low price in line with its damage - a shallow scratch on the right door and a light hit to the left corner of the front bumper. The opinions of the buyer and his American agent were the same - we should take it, as this kind of happiness may not happen again.

In the joyful bustle, no one noticed the small badges on the car doors - e-hybrid. Yes, the car was a rare hybrid for the first generation of the model, only almost 2000 of them were made and sold. On the one hand, this could have been a nice bonus, as the fuel consumption, according to the manufacturer, could reach a minimum of 3.1 litres/100 km. On the other hand, it was a PHEV, a so-called plug-in hybrid, that is, one that can be charged from a power outlet. It can travel up to 32 km on electric power. If not to work, it should definitely be enough to get to the store.

However, in this case, it turned out to be a big disadvantage. Yes, the blow was not strong. But it was accurate. There, under the front bumper, in the left corner, the Panamera S Hybrid has important elements of the hybrid system: orange power wire connectors. As a result of the accident, all of them were smashed. None of the car's systems worked at all, and it was not even possible to lift it on a lift, as the air suspension was not activated either. We had to put the Porsche on the "goat" stands near the repair box.

An initial inspection of the car yielded sad results. In addition to the impact, the car had apparently been bathed in water. Signs of this were found under the cover of the high-voltage battery charger. In other words, it was a so-called "drowned car", which, of course, usually has a very bad effect on the further performance of cars, especially electric ones, as in our case.

In addition, it seemed that this Panamera S had been gutted by looters. There was a mess everywhere, parts were lying around, out of place. Later it turned out that this was the consequence of the actions of our «colleagues» – other «repairmen» who tried to put the hybrid in order, but failed and did not clean up after themselves.

That's why the car was delivered to us - because for STS.Parts there are no tasks too complicated or unsolvable. Repairing electric cars of any complexity is our speciality. We can get anyone off their knees, so we were happy to take on the repair.

 

At the first stage, our goal was to identify specific malfunctions and give instructions on how to purchase the necessary spare parts. But at the same time, we did a lot more useful things. Firstly, we restored the electrical wiring, unfortunately, still with old broken connectors, but it will be better to change them. For example, this one, which feeds the hybrid system.

The heat exchanger was replaced and the cooling system was pumped. There were also some "funny things" here: the standard hose was damaged (had holes) in nine places. As in the case of electricity, we are waiting for a new one, but to keep the work moving, we temporarily installed non-original pipes of the appropriate diameter.

In addition, we restored the tightness of the air conditioning circuit (it was also damaged during the impact). The nearest plans are to switch on the diagnostic system and start the internal combustion engine.

While this article was being prepared, we received a message: the petrol engine has started! So we are moving in the right direction.

Stay tuned. To be continued!