The valve body is usually referred to as the control center of your Porsche’s automatic transmission. It is responsible for holding the hydraulic fluid that in turn operates the gears. This fluid is channeled in the valve body to move specific gears depending on the driver’s command such as moving from park to drive.
A working valve body is all about smooth shifting, which means that your car will shift through the gears without any hitch. However, when the valve body starts to wear out, the flow of transmission fluid is affected and this causes rough or irregular shifting.
Most Frequent Causes of Valve Body Failure
- Wear and Tear: As with all other elements in your Porsche, the valve body is also susceptible to wearing out with time. It may be affected by frequent usage, high number of revolutions, and deterioration of internal parts. This hydraulic valve is used to control the pressure and flow of the hydraulic fluid within the valve body, and therefore, any wear and tear of the valve body components often results in reduced performance and valve failure.
- Contaminated Fluid: The valve body requires transmission fluid for it to function well. If the fluid becomes dirty or contaminated, or simply loses its efficiency, this will have an impact on the performance of the valve body. A fluid that is contaminated will plug up the passages and the valve body will not be able to direct the fluid to the right pathways.
- Overheating: Another cause of valve body failure is transmission overheating. When the transmission works under high temperatures, it not only damages the seals and gaskets but also the transmission oil. This can lead to the failure of the valve body and in the process, the performance of the transmission is affected.
Signs Of A Bad Valve Body
- Rough or Hard Shifting: The first obvious indication of valve body failure is when the transmission shifts harshly or roughly between gears. It is common to find that your Porsche is not shifting smoothly and the shifting process is rough. This is usually the case because the valve body is not controlling the flow of the fluids and therefore there is poor engagement of the gears.
- Transmission Warning Light: If your Porsche has an onboard computer and this identifies that there is a problem with the transmission, then it will switch on a warning lamp on the dashboard. Although it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a valve body problem, it is a sign that something is wrong with your transmission system. It is always wise to take your car to a professional mechanic to determine the exact problem that it is facing.
- Noisy Transmission: Another sign that you may have a valve body failure is if your transmission is making strange noises. In case you notice that your car is producing some noises, especially when shifting gears, then it is a clear indication that the fluid flow within the transmission is not adequate.
Why Valve Body Issues Should Not Be Overlooked
Valve body failure should not be taken lightly because it causes other more costly issues in the long run. Since the valve body is responsible for regulating the flow of transmission fluid, any problem with the valve body will only make other elements of the transmission wear out even more. If not addressed in good time, it can culminate into total failure of the transmission and this will be very expensive to rectify through a rebuild or replacement. Also, a faulty valve body will make your Porsche unpredictable and difficult to maneuver around the roads.
What Needs to be Done if Your Porsche’s Valve Body Fails?
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms in your Porsche, then it is advisable to seek the services of a mechanic who has an understanding of European vehicles. Our auto repair specialist at Dieter’s Porsche & BMW Service can deal with valve body failure and other problems.
We use modern tools and equipment to analyze and diagnose the issues and suggest the best repair strategies. Whether it is the flushing of contaminated fluid, replacement of defective solenoids, or even the valve body, we aim to get your Porsche to its best shape. You can come to our shop in San Diego, CA even if you reside in nearby cities like Chula Vista, Mission Valley, Coronado, and Point Loma. Call us now!
