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MarkusFranky

Panamera's Electrical Gremlins: Starting & Light Issues

Car won't start

Warning light in the speedometer of the vehicle

Dim or flickering lights

Poor fuel economy

Hey everyone, having some serious trouble with my 2017 Porsche Panamera (82k km). The car's struggling to start, eating way more fuel than usual, and the warning light's on. The lights are also acting up, sometimes dim, sometimes flickering. Had a not-so-great experience with my last mechanic, so I'm a bit hesitant to go back. Has anyone dealt with similar symptoms in their Panamera? Pretty sure it might be the start-stop system, but I'd love to hear your experiences and recommendations for reliable mechanics who know their way around Porsches. Thanks in advance!

4 comment(s)


VogelFrank

Had similar issues with my 2019 Porsche Cayenne last month. Started with weak starts in the morning, then got warning lights and electrical gremlins. The symptoms matched yours exactly, inconsistent lighting and higher fuel consumption. Took it to my Porsche specialist, turned out the battery was failing and needed replacement. The start-stop system wasn't the culprit, but the weak battery was making it malfunction. These batteries are special AGM types that Porsches use, and they generally last 4-5 years. My issue was pretty straightforward to fix, but waiting would've been risky since a failing battery can damage other electrical components. The repair shop had to reprogram the battery management system after installation. Been running perfectly since then, no more hard starts or electrical issues. Normal fuel consumption is back too. I'd recommend getting it checked soon at a proper Porsche specialist who can properly diagnose and code the new battery.

MarkusFranky (Author)

Thanks for sharing that, really helpful! Sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with. My local Porsche guy just fitted the new battery last week and everything's back to normal now. Do you remember roughly how much you paid for yours? Also, has everything been running smoothly since the fix, or have you noticed anything else pop up?

VogelFrank

Hey there! Glad to hear you got it sorted, battery issues can be such a pain! After getting my Cayenne fixed last month, everything's been running like a dream. The start-stop system is working perfectly now (it was definitely throwing a fit because of the weak battery), and all those annoying electrical gremlins have completely disappeared. I paid €290 for the whole job, that covered the AGM battery and the reprogramming work. Honestly, it was worth every cent to get rid of those morning start-up worries! The fuel consumption is back to normal too, which is a relief for my wallet. Haven't had a single issue since the fix, the car starts first time, every time, and all the lights are working exactly as they should. It's amazing how one failing component can cause so many weird symptoms, right? Just keep an eye on your battery's age going forward, I've marked my calendar to check it again in about 4 years. These Porsche electrical systems are pretty sensitive to battery condition, but at least now we know what to look out for!

MarkusFranky (Author)

Appreciate the follow-up! You're spot on about those battery issues, what a headache! I ended up paying around €310 at my local Porsche specialist. Bit pricey compared to yours, but honestly, just glad to have it fixed properly. I took it in last Tuesday after our chat here. The mechanic was actually great, super thorough and explained everything. Turns out my battery was completely shot after 5 years, which explained all those weird issues. He showed me how the old battery was affecting the start-stop system and causing those electrical gremlins. Car's running like a charm now, starts instantly, lights are perfect, and fuel consumption's back to normal. Such a relief! It's crazy how one failing part can cause so much drama, but lesson learned about regular battery checks. Already set a reminder for 2028 to get it checked again. Thanks again for your help, saved me from potentially bigger problems down the road. Sometimes forums like this are better than Google!

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