This Porsche Macan came in with an AWD fault warning that appeared on cold starts and a knocking sound when turning slowly. Here is what we found and what we fixed.
Job completed: July 2026
| Car | Porsche Macan at 112,560km |
|---|---|
| Symptom | AWD fault warning on cold start, knocking sound when turning slowly at low speed |
| Fault found | Leaking front driveshaft with worn CV joint, faulty rear ABS sensor causing AWD warning, cracked front absorber covers and a collapsed engine mount bush |
| Repair done | Replaced the front driveshaft and CV joint, rear ABS sensors, front absorbers, and engine mounting set. Also did a major service: oil, throttle body cleaning and brake fluid. |
| Parts | Original and OEM-grade parts |
| Time taken | Confirmed at booking |
| Cost | $5,658.19 with GST, itemised and approved before work began |
| Warranty | Road tested before handover |
The owner contacted us with two things on their mind. The first was an AWD fault warning that appeared on cold starts in the morning, then disappeared once the car warmed up. The second was a knocking sound when turning slowly at low speed, the kind of noise that can feel like something is catching or blocking in the wheel area. The car had done 112,560km, with a major service at the Porsche dealer in November 2025. It had not been looked at since.
The Porsche Macan is an all-wheel-drive compact SUV. At 112,560km it is well into the mileage range where driveshaft boots crack, CV joints wear, absorbers fatigue and engine mounts soften. The AWD system on the Macan relies on clean signals from the ABS sensors at each wheel to distribute torque correctly. When a sensor fails, the system falls back to rear-wheel drive and logs a warning. That intermittent morning warning pointed clearly at a sensor issue, while the knock under low-speed turning pointed at the front driveshaft.
We connected PIWIS, the Porsche dealer-level diagnostic system, to retrieve the fault codes and confirm the sensor issue. The rear ABS sensor was confirmed as faulty, which explains the AWD fault warning on cold starts. Once the codes were clear, we put the car on the lift and checked the front end.
The front driveshaft was leaking. When a driveshaft CV joint boot cracks, grease escapes and contaminants enter. Left long enough, the joint wears and the characteristic knock appears when turning at low speed. That is what was happening here. The front absorber covers were also cracked. The engine mount bush had collapsed, which we showed to the owner alongside photos of what a healthy mount looks like.
None of this is unusual at 112,000km on an AWD performance SUV. Driveshaft CV boots are rubber and crack over time, especially in Singapore heat. Once the boot cracks, it is a matter of time before the joint wears and starts knocking. ABS sensors sit near the wheel and are exposed to road grime and heat; they can degrade or develop an intermittent fault, especially on cold starts when thermal expansion is at play.
Absorber covers crack because they are plastic and get knocked by road debris. Engine mounts soften as the rubber ages, leading to more vibration and movement under load. These things do not all break at the same time, but they often reach the end of their life in the same service window.
We completed the following:
Alongside the component work, we also completed the service items: 5.5L Mobil 1 Gold engine oil with filter, throttle body cleaning, and brake fluid flush. The car was cleared on PIWIS after the sensor replacement and road tested. The AWD fault was gone on restart, the knock was gone, and the engine ran smoothly with no vibration at idle.
On this Macan the full job came to $5,658.19 with GST. The itemised breakdown: Mobil 1 Gold oil service $243, throttle body cleaning $50, brake fluid $88, front driveshaft with CV joint (2 pcs) $580, driveshaft labour $120, engine mounting set $950, rear ABS sensors (original, 2 pcs) $420, front absorbers (original, 2 pcs) $2,500, absorber labour $240.
The cost on a job like this varies with the parts count and whether original or aftermarket parts are used. Original Porsche parts carry the correct specifications and tolerances. Every item here was quoted and approved before work started.
Have the driveshaft boots inspected at every major service. A cracked boot is a cheap fix. A worn CV joint that has been running without grease is not. Listen for a clicking or knocking when turning at low speed in a car park, that is the classic CV joint fault sound. If the AWD fault warning appears, especially on cold starts, have the ABS sensors checked before assuming it is something more serious. Keep the engine mounts and absorbers on the inspection list from 80,000km onwards.
This Porsche Macan (Driveshaft, CV joint and front absorber replacement) was handled at 1 Car Service, an independent workshop in Sin Ming AutoCity, Singapore. For Porsche, we use dealer-level PIWIS diagnostics. We hold a 4.9★ rating from 1,769+ Google reviews.
WhatsApp us your car model and mileage. We will put it on PIWIS, trace the fault to its source, and quote every item before any work begins.
On this Macan the front driveshaft with CV joint (two pieces) came to $580 for parts plus $120 labour. The total job including ABS sensors, absorbers, engine mount and a service came to $5,658.19 with GST. Cost varies with which components need replacing. We quote each item individually before any work starts.
The AWD fault warning typically comes from a faulty wheel speed (ABS) sensor. The Macan uses these sensors to distribute torque between the axles. When one fails or gives an unstable reading, the system logs a fault and falls back to rear-wheel drive. On this car both rear sensors were replaced and the fault was cleared on PIWIS.
The car will still drive, but the AWD system is disabled and the car behaves as rear-wheel drive only. In the wet this reduces stability. We recommend having it diagnosed as soon as the warning appears, since it usually points to a sensor that can be replaced before any deeper damage occurs.
Yes. We use PIWIS, the same diagnostic system used by Porsche dealerships, to read and clear fault codes, check live data and verify repairs. It is the only way to properly clear the AWD fault and confirm the sensors are reading correctly after the repair.
We use the same PIWIS diagnostics as the main dealer, fit original or OEM-grade parts, and document the work. Every item on this job was quoted clearly, shown to the owner, and approved before work started. The difference is the cost and the personal attention you get from a specialist workshop.
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