Porsche PDK 7DT45 and 7DT70 Position Sensor: Symptoms, Causes and Solutions
The Porsche 997, 991, Cayman, and Boxster models equipped with PDK transmission often encounter a serious fault that completely disables the transmission. This can be a frustrating and costly issue for Porsche owners.
The PDK transmission relies on distance and speed sensors to record signals for speed and distance. The distance sensor unit, also known as the "sensor tower," records the position of each individual shift rod with the help of four integrated absolute distance sensors. If a distance or displacement sensor fails, the gearbox control unit is unable to communicate with the sensor pack, leading to gear shift failures and rendering the car undrivable.
The fault is typically indicated by codes such as P1731, P1732, P1733, P1734, P1735, and sometimes other 17xx errors.
Because dealership does not sell sensor separately the repair suggestion is to, replace the entire PDK transmission. The sensor is now available separately making it a much more cost-effective alternative. See here for our latest product offering.
This repair will fix the following warnings and codes:
- Car is undrivable or in limp mode
- Dash message “Gearbox fault…”
- OBD codes 1731, 1732, 1733, 1734, 1735 and some 17Dx
- OBD errors “Shift rod N displacement sensor”
- Dealer/Shop diagnosed “distance (or position) sensor failure”
It's important to note that there is no warning or way to prevent the distance/displacement sensor from failing. It's only a matter of time before the original sensor will go bad, so it's best to get it fixed as soon as possible.