Richard Hamilton

When you press MAIN and TRIP together, does it show Navigation and Telephone? Also check your option codes in the Maintenance booklet. 666 is phone, and 670 is navigation. if you have nav and phone, try a system reset by pressing the 1, 4, and 8 buttons at the same time. If it does show Navigation, is there a map disk in the Navigation drive? (In the front compartment, behind the plastic door at the back of the compartment).

PCM1 is very old, and only works on the 900MHz GSM network. You need to find a service provider who still operates on that frequency. Most providers only use the later 1800MHz network.

Are you sure the car hadn't simply gone in to 'sleep' mode? This happens after about 7 days iirc, and the remote control shuts down to save energy. Lifting the door handle is usually enough to wake the system up.

It should be fairly straightforward if you are fitting new wings, PU, lights and headlight trays. There are some wiring changes needed to the headlight connectors, as they are wired differently. There are a couple of threads to get you started: http://www.renntech.org/forums/topic/19618-996-facelift/?p=100573 http://www.renntech.org/forums/topic/17676-2002-996-headlight-connectors-for-1999-996/?p=89410 Personally, I would think twice about doing it. I think it would devalue the car, and potential buyers would always suspect it has been damaged/repaired cheaply. Just my tuppence worth. I like the GT1 headlights of the original 996 & Boxster anyway!

Yes, the point I was making is that there is a connector in the loom between the ACU and DME which would be worth checking.

I've seen something similar before. The alarm control unit immobiliser uses the diagnostic line to communicate with the DME. Also, the diagnostic socket connects to the DME via the ACU. We had a situation where the car wouldn't crank, and the PIWIS wouldn't read the DME. We tracked the problem to a bad connection in the loom plug at the back of the floor pan, under the carpet. Ours was a right hand drive car, and the plug was on the left side. If I remember correctly it was a white plug with about 20 pins. Cleanied the contacts and it burst into life.

First off check the linkage at the transmission end. If you get it hooked up to a Porsche tester, you can display the MFS switches in the Input Signals section of the Tiptronic control module. You can then move the stick, and see if the switch signals correspond to the stick positions. You may also find a fault code registered in the Tip module.

This should help: http://www.renntech.org/forums/topic/43637-no-reverse-light-20012-tip/?hl=function#entry234173 Just look at the diagram from JFP, and the photo from Loren, which show the same ZF box as used in the Boxster.

It could be the lever linkage/cable, but it sounds typical of what happens when the multi-function switch starts to fail. The switch is on the side of the transmission, and it is fairly common for the switch contacts to break up inside, giving false readings to the Tiptronic control module (and hence the dash lights).

---------------------- When you are stationary in 2nd, it should shift to 1st if you accellerate hard. (You shouldn't have to reach the kick-down switch for it to change to 1st).

I suspect that if the cable is correctly wired, the KTS520 firmware is not the correct version. Version 29 should be fine to connect to all modules on a 2003 996. You will always get cable check errors with clones. It will only check genuine testers with genuine cables. If you have a Version 29 installation disk, connect the powered-up KTS with the USB cable to the T30 and run the setup.exe file in the root directory of the DVD. Don't try to do it from within PIWIS. Reinstalling the update will flash the firmware early on in the process, and you will see it flash 3 or 4 files. Flashing takes 2-3 minutes, and the whole update about 30 minutes. If the flash screen appears for just a few seconds, then it isn't flashing properly. Some KTS520s need to have the firmware backdated to a certain version before they can be updated to the correct version for PIWIS.

It might possibly be a coding issue. I have heard a couple of cases of this happening after the battery has been changed, where the control unit has lost its coding.

I don't think it will reset service indicators, which is more of a coding operation, and this is very much a scan tool. It should read and reset codes in the other modules. They say it will also show live data (actual values, presumably) so it should be a very handy diagnostic tool.

Which fuse was blown? The one for the DME? I think JFP is correct, and the first thing to look for would be a wiring problem. I have heard of 2 or 3 996's where the feed for the Variocam solenoid has chafed through. shorted to ground, and blown the fuse for the DME.

The resistor value you need is 2.8 ohms, 0.25 watt to simulate the airbag. Anywhere between 2.8 and 2.9 ohms should work fine. That's the size most people use when fitting non-airbag steering wheels.

Any time. Just drop me a PM if you want to pop round and we'll work something out.

I came across this recently: http://www.icarsofttools.com/Porsche-iCarsoft-i960-Car-Diagnostic-Scanner-Scan-Tool-Reader_p_17.html I have the i910 vesrion for BMW, and it has been great for diagnosing faults on my daughters' BMWs. A friend of mine bought the i960 for Porsche recently, and is very pleased with it. It will read and reset codes, and read live data from all control modules. Absolutely no affiliation, but thought I would pass it on in case someone is looking for a reasonably priced Porsche-specific scan tool. Try eBay for the best price. Edit: I got the attached features list from the iCarsoft web site. Porsche-functionlist.pdf

The best choice is the Durametric for DIY use, but I found this the other day: http://www.icarsofttools.com/Porsche-iCarsoft-i960-Car-Diagnostic-Scanner-Scan-Tool-Reader_p_17.html I have the BMW version for my kids Beemers, and it is a great bit of kit. A friend of mine bought the Porsche version a few days ago, and he is very pleased with it. Check eBay, as you will find it a lot cheaper there. Unlike most cheap handheld scanners, it will read and reset fault codes on all Porsche control modules, and it will also read live data from them.

The phone sound comes out of the driver's side on mine - I can't say I have noticed if it comes out the passenger side too. Perhaps the coding of the unit is for LHD. I have experienced these units 'losing' their coding randomly. If you are anywhere near me I would be happy to plug in my PIWIS to check it for you.

AFAIK the DRLs don't have a relay. They are controlled by the Front Control Unit.

You will need to make sure that the DME comes from a MY1998 or MY1999 Carrera 2 (which has mechanical throttle) rather than any Carrera 4 (which has eGas), and definitely not from a later Model Year. The Alarm Control Unit and DME can be re-coded with a PST2 or PIWIS to suit the model variants, BUT they cannot be re-programmed for the fuel map, immobiliser code, or for new keys. A Boxster DME will have the wrong fuel map. The key blades can be swapped from the original car, so you won't need the locks. It is the immobiliser pills and radio remotes from the donor car which you will need to use with the DME and ACU set. Bear in mind that if you don't have the IPAS codes from the donor car, you won't be able to get a new key head programmed to it. Here are the option codes for your car, btw: WP0ZZZ99ZXS644456 MI NUMBERS DESCRIPTION I029 Standard chassis I211 Licence plate holder version 3 M061 Version for Great Britain M071 EU country version M130 Control and indications in English lettering M197 Stronger battery M220 Locking differential 40 % M222 Anti-slip regulation (ASR) M224 Automatic limited slip differential M271 Door mirror -aspherical- driver's side, electrically adjustable and heatable M273 Door mirrors, electrically adjustable and heatable M274 Vanity mirror illuminated M321 Radio "Porsche CR 22" M335 Automatic seat belt, 3-point, rear M338 Rear-wheel drive M369 Standard seat, left M370 Standard seat, right M413 18-inch Turbo-Look wheel M421 Front cassette compartment M439 Electrical hood operation M441 Radio preparation M446 Concave wheel centers with full-colour Porsche Crest M466 Rear foglamp, right M480 6-speed manual transmission M490 -MY 01 sound system MY 02 sound system Harmann analog M492 Headlamps for left-hand traffic M534 Theft security system M536 Alarm siren and tilt sensor M539 Mechanical seat-height adjustment, left M540 Mechanical seat-height adjustment, right M550 Hard top M562 Airbag, driver's side and front passenger's side M563 Side airbag M566 Front fog lights, white M567 Windscreen tinted, upper part darker coloured M573 Air conditioner M581 Center console, front M590 Power lid locking M602 Raised stop lamp M605 Headlight levelling system M651 Electric window opener M657 Power assisted steering M685 Rear seats, split M689 Preperation of cd autochanger M936 Seat covers, rear, leather M981 Leather equipment without seat covers M983 Seat covers, front, leather

I use a PIWIS1 for coding, although I have a Durametric Pro too.

It sounds very odd to me. Anyway, you can get the PCM re-coded to remove the options you haven't got fitted. If you are anywhere near me I would be happy to do it for you, but I couldn't do it for a couple of weeks. Drop me a PM if I can help.

Sorry Loren, but the Alarm Control Unit can only be programmed with an immobilser code once. However, if you know the immobiliser code for the donor ACU, you could have the DME programmed with that code, so that the units match. You would need the IPAS codes for both vehicles.

I haven't done the physical fitting of the multi-function steering wheel, but I have coded a few cars after owners have retrofitted one. If you do a search here, you will likely find what you need.