Can the OBC hack be done on a 2000 C2 cab?

[monkeydust]

I went to the dealership today and asked them to turn on my onboard computer on my 2000 C2. The experts had left for the day. But, the people there said they didn't think it could be done. They thought there were two types of 996's and I had one that it couldn't be done on.

Can it be done on all or not?

[Loren]

Yes, in about 2 minutes with a PST2 or PIWIS.

[monkeydust]

Yes, in about 2 minutes with a PST2 or PIWIS.

Could you please point me to instructions somewhere? The service tech said that I should print out the instructions and bring them in. The only instructions on the web I could find were for a Boxster and if I bring those in, they'd probably tell me "Oh, sure we could do it on a Boxster, but not your 996".

This is what I found before: http://www.brackenrig.net/OBC_Hack.htm

If it's the same thing, I'll try to convince them of that.

[Loren]

It is exactly the same for a MY01 and older Boxster and Carrera.

You need to find a new shop.

[Tool Pants]

Select instrument cluster, then select coding. Change the coding from without to with OBC. Then enter the coding change. On your year you will then immediately see the outside temp show up on the middle LCD display.

[justme]

I assume this works for a 99 996 C2 as well?

[Tool Pants]

Yes. These are pictures of a 1999 C2 where I turned on the OBC at a local work on cars day in July. Also turned it on for a 1998 Boxster at the same work on cars day. Same procedure.

In the first picture there is no OBC temp display.

In the second picture of the same car the OBC has been turned on, and you can now see the temp display.

Both pictures below are of that 1999 996, taken minutes apart.

I would not have been able to do this without Loren. But he is wrong. It takes at least 3 minutes to turn the OBC on....

[Loren]

More proof...

[JonesnSince78]

I would not have been able to do this without Loren. But he is wrong. It takes at least 3 minutes to turn the OBC on....

Hmm... you're BOTH wrong. Your pictures offer conclusive proof that it took 6 minutes. :P

[Tool Pants]

Funny, I forgot about the clock in the pictures. The before and after pictures are 6 minutes apart.

But, the delay was caused by talking to the owner after it was turned on, hunting around for the camera, drinking a beer, and then getting in the car to take the after picture....

[monkeydust]

Ok, well the guy at the dealership was thinking there were two kinds of 911's for that year and one of them didn't have the connection for the computer that was needed to do it. I take it there's no truth to this then?

Edited September 8, 2007 by monkeydust

[Loren]

All 986 Boxsters and all 996 Carreras can have the OBC "turned on". On the early cars it is just one program change (in the cluster) - on the later cars it requires two changes (one in the cluster and one in the DME).

[monkeydust]

On the early cars it is just one program change (in the cluster) - on the later cars it requires two changes (one in the cluster and one in the DME).

What is considered "early" and "late"?

[Loren]

Early is up to the new style cluster which was MY02 in Carrera's and MY03 in Boxster's (as I recall).

[Tool Pants]

The confusion at the dealer may be caused by the instrument cluster changes that has occurred over the life of the 996 and 986.

On a 1999-2001 996 if the OBC is turned you will immediately see the outside temp display. 2002 up you will not see anything until you retrofit a switch or stalk. This is due to a change in the instrument cluster that happened for model year 2002.

You have a 2000 so it is not an isuue. Go back and tell them to turn it on.

[monkeydust]

Took it in today and another guy was working. I had printed this thread out in case I needed it. This other guy had done it before and had it done within a couple of mins.

Now I know when it's hot outside! :P

[Tool Pants]

So, how many minutes did it take....

[monkeydust]

So, how many minutes did it take....

Well, I can't tell for sure. I walked to the parts department and picked up my speaker that they got in for me. The parts department was only about 20 meters from where I dropped my car off. Didn't have to do any paperwork for it. So, I'd say 10 secs walking, 20 secs waiting to speak to somebody, 80 secs for him to go back and get it and 10 secs for me to walk back where the guy was already done. So, I'd say about 2 mins.