PCM DVD update

[Nontechmike]

My Boxster 2.7 was first registered in May 2006 and came supplied with a PCM DVD dated 04.2005. The DVD is marked 997.642.255.03.7L5.919.859.AP.

I have recently got hold of a newer DVD (10.2006 marked 997.642.255.05.7L5.919.859.AP). My question is can I just load the new DVD and accept the software update or is there something else I need to do? I've read other posts about having to load software updates via CD first - is this only if youre trying upgrade from pre PCM2 to post PCM2??

PS If you press the "main" and "trip" buttons on the PCM panel together you can check software levels loaded on the system. In my case of the 5 items listed (PCM, System, CD changer, Navigation and Phone) all of them except for the Navigation has something like a warning triangle sign. The navigation entry has a tick. Everytthing seems to be working but why the warning triangles??

[Popolou]

Off the peg, i'd say no it's not compatible, unless you also have the PCM update CD that is required to bring the revision level of the unit to one that accepts the Map DVD.

The PCM units have three Model Levels currently (well 4 if you count the "+" level too) and they range from the earliest at pre May 2005 cars to those afterwards. The May '05 cut off date relates to a hardware change, but if you do a search you should find some more info on the boards.

Don't confuse the previous PCM v2 units with those in the 9x7 cars which come with the PCM v2.1. If you hit the MAIN and TRIP buttons together and go into the PCM menu, look for the entry TARGET and ACTUAL. These tell you the actual software level for the PCM deice itself and one relates to what is installed, and the other relates to what the MOST bus is expecting to see installed.

If you have exclamation marks on the entries, it means that you will need to get the car down to the OPC to do a module discovery with their PIWIS machine they have available in-house. There is a mismatch with what devices are installed on the MOST bus and that detected by the PCM. It shouldn't cause any loss of functions however, but is a nuisance nonetheless.

Pop

[Nontechmike]

Hi Pop,

Thanks for the feedback.

In my case the target is blank fort all 5 sub-systems even in the case where there is a tick against the sub-sytem (Navigation). Do you think this loss of "target" was caused by loading the newer DVD or might it always have been like this? I've only had a car a couple of weeks and didnt know about the software check menu until after I tried loading the new DVD. Putting the old DVD back in and accepting the software update doesnt change this situation.

Is getting the OPC to reset everything going to cost the usual arm and a leg or is this something they can do whilst I wait (under warranty if its possible that it was like this when I bought it)

Mike

[Popolou]

Not to worry as i am sure it was like this when it arrived. The update being restricted to the PCM and navigation, it wouldn't affect the components on the MOST bus and so wouldn't be responsible for the little glitch.

As long as the car is under factory warranty, you should have no problem in showing them the exclamation marks. Just probably best not to go about explaining the update you carried out. ;)

BTW, ask them to carry out severel recalls to the PCM that may not have been done yet. They may say that unless you identify a specific problem, they won't perform these "campaign" items. If they do seem unreasonable, this site lists all the bulletins the OPC's themselves get sent which include faults with the PCM which were subsequently rectified. You'll need to be a contributing member however.

Pop

[berty987]

As long as you are only updating from 2005 to 2006 then there should be no issue with just putting in the new map DVD. The navigation software is updated by the map DVD, the PCM unit is updated by a separate CD. As long as your car has level B software in the PCM (which it requires to run the 2005 map DVD anyway) then its compatable with the later map DVD's. The PCM you have currently is probably running level 2 or 3 software version B. If you can write down the software level and the numbers next to each component I can verify this for you. Its normal to see a PCM with warning triangles or exclamation marks next to the modules BEFORE the units are updated. As Pop says these can only be cleared by the dealer and may be the result of the Most ring being disconnected at some time.

[Nontechmike]

PCM software is Version 3.3

The other stuff is:-

PCM 05024ed1/4705

Sys 04514bd1/5104

Nav 00174436/2906

Phone 05034b54/0305

CDC 38/3003

[berty987]

PCM software is Version 3.3

The other stuff is:-

PCM 05024ed1/4705

Sys 04514bd1/5104

Nav 00174436/2906

Phone 05034b54/0305

CDC 38/3003

This looks like the latest update of firmware , no problem to load the latest map DVD, just take the old one out and then put the new one in. Just make sure the engine is running when you do it , to ensure the update goes through without interruption.