whall

After a full 14 months into this DIY project, the only feedback I’ve gotten is from folks who have had problems with their cars. Hopefully there are some RennTech’ers who have had a better result from their project. In an effort to summarize what has been learned so far, I’ll start with the Carrera instrument cluster itself. The assumption of the DIY is that the instrument cluster is fully functional. I have a concern with the instrument clusters found on the internet auction sites. Did the seller just decide one day that he didn’t need the instrument cluster in his car? Or, is it available because it was removed from his car for cause? I would put more trust an established re-cycler’s parts because the instrument cluster in the donor car was probably working properly before the accident and, given no physical damage to the instrument cluster, probably still does. I also have doubts about the viability of an instrument cluster that has had the part number and/or serial number removed. Anyway, the basic MY02 – MY04 Carrera instrument cluster is the same regardless of the car it is installed in. There are different part numbers for manual vs. Tiptronic and color coordination of the instrument faces to interior colors, but the instrument cluster is functionally the same whether it is installed in a C2, C4, Coupe, Targa, etc. Only the coding by a PST2 / PIWIS tailors the instrument cluster to the car. (Instrument clusters from Turbos are a different breed and should not be considered for a transplant.) The ideal candidate for a transplant into an MY01 – MY04 Boxster is a Carrera instrument cluster taken from an MY02 – MY04 996 C2 Cabriolet. (Obviously, consideration has to be made for the type of transmission – manual or Tiptronic.) This means that the instrument cluster is coded for the proper fuel tank/fuel quantity transmitter and the “Convertible Top Warning Light”. If the instrument cluster is taken from a Coupe (or Targa), the Convertible Top Warning Light will not illuminate when the Boxster’s top cover isn’t fully stowed. (That was my situation.) Some people can live with that anomaly. In an effort to make the instrument cluster operate completely, I elected to re-install my instrument cluster in a 996 and code it, as a Cabriolet, with a PIWIS. Obviously, not everybody has a 996 available to do what I did. The reason I had to re-install the instrument cluster in a Carrera is because the Carrera instrument cluster has to “see” a Carrera DME before it will allow it’s coding to be modified. (More on DME’s below.) Another problem reported by DIY’ers is that the fuel gauge is inaccurate. If you purchase a Carrera instrument cluster that was installed in a Carrera C4 / C4S, the fuel gauge will not indicate the actual quantity of fuel in your fuel tank. The C4 /C4S, because of the location of the front differential and associated suspension parts, has a differently shaped (saddle) fuel tank and a different fuel quantity transmitter. But, given a properly coded, functional Carrera instrument cluster, there should be no problems with the fuel quantity system. There is a fuel level calibration procedure in the maintenance manual which is called for after the change of a fuel quantity component. But, because the calibration procedure can only change the system by 5% (.8 US Gallon in a 16.9 US Gallon tank) it isn’t routinely done. FUEL QUANTITY SYSTEM CALIBRATION. If you feel there is a need to calibrate your fuel quantity system, the following is taken from the maintenance manual. 1. Disconnect battery. 2. Remove fuel level sensor. 3. Using a fuel extractor, completely drain the fuel tank through the fuel level sensor opening. 4. Reinstall the fuel level sensor and, with “ignition off”, fill the tank with 12 liters of fuel. 5. Reconnect the battery. 6. Perform tank calibration with PST2 / PIWIS: 6 a. Select vehicle type (996 C2), 6 b. Select control modules, 6 c. Select instrument cluster, 6 d. Select menu item “Tank Calibration”, 6 e. Confirm calibration. 7. The fuel level sensor system has now been calibrated. NOTE : This calibration procedure does not take the place of re-coding a C4 / C4S instrument cluster to C2 instrument cluster specifications. Assuming a properly operating fuel system - no problems getting fuel in the tank - and automatic pump delivery nozzle shutoff, the following quantities should be fairly representative of fuel delivered to fill the fuel tank from the cardinal points on the fuel gauge: ¾ - 4.23 US Gallons to full; ½ - 8.45 US Gallons to full; ¼ - 12.68 US Gallons to full; Low Fuel Warning Light illuminated (when it first illuminates) – 14.30 US Gallons to full; Empty – 16.90 US Gallons to full. There is a great deal of commonality in the components of the fuel system. This information was taken from the Porsche PET parts list: 986 Fuel Quantity Transmitter -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - MY97-MY01 : 996.620.808.00 MY02-MY04 : 996.620.832.01 996 C2 Fuel Quantity Transmitter MY98-MY99 : 996.641.801.00 MY00-MY01 : 996.620.808.00 MY02-MY04 : 996.620.832.01 986 Fuel Tank MY97-MY01 : 996.201.021.02 MY02-MY04 : 996.201.021.05 996 C2 Fuel Tank MY98 MY01 : 996.201.021.02 MY02-MY04 : 996.201.021.05 ON BOARD COMPUTER. All MY02-MY04 Carreras had OBC’s as standard equipment….using the four stalk switch assembly. If your MY01-MY04 Boxster has a factory installed OBC or has had a four stalk switch assembly OBC “hack”, the transplanted instrument cluster will function exactly as shown in the owner’s manual. If your Boxster has a one or two button OBC hack, the transplanted instrument cluster will display some information but may have problems changing between functions or resetting functions. DME CODING. This procedure has been used to successfully code a 986 DME as a 996, code the instrument cluster to C2 Cabriolet and finally recode the DME back to 986. I would strongly suggest that the person following this procedure be an experienced PST2 / PIWIS operator. There are several steps (key strokes) needed to accomplish some of the individual items listed below. 1. Get DME and Immobilizer codes for the car in question. You will need to contact a Porsche dealer, providing proof of ownership and the VIN number. Safe guard these codes and any other codes the dealer may furnish. They can be used to have keys made and/or re-program the car so that the real owner cannot access the car. Use these codes when asked to input the old codes and the new codes in the DME and immobilizer fields of the PST2 / PIWIS. If you have a battery that is suspect, i.e., old and/or weak, use a battery maintainer while doing the procedure. If the PST2 / PIWIS senses a voltage less than 12 volts, it may refuse to code the DME. Any power interruption during the reprogramming of the DME can complicate the situation substantially….possibly unrecoverably. 2. Connect the PST2 / PIWIS, turn key ON, select 996 and DME. The only option will be to reprogram the DME. 3. Reprogram DME as a 996 DME. 4. Turn key OFF then back ON. 5. Rescan all controllers for a 996. 6. Change model type order code to 996310 – North American C2 Cabriolet (996311 – RHD C2 Cabriolet) 7. Turn key OFF then back ON. 8. Rescan all controllers for a 996. 9. Code instrument cluster. Step through every option, i. e., OBC, Cruise Control, Cabriolet, etc. (If you forget to code any of these options before you recode the DME back to 986 at the end of this procedure, you’ll have to start all over again at step 2!) 10. Initialize the instrument cluster. This over writes the existing instrument cluster parameters. 11. Turn key OFF then back ON. 12. Program DME as a 986. North American 986’s are LEV vehicles when asked to input “emissions type”. There are three other emission types : RoW, EOBD and EOBD/Belg. These are used in other parts of the world. The type order code for a 986 is : 986310; a 986S is : 986320; a 986 (RHD) is : 986311; a 986S (RHD) is : 986321. 13. After programming the DME follow the instructions to clear CAN bus fault codes in the controllers that have faults (usually the AC and PSM). 14. Turn key OFF then back ON. 15. Rescan all of the controllers for a 986. 16. Turn key OFF, disconnect PST2 / PIWIS. Finished! While the PST2 / PIWIS is available, if you are contemplating adding an OBC or cruise control in the future, this would be a good time to turn on their capabilities. Cruise control is covered quite extensively here : www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=661&st=40 There is information for non-egas and egas cars which is beyond the scope of this DIY project….except to mention the need to code both the Boxster DME and the Carrera instrument cluster for cruise control. RADIOS. Pre-MY03 Boxster radios will only need the four digit security code to become operational again. MY03-MY04 Boxsters with the Media Oriented System Transport (MOST) bus will need to use a PST2 / PIWIS to become operational. My Porsche dealer technician ran the “Sports Car Handover” routine to get my Carrera instrument cluster to recognize the CDR-23 Radio. The sports car handover routine is run on all Porsches when they are received by the dealer off the delivery truck. When the cars are shipped from the factory they are electrically inert. If you are recoding your DME (see above), do the radio procedure after the DME recoding is complete. BROKEN PLUG HARDWARE. For those MY01 – MY04 DIY’ers who have broken the lock on one or more of the instrument cluster plugs or who are afraid they might, here’s the part number you need : PNA 721.04.300.202. This part number gets you a package with the three colored (blue, green, gray) covers/locks and all three black plugs. They only come as a set of three and cost $27.00 (dealer). The blue, white and black covers/locks and plugs are available for MY97 – MY00 Boxsters too. Have your Porsche technician (not parts guy) check his “Porsche Electrical Connector Repair Kit” for the replacement parts or at least a part number for the three plug package. The entire repair kit is known as CARTOOL – Nr 96 0 000 or PNA 721 043 600. It is full of connectors the parts guy would like to sell you the entire wiring harness for. MY97 – MY00 BOXSTERS. For RennTech members who have MY97-MY00 cars and who are contemplating installing a Carrera instrument cluster, the following might be of some assistance. You must find a Carrera C2 instrument cluster. The C4 / C4S instrument clusters are physically (internally) different and there is no hope of getting the fuel gauge system to indicate fuel quantity accurately. I would also recommend looking for an instrument cluster from only MY00-MY01 Carreras. This is because the MY98 - MY99 Carreras use a different fuel quantity transmitter than your Boxster (see above chart) so a MY98 – MY99 instrument cluster may not be compatible with your Boxster’s fuel quantity transmitter. Also, a MY98 – MY99 instrument cluster may not have provisions for the On Board Computer. Your ideal Carrera instrument cluster would be from a MY00 - MY01 C2 Cabriolet. From the 2005 PET parts list, the following part numbers are representative of the MY00 – MY01 Carrera instrument clusters that would be good candidates. These instrument clusters are matched to your Boxster’s fuel quantity transmitter and have “electronic mail” which I would guess is Porsche parts manual speak for On Board Computer message display capability. MY00 – MY01 Carrera C2 6-Speed 996.641.105.02.70C MY00 – MY01 Carerra C2 Tiptronic 996.641.106.02.70C MY00 – MY01 Carrera C2 (GB) 6-Speed 996.641.107.02.70C MY00 – My01 Carrera C2 (GB) Tiptronic 996.641.108.02.70C For reference, the MY98 – MY99 Carrera C2 instrument cluster part numbers are the same as above except they are 996.641.###.01.70C.

FWIW, the Porsche Driving Experience (drivers school) at Barber Motorsports Park disables the "PSM OFF" switch on every one of their cars except for the ones used on the skid pad. The PSM is always ON. This is for all levels of student driver - from novice to race licensed. The instructors say that professional drivers cut less than a second off their lap times with the PSM turned off. Track record: Car – 1:20.613 – avg. speed – 102.713mph - distance - 2.38 mi. YMMV, Bill

Have a look at this RennTech thread : http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?s...tch+replacement A member installed a Becker Traffic Pro in his MOST bus equipped car. I would be very interested to see if you can get the nav system working as I have an MY03 Boxster configured like yours and would like to install a nav system. Cheers, Bill

It looks like your driver's side front turn signal light bulb is burned out....co-incidental to your instrument cluster problems. The rapid flashing of the driver's side rear turn signal is typical of one bulb being burned out. Does your instrument cluster operate when you hold the plugs in manually? If so, you probably don't have the plugs inserted squarely and properly in the back of the instrument cluster. Even with the locks engaged it is possible to have one or two of the pins in the plug not connecting properly. If the instrument cluster doesn't operate properly when you are holding the plugs in manually, check to make sure the wire pins in the black inserts are uniformly and fully pushed home in the insert. Cheers, Bill

Barring any wiring problems, you might have someone with a PST2 / PIWIS run the "Sportscar Handover" routine. That solved my CDR-23 coding problem when I replaced the instrument cluster in my car. Because the CDR-23 doesn't use a specific radio code to enable it to function, it looks at the instrument cluster to determine that it's in the proper car (not stolen). The sportscar handover routine is normally used by the dealer's techs to electrically wake up the car after being shipped from the factory. Cheers, Bill

The Boxster instrument cluster also has the Carrera warning light at position Q: "Rollover Protection System". I think all U. S. MY01 - MY04 Boxster instrument clusters and all U. S. MY02 - MY04 Carrera instrument clusters are structurally (and electrically) the same. The only differences being the lack of a voltmeter / oil pressure gage on the Boxster instrument cluster; and the lack of the dot matrix OBC display on non-OBC optioned Boxsters. Bill

MY02 Targa sunvisors don't pivot either.

Rick, The folks who offered the intermittent wiper kit are Europa Auto Parts. They don't show the kit as being offered now, but might be helpful with your project. Cheers, Bill

Loren, I've edited the above post to reflect that any MY02 - MY04 996 C2/C2S or C4/C4S can be used as the "setup" car. (I'm excluding the Turbo from this group because I just don't know if it would work. There are already too many variables particularly when you include the problems you may be inheriting in an instrument cluster found on the internet.) The reason I included the bit about opening the top cover slightly was because I just happened to use a Cabriolet as my setup car. I should have been less (?) specific about the setup car. But, had I opened the top cover slightly, I feel I would have seen the top warning light illuminate upon saving "convertable top" with the PST2, saving the technician and me an hour of head scratching. With the top cover closed, the top warning light goes out after about 5 seconds of test due to logic circuitry in the instrument cluster. Again, I hope this helps. Bill

Bill, I've just completed the swap. The donor car was a MY02 996 C4S. My car is a MY01 986. I did it in 2 stages for scheduling reasons. After having the odometer on the donor cluster corrected to match my mileage, I modified the instrument surround, and installed it in the car. Several days later, I installed the oil pressure sending unit with the extra wire. On the fuel gauge issue, I had tested my cluster when I first received it. I had 7/8th of a tank on the Boxster gauge, and the same when I plugged in the Carerra cluster. However, when I actually did the swap, there was 1/4 tank on the Boxster cluster, and the Carerra cluster showed 1/2 tank. Filling the tank seems to have resolved the discrepancy. The gauge has been reading as expected since then. The only issue I have left to unravel is the cabriolet light. I did the oil pressure sending part at our recent work-on-cars day, and Loren connected my car to the computer to try to get the cab light working. He set the model type to the code for the 996 C2 Cab in the vehicle data section. That didn't make the cab light operational, and the software still showed the instrument cluster item with a "?" next to it, and didn't allow any cluster programming. He got the same result with both the PIWIS and the PST2. So we set the model code back to the Boxster code. Since you mentioned having issue with getting the cab light working, do you have any suggestions on what I might have missed. It's possible that there's something defective about the cluster. I doubt that though, since the the gauges are all reading correctly, and the communication between the cluster and the A/C unit is working properly. Thanks! Anne Hi Anne, First, a couple of words about the fuel quantity situation, and I'm assuming you have had no fuel quantity indication problems before and the fuel tank fills completely, more or less, before the filling station pump shuts off automatically. Fill the fuel tank until delivery is shut off automatically. You should have a full tank (16.9 U.S. gal) indicated on the fuel gauge. "Zero" the trip odometer and the average fuel consumption on the OBC. Drive the car until the fuel gauge indicates 3/4 full. Fill the tank again until delivery is shut off automatically. You should have added approximately 4.2 U.S. gallons. Divide the miles driven since you filled up by the average fuel consumption as indicated on the OBC. The result should be approximately 4.2. Repeat this onerous task, filling the fuel tank and zeroing the trip odometer and average fuel consumption on the OBC, for the 1/2 full point (~8.5 U.S. gal to fill) and 1/4 full point (~12.7 U.S. gal to fill). If the fuel purchases required to fill the tank at these points are reasonable, drive the car until the low fuel warning light illuminates (and the OBC requests that you insure you have enough fuel to complete your trip). You should need about 14.6 U.S. gallons to fill the fuel tank. Keep a written record of this information while you are doing this. You might also record OBC computed "range remaining" data to bolster your confidence in the fuel gauge system. The top light! The top light might be the achilles heel of this "plug and play" project. I rambled on a bit in post #35 about what it took to finally get the light to illuminate. In the end, I think, if the Carrera instument cluster isn't from a Cabriolet (with the top light already coded to operate), the top light can only be coded to operate if it is temporarily reinstalled in a Carrera. This is due to the fact that the Carrera instrument cluster has to "see" a Carrera DME before any changes can be made. That is why you just get a "?" on the PST2 / PIWIS. Tholyoak has kindly tried to help me with the coding dilemma but I have not had any success short of way I have done it. This is what should be done after reinstalling your instrument cluster in any Carrera and hooking up the PST2: 1. Insure the type order code in the PST2 is 996310 for C2 (ROW 99631), 2. Turn ignition switch to position 2 ("run"), 3. If the car happens to be a Cabriolet, open (or close) the top slightly so the top cover is out of the closed position, 4. Do a control module search, 5. Select and open instruments, 6. Select "convertable top" and save, 7. The top warning light should be illuminated, if the car happens to be a Cabriolet, 8. Exit from the PST2 program, 9. Reinstall your Carrera instrument cluster in your Boxster. The top warning light should illuminate when you turn the ignition switch to position 2 ("run"). (Maybe you know someone in Roseville with a Carrera who would let you borrow it for the procedure.) One more thing about the fuel quantity system, as it relates to the Carrera instrument cluster: step #1 in the above procedure insures that the Carrera instrument cluster is "thinking" C2 as it pertains to the fuel quantity system. It may be that the fuel quantity sender in the C4/C4S fuel tank does all of the quantity mathmatics and sends a resolved signal to the instrument cluster that is identical to the signal for the C2/C2S - for a given quantity. (This only relates to the MY02 - MY04 Carrera instrument clusters. MY98 - MY01 Carrera instrument clusters are different for the C2/C2S and C4/C4S.) Hopefuly, if the forgoing is correct, no body will run out of gas and the only fly remaining in the ointment will be coding the top light. I hope this helps. Bill

G'morning JFERR, Finding a used instrument cluster can be problematic. The internet auction sites can be a source. Or, a dismantling yard can be another source. You don't know anything about the events leading up to the instrument cluster being offered for sale on an auction site. An instrument cluster offered by a dismantling yard is more likely to have been working properly before being removed from the donor car. In any event, it is buyer beware. During the course of defining this project, nothing has been more difficult than nailing down, for sure, which Carrera instrument clusters are appropriate candidates for the installation. I think, following LowFlyR's installation of a MY04 C4S instrument cluster in his MY01 Boxster (and a thorough check of the parts manual), any MY02 through MY04, non-turbo, Carrera instrument cluster is usable for any MY01 through MY04 Boxster. Earlier, MY98 through MY01, Carreras had specific (and different) part numbers for C2/S and C4/S instrument clusters. This was because of the need of the earlier C4/S to have a fuel quantity measuring system and gauge that calculated the amount of fuel remaining when the fuel quantity was less than about 1/3 (?) full. While the newer C4/S still has an oddly shaped fuel tank, Porsche has figured out how measure fuel using the same instrument cluster as the C2/S. Anyway, to eliminate any varibles, doubts or possible compatibility problems, the ideal Carrera instrument cluster for installation in a MY01 through MY04 Boxster - base or S - would be from a MY02 through MY04 Carrera C2/S Cabriolet. Obviously, there is a difference between the manual transmission instrument cluster and the Tiptronic transmission instrument cluster. The fact that the donor car was a Cabriolet would insure that the top "in motion" light would be coded in the instrument cluster to illuminate when the top was being raised or lowered. While I had problems getting my top light to operate properly (instrument cluster from a Coupe), others have had no problems. The OBC will operate properly, and in the dot matrix mode, with the Carrera instrument cluster. I had done the OBC four stalk "hack" earlier, so the OBC had been turned on. I hope this helps. Feed back by those doing the swap is appreciated. Of particular interest is instrument cluster matchups, i.e., donor car and receiving car, and fuel quantity measuring successes or problems. Cheers, Bill

Loren, I generally don't argue law with a lawyer or medicine with a doctor. Armed with little knowledge it can be dangerous to do so, but.... :D According to the parts manual (on line and at my dealer), beginning with MY02, the Carrera C2/C4 instrument clusters are the same. The parts manual does show different part numbers for MY99-MY01 C2 and C4 instrument clusters. But, beginning with MY02, the parts manual shows the following, "C A R R E R A 2 / 4 / 4S", heading the column, followed by just three part numbers - one for a six speed, one for a Tiptronic and one for an MY04 "special model '40 years 911'" - the first two being the standard black faced instrument clusters. MY02 was the first year of the "improved" Carrera instrument clusters and the year that fuel level transmitter part numbers in both the C2 and the C4 changed. My guess is that the instrument cluster talks to the DME to determine whether it is installed in a C2 or a C4, based on the type order code and tailors it's fuel gauging method based on that information. Or, more basicly than that, the instrument cluster is coded by a PST2 or a PIWIS. (In my last post, I probably confused the issue with the notation "MY01+". I should have said MY02+ and have edited the post to indicate that.) It appears that Jake has an MY01 Boxster which has the "improved" instument cluster. He should be able to install an "improved" C4 instrument cluster. But, I would be concerned about proper fuel level indication, especially when the fuel level is less than 1/3 full. The fuel level transmitter in Boxsters wasn't changed until MY02. So there may be a compatibility issue. From what I've read on RennTech and heard in coversations with my dealer's technician, because of the odd shape of the C4 fuel tank, the last few gallons of fuel can't be measured by the fuel level transmitter. Thus, the instrument cluster must calculate the remaining fuel level based on average fuel flow. Interestingly, the paragraph in my MY02 Carrera C2/C4 Owner's Manual that discusses the complications to this calculation caused by loss of electrical power to the fuel gauge system, has been edited out of the MY03 Carrera C2/C4 Owner's Manual posted on RennTech. (Page 78 in both Owner's Manuals.) Jake, What is the year of and the part number on your instrument cluster? Please check back with your experiences and/or problems. Cheers to All, Bill

The basic center consoles for the 986/996 have the same part number, i.e., 996 552 125 0- A03, where the 0- (01, 02, 03) indicates the latest mod to the part and the A03, in this instance, indicates black. There are many colors and finishes available. Cheers, Bill

G'day Mate, I did the OBC hack on my MY03 base Boxster last year. These are the wire connections I used: 1. OBC Pin #1 - to ground (earth), 2. OBC Pin #2 - to grey connector position #23, 3. OBC Pin #3 - to grey connector position #22, 4. OBC Pin #4 - to grey connector position #21, 5. OBC Pin #5 - to grey connector position #24, which are the same as you have indicated you used. So far, so good. The wiring diagram in my Bentley service manual, pages EWD-64/65, shows a sixth pin on the OBC plug; but it is not hooked up to anything. Likewise, the wiring diagram shows a position, C25, on the grey plug; but it isn't hooked up to anything either. So that shouldn't be a problem. By the way, I installed a Carrera instrument cluster in my car earlier this year and the "improved" dot matrix display works just fine with the above connections. I did have a bit of a bother getting the OBC "turned on". My dealer tried several times after insuring the type order code was properly entered. The technician finally ran the "sports car hand over" routine and, viola, the OBC turned on. His fingers were flying on the PIWIS so it is our best guess that the sports car turn over routine was, in the end, trump. Toolpants and Loren have been very helpful in outlining the PST2 / PIWIS procedures in several OBC threads. Check the archives for OBC. The cruise control problem....if it worked before you did the OBC hack and it doesn't now....may have been caused by you partially disconnecting one of the cruise control wires from the connector or the connector itself from the stalk. In any event, the PIWIS can probably pinpoint the problem. Cheers, Bill

There has been one nagging glitch since I installed the MY02 Carrera C2 Coupe instrument cluster in my MY03 Boxster. The "top in motion" warning light wouldn't illuminate either in the test mode or while the top was in motion. I initially thought it might be because there were missing light bulbs. But, it was then pointed out that MY02 and later Carrera instrument clusters have LED's instead of light bulbs. The problem is, even though there is no differentation among the three Carreras (Coupe/Targa or Cabriolet) as far as the instrument cluster part numbers go, the instrument cluster in the Cabriolet has to be specifically coded so it knows that it's car has a convertable top....not to mention pop-up roll bars. The coding is done with a PIWIS or PST2. But, nothing is that simple. As far as I can tell, after spending considerable time and effort, the Carrera instrument cluster can only be coded to turn on the top in motion light when it is installed in a Carrera. Initially, the PIWIS was hooked up to my Boxster and a control module search was done only to find out that the instrument control module had a question mark and wouldn't allow the Porsche technician access to change anything. Later, prior to doing the control module search, the type order code was changed from US Base Boxster 986310 to that of a US Carrera Cabriolet....996310 (996311 ROW). That allowed the technician access to enter the instrument cluster control module. But he still couldn't code the "convertable top" function. It is my belief that the Boxster's DME wouldn't allow the PIWIS to change any of the Carrera instrument cluster parameters. Finally, I found a Carrera that I could use for a temporary instrument cluster swap. It happened to be an MY03 Cabriolet C4 (more about that in a second) but any Carrera could be used provided that before the control module search was done, the type order code was verified to be or changed to 996310. The type order code on the Cabriolet C4 was found to be 996610....so, although it was a Cabriolet, the type order code was changed to 996310 to eliminate any instrument cluster problems with the C4 fuel quantity gauge system. These are the steps we followed to successfully code the instrument cluster: 1. Temporarily installed my instrument cluster in the Cabriolet. 2. Hooked up the PIWIS and changed the type order code to 996310. 3. Turned on the ignition switch to the position 2 ("run") and noted the warning lights illuminated less the top in motion light. 4. Did a control module search. 5 Selected and opened "instruments". 6. Selected "convertable top" and saved it. 7. Looked at the warning light panel on the instrument cluster and was disappointed not to see the desired results. The long and the short of it was that we tried that routine several times with both a PIWIS and a PST2....and even got out the service manual. When we couldn't determine why we were not getting the warning light to illuminate, we started putting everything back to it's original condition in each car (including resetting the Cabriolet's type order code). When I reinstalled my instrument cluster in my Boxster, I found that the top in motion light illuminated - both in the test and operational modes! On further thought, I think the first attempt to code the instrument cluster probably did the trick. The reason we didn't see the top in motion warning light illuminated is that it and the air bag warning light are only illuminated for about 5 seconds when the ignition key is turned to position 2 provided there are no faults with their associated systems. Had I thought to turn the ignition from position 2 to OFF and back to position 2, the instrument cluster logic would have been reset for another 5 second cycle and we would have seen the top in motion warning light. Interestingly, my MY02 Carrera C2 Coupe instrument cluster part number is 996.641.223.00.70C; the part number of the MY03 Carrera C4 Cabriolet was 996.641.223.02.70C. The current part number listed for MY02+ Carreras is 996.641.223.03.70C. Except for the suffixes to the basic part number indicating current modification status, i.e., .01., .02., .03., it seems as though a Carrera instrument cluster is a Carrera instrument cluster....at least for non-turbos. I hope this is a help for those who are either doing or contemplating doing this modification and doesn't stop anyone from considering it. Obviously, an instrument cluster from a Cabriolet would be ideal; the real "plug and play" installation. I would like to solicit any information or experiences members might have had with this project. Cheers, Bill

As an analog man in this digital world, I feel your pain! Try this link: http://www.bmracing.com/index.php?id=produ...=15&pid=187 Cheers, Bill

The existing CPO waranty is transferrable if the car is purchased from a private party (or I suppose from another Porsche dealer). The CPO waranty is not transferable if the car is purchased from a used car dealer. There is a paper work transaction, at a small cost, to transfer the waranty from one private party to another private party. I have two cars with CPO waranties and, in each instance, I got a CPO certificate and a CPO booklet from the dealer. The salesman also gave me a list of things covered specifically by the CPO waranty. Cheers, Bill

The heated seat switch is a considerably more complicated device than, say, an on/off lock switch or an up/down window switch. Perhaps Richard Hamilton or Loren can help with the schematic of the switch you are using. It might be easier, in the long run, to use a simple on/off switch. That said, do you have the heated seat switch wired so that the internal light (not the LED) illuminates when the instrument panel lights are on? And, is the internal light (again, not the LED) illuminated whether or not the headlights are switched on? If so, you may have connected the switch to a "constant on" power source. That might be providing a constant voltage to the OBC. On an intermittent wiper hack, I used hookups to the blue/red and blue/gray/brown wires to the PSM switch for the power source for internal lighting in the wiper rheostat. Cheers, Bill

I did a search of the exclusive option program and was directed back to this thread. Is there any information about what options are included in the program? MY02 Targa. Cheers, Bill

Patrick, Thanks for the input. You are correct, the wrench size is 24 mm for the stock oil pressure transmitter. That will teach me not to rely on my memory. The mind is a terrible thing :D . I've edited the thread to reflect the proper wrench size. You are also correct about the LED's in the annunciator panel on the "improved" Carrera instrument cluster. Owners of MY97-MY00 Boxsters using MY98-MY01 Carrera instrument clusters will still have to insure all of the light bulbs are installed. And, I've still got an issue with my car concerning the convertable top indicator light not illuminating when the top is in motion. Do you have any photographs of the routing of the new wire in your car? There is a forum member in Dallas with a Tiptronic who may find your process better (easier) because of the difference in shifter assemblies. Did you use the existing Boxster instrument cluster surround and cover? And, did you have any issues with the radio other than needing the appropriate code? Please add anything you can think of to make the retrofit easy and risk free for the others who are on the cusp of making the desision. Cheers, Bill

Norm, I have a 5 speed Boxster, in which I installed the B & M shifter, and a Carrera with the stock shifter. I've got to say that I like the change the B & M shifter made to the "shifting experience".....so much so that I will install a B & M in the Carrera. I haven't found the B & M difficult to shift, cold or hot. There is a feeling of a slot when moving the shift lever from gear to gear (notchiness?). But, I have never found it dificult to find what ever gear I'm looking for. My wife noticed the difference in the B & M and likes it. To hedge your bets, you might want to use the adjusting tool to check the shifter cables before you install a short shift kit. That way you'll know you're starting off with the proper adjustment. Unfortunately, the adjusting tool can't be used to check your work after installing the short shift kit because it doesn't fit on the after market shift shaft. http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?s...ter+adjust+tool Cheers, Bill

I had a key fail. It looked like the battery was worn out (red LED would either illuminate dimly or not at all). I replaced the battery. Then, I could read by the light of the LED, it was so bright. But, the remote functions of the key still didn't work. My wife's key worked fine, naturally. I had my dealer troubleshoot the problem and was told the transmitter in the key had failed....even though the LED would illuminate. While the transponder ("glass pill") in the key still worked so I could start the car, I bit the bullet and bought :eek: a new key head and had it programmed. Cheers, Bill

Doug, I'm not an electrical expert (my wife calls me "sparky") but looking at many posts about electrical problems, I seem to see a common thread.....the ignition switch. Even the dead battery is an example of the ignition switch not shutting down all of the electrical systems while the engine is not running. There many threads here at RennTech and an excellent one at: http://mike.focke.googlepages.com/ignitionswitchreplacement You might start there before considering something more expensive. Cheers, Bill

Paul, I found that fitting the Carrera instrument cluster to the Boxster instrument surround to be the single most time consuming part of the retrofit. I can only suggest that you mark the back of the Boxster instrument surround as carefully as you can and start grinding. I can't think of a way to make the process dead accurate and painless. I found, as I got closer and closer to the final cut configuration, I started making smaller and smaller cuts and more and more trial fits. And, as I got closer to the final fit, I tried to bevel the edge of the the instrument surround to try to match the angle of the gage bezels. As you can see in the photograph showing the final installation, there is a significant gap between the instrument cluster and the instrument surround at the lower arc of the oil pressure gage. As I mentioned, the 120 grit sanding band will remove material very quickly. I did not experience any problems with the plastic turning color or leaving any evidence, on the edges of the surround, of having been reshaped. I think trim rings for the Carrera instrument cluster will fit IF you are willing to cut the surround about an eighth of an inch grater radius than required for a normal fit. (I was happy to just get the fit good enough to assemble the two pieces.) The Boxster instrument surround has a shallower contour from the left and right edges toward the center of the surround. Thus, the rims of the Carrera voltmeter and oil pressure gage don't project as far forward from the fascia as they would in a Carrera instrument surrround. (The Carrera instrument surround is more deeply "cupped" on the left and right edges.) If you made the radius of the cuts a little larger, I think there would be room to mount the trim rings. Having a Carrera instrument surround/cover would be the deluxe route. If you can find the Carrera bits and pieces, don't forget to get the Carrera hazzard light button/switch assembly and surround. While the black plug is common to both the Boxster and the Carrera, the button/switch assemblies are different. Listening to the whine of the Dremel reminded me of the dentist saying, "this won't hurt a bit." Good luck. Cheers, Bill

I recently started using a cleaner wipe and a conditioner lotion from a company named The Leather Institute. The company provides products and service to maintain the leather seats in several Fortune 100 company aircraft, several airlines and a couple of aircraft manufacturers. For more information: www.leatherinstitute.com Here is a link to a site for an associate company that has a leather care pfd at the bottom of the page: http://www.townsendleather.com/sTip1.cfm Cheers, Bill