alex222

I like this discussion on the Bentley book which seems is a great resource. My 2 cents are the factory 996 PDF manuals that are available for free on the Internet (which consists of 10 Groups (from 0 to 9) with over 3,000 pages overall were sufficient for me for a handful of repairs I've undertaken so the guidance in those on disassembling/reassembling things and general diagnosis have been very useful.

After a dealer programmed new keys to 996.2 is not showing key # on the central display no more when unlocking the car. It used to say: "Key 1" I remember it clearly, same as the 987... The tech is saying the 996/986 don't do that. He showed me a 996.1 is not showing it. Can folks who are having 996.2 confirm if your car is showing the key number on the main display when unlocking the car or not? 996.2: 987.1:

Is it anywhere in besides of the local dealership can I cut a key blade for the 996 to the key code I have or to the VIN?

Solved. My problem was the AM/FM antenna amplifier (WHITE) in the LH A-pillar was dead and the FM antenna amplifier (BLACK) in the RH A-pillar was dying. I noticed in the parts diagram than my car which is with the PCM2.0 Nav is having 2 antenna amplifiers (in each A-pillar) unlike the cars with just radio which have only one antenna amplifier in the RH A-pillar, and the antenna amplifiers for the PCM Nav unit are different from the one for the regular radio. I opened up the cover of the LH A-pillar and disconnected both antenna cables and started the engine and the radio was working with the engine ON. So when I was waiting on the LH amplifier 996 647 117 00 to arrive, on the two engine starts out of 10 the reception issue on the radio came up and similarly after a few mins after the engine was shut off the radio was working again. So I have had ordered the other RH amplifier 996 647 118 00 as well. The RH amplifier arrived first and that was perfect, so I had a chance to replace the dying amplifier first to make sure the replacement is good at all times and not shadowed by the LH amplifier. I did 2-day about 10 engine starts-ups and rides and the reception on just RH amplifier was good. I also learned that just one amplifier is not good enough for a good radio reception, when I was passing the low grounds, the reception was slightly not perfect. So it was no any issues on any engine starts. Then the LH white amplifier arrived, and I connected it and did like 10 engine starts/idle and the reception was perfect, no any issues. Then I took the pup for a spin and headed to those low grounds where on just one amplifier the FM perception was slightly w/ some static noise. And passing the same low ground spots the radio is perfect now. Achtung! The antenna plugs are easy to break! They have the little bar on top it's the only place to grab them to pull out and I had broken that tiny bar. The cause is the securing pin is to tall and the force to pull the plug out and break the little plastic bar is greater than to unpin it. Use a 1mm flat screwdriver. 1. Unplug 2 radio cables which go to the control unit. 2. Insert the flat screwdriver in the OUTER connector (facing YOU) so it lifts up the cover where the pin is. Just insert the screw driver straight. DO NOT PULL UP!!! 3. Pull the plug out. The screwdriver will come out too. 4. Unscrew the amplifier. It is held by 2 x 25 Torx screws. 5. VERY gently turn unscrewed amplifier facing parallel to you (parallel to the windshield) so you can insert the 1mm flat screwdriver into the INNER connector from aside. 6. Holding the amplifier pull the inner plug out. BE VERY CAREFUL! At no points do not pull the gentle flat antenna cable out from the windshield. If you rip off the antenna cable it will be a WAY bigger issue!!! Reassemble in the reverse order. 1. Plug the inner antenna connector first 2. Screw in the amplifier to the pillar 3. Plug the outer antenna connector 4. Plug in the antenna cables to the control unit. 5. Try the radio/start the car 6. Take off the black masking tape from the old amplifier and put it on the new amplifier.

Have you ever plug your original radio back in?

Thank you. The replacement control module came in today. I got a used module and it behaves exactly the same as my original. The radio plays perfectly all the stations with the key off and when the key in position 1. Once I start the engine the reception for the radio is gone for almost all stations. After I shut off the engine no reception remains for a few minutes maybe 2-3 then I turn on the radio and the reception is perfect on all stations. When I had taken off the power cable from the module - no reception just noise on any radio stations. The power on the power cable to the module reads +11.5V when radio is on and engine off and +13.9V when engine is on. I also already have had replaced the PCM head unit - both head units show the radio stations reception issue exactly the same way. The only other thing involved in the radio reception to replace next is the amplifier in the RH A-pillar. Anybody have had experienced this issue I am having?

Thanks. Yes, I've read it over again and you're right. And no, thanks, I don't need a P/N for the side marker itself. I thought this "cap" was missing. I asked the local dealership parts guy, he said he is not seeing a p/n for it by my VIN. I noticed a 996.1 lifted up in their shop we walked over that pup is not having any caps by the side markers. The parts guy said a cap might be included with the wheel housing and I just had picked a brand new front RH wheel housing yesterday because the original is cut off by the bottom. The wheel housing is not having any caps for the side marker where it goes in by the top on the outer side.

Correct. My 987 is having the air compressor as those pups along with 997s are not having a spare no more😉 so you got to make it somehow. I also tend to think the C2/Targa/C2 Cabrio are not having the air compressor as it says in the manual to maintain 60PSI spare inflated at all times. Only C4/4S/Turbo/GT2-s having it as their spare is kept deflated. The First Aid kit in C2/Targa/C2 Cabrio goes on the RH wall (item #8) there is a strap. I have added a CD Changer to my 996.2 so it's a perfect place for it in front of the CD Changer. I can put the First Aid kit into the strap where it should be but seeing a hood lid lip is right up there when the lid is closed so it might rub the First Aid kit zipper against the lid you don't want that. The Warning Triangle (item #11) for C2/Targa/C2 Cabrio goes into a spare wheel pocket bag.

Anybody can suggest on a P/N for the 996 front wheel housing side marker cap? I am not seeing it in the parts catalog maybe it's listed on some other diagrams?

I put in today the 900 631 132 90 Bulb 12V 1.2W and that's the bulb.

In 996.1 the air compressor is located in the niche by the emergency wheel. In the 2005 parts catalog the air compressor for emergency wheel is listed for all 996 production years. Where is the air compressor default location for MY2003 996.2 Cabrio?

I see. The GT2 Turbo have the muffler by the rear bumper and behind the rear wheel housing are the intercoolers.

Thanks!

Makes total sense weird though GT2/Turbo having the whole plastic wheel housing their mufflers have much greater heat production as even the rear bumper has side grills.

I am seeing in the parts diagram and on a couple of videos on the YouTube that a regular 996/996.2 non-Turbo/non-GT2 are NOT having the rear end of the rear wheel housing. Can someone with a non-Turbo/GT2 confirm please? It's sort of the rainwater fountains right at the mufflers...

Anybody knows which kind of bulb is used in the 996 cigarette lighter? The reading on the factory bulb is: J255 P12 30 Is it a regular 900 631 132 90 Bulb 12V 1.2W or - my computer returned a hit on the reading from the bulb for 12V 1.12W? Thanks

You right. I am having the #26 instead of #24 though - I have the Nav unit. So the question remains of where the #27 Control Unit is located at?

Less to think it's the ignition as the ignition on my pup is a brand new. No any signs of use. I think it might be the amplifier which is dying. I see the wires and the antenna cables from the radio are going from the center console to the left behind the instrument cluster, so the Q is where the amplifier is located? Behind of the instrument cluster, above the pedals, or on the fuse box (LH) wall? If you read the post for the 996.2 in right A-pillar it is the antenna SPLITTER, not the amplifier.

Noticed on a cold 996.2 the radio plays back great. With the key in position 2 - great. Once I start the engine up- the reception is very poor and only 2-3 radio stations can be heard OK. Then after some time the engine is OFF the radio works great again. If the radio is OFF during the engine start after the engine is shut off the radio reception is OK. Suspected the radio head unit. Swapped the radio to another one. Same thing. It's not the radio head unit. Checked the antenna diversity splitter in the RH A-pillar. Don't see any +12V wire cable coming into it. It just splits the antenna signal to the LH and RH antenna wires in the windshield. Suspecting the antenna amplifier antenna amplifier 996 647 124 00. Anybody knows of where is it located at?

I am also retrofitting the CDC-4 CD Changer. I don't see anybody mentioning the White-Read (Wake-UP Diagnosis) wire. Where is it going to?