jmolina

Hi all.

Have the same issue with a 986 boxster. After Many trips to the Local Porsce dealer and over $1000 later, they have an 80% accurate theory that is the transmission computer wich for me means another $1500. They say this computer is not reading the transmission signal correctly wich causes the car to go to safe fail mode. Removing the batt cables and sometimes turning engine off and back on resets the signal but it comes down to the transmission computer. I will keep you all posted.

I found this tech forum online and was wondering if there was a final answer to the problem of getting the car out of limp mode. I've got a similar situation coming up...

I either made the greatest car purchase of my life or I could be in for a troubled future. I purchased a 1995 Porsche 968 tiptronic with 111K from a dealer recently for extremely cheap (about 5 grand). The car was listed on craigslist.com at a used car dealer out in the middle of nowhere. I talked to the guy selling many, many times before purchasing and he said that the car is a 8/10 on the exterior and a 9/10 on the interior. He said mechanically the car appears to be outstanding, except it is stuck in the limp mode with the tiptronic. He said that he doesn't have the diagnostic tools to fix it at his shop and he doesn't have the patience to send it on a flatbed to some other city that has the tools to try to get fixed and then flatbedded back to try to sell after what is an unknown amount of repair work to try to make an unknown profit, etc..etc..etc.. So he just wanted to move the car quickly and get it off his lot. Hence the low price. This is the story he sold and the one I bought.

As far as the tiptronic and the transmission is concerned... He said there is no grinding, no clunking, no odd noises. The car drives fine, but only in the single limp mode gear. Starts fine, goes in and out of P, N, D, R with no issues...but is in limp mode. I think the 95' tiptronic on the 968 was the same one being used on the 911's at that time. I read in a 968 forum that somebody had this problem before and it was a problem with the connection to the battery or something.

I bought the car and am having it shipped (the guy even set that up for me...awefully nice of him) straight to the front doors of IMA motorsports out in Chantilly, VA where they said they'd take a look at it. Does anyone have any input as to what I should expect from the repair shop? Was it a simple electrical connection issue or did things end up much uglier later on.

Hopefully a quick fix....if it turns into a 5-10K repair, I'll probably resell the car or part it out. Thanks for any input you might be able to provide.

Dane

Hi all, Here's an UPDATE:

Still can't figure out why the Tip trans doesn't work properly yet! Changed the trans wiring harness, changed the Tip trans switch pack...still doesn't work properly. My Durametric software said it was the switch pack but that wasn't it... Realize now it must have soemthing to do with another problem - reverse lights stay on in "D" drive mode. I believe the reverse lights circuit not working properly is somehow sending a signal to the Tip Trans Control Unit which in turn causes the trans to go into "Emergency" Mode. Now trying to correct the reverse light situation before spending anymore money on Trans parts. Not sure if the Tip trans ahas a REVERSE Switch on the trans...anyone know? If yes then it may be a simple fix, otherwise will need to keep checking other possible areas. FYI: Bought most of those 964 repair and info manuals with no success. If anyone or a mechanic has come across this situation before, I would appreciate any advise. I know in time I can figure it out...only have time on weekeneds to tinker with car...

Many thanks! 808C4