jimmy3530

Hi again everyone:

I want to replace my crest on my 3 spoke steering wheel (2000 Carrera 4) with a new one but can't for the life of me take the old one off. Can anyone confirm that all I need to do is pry it up? It's just held in there with double sided tape right?

I have tried jamming screwdrivers and a knife under it and it won't budge.

Thanks!!!

Dharn55:

Been searching the site for info on LED third brake lights and I noticed you had problems with yours in that they BOTH stopped working. Any ideas what happened. Is the $200 long gone down the drain or were you able to resurrect them. Is there a vendor you think is best?

Thanks

Hi Everyone:

I'm starting an upgrade of my PCM1 system to a double DIN unit and the first step is to remove the PCM Nav CD player which sits where the "upper shelf" would be in the console. My question is where do the radio removal keys go in order to be able to remove it. Sides or Top/bottom??

Will be upper shelf cubby bin (which I plan to buy at Sunset) just slide in there and replace the Nav Unit.

Thanks!!

Yes, please post some pics. Also, how does the finish/color of the Euro Motorspeed's faceplate match up with the Porsche stock and the Kenwood unit? I'm also looking at the Kenwood unit and would also like to hear about your first impressions.

Thanks and nice job!

Valley996:

Please report back on which shop you have you're work down at and, if possible, the total price. I'm going to be in the market for a new clutch soon and am going to be in the same boat. Thanks so much.

Good luck!

Thanks everyone. I guess I expected these answers but I'm surprised that someone doesn't make a wax type product with the same refractive index as glass. Oh well. I guess I'll just start driving behind dump trucks and hope that a stone rolls off and cracks my windshield so I can have it replaced.

I'm glad I'm not the only one here.

So how about the second question? There has to be something to clear up the windshield? Anyone have their car detailed professionally and they were able to clear it away? Sort of takes the fun out of driving long and fast......

Hi Everyone:

So, I just returned from another 1000 mile roadtrip (return) and, as I usually do, I spend some time cleaning all the bug crap off my car's bumper and windshield when I get home. I do a lot of these trips, both in the 911 and in a BMW I also own. Over time both windshields have gotten speckled. I assume these are a result of small stones, sand, etc. pitting the windshield at highway speed. They are extremely small, about the size of a grain of sand. The trips are 8-9 hours pretty much non-stop at highway speeds, or slightly faster... ;-)

I am pretty sure they are not from bug grime since no amount of cleaning can get them off. And the windshield is smooth to the touch. I always marvel at other people's car where the windshield is truly clear and clean.

My questions:

1. Is anyone in the same boat,

2. How can I restore the windshield to its sparkling new state.

Thanks!!!!

The current one is aluminum. Pretty sure about that!

Anyone have any ideas as to:

1. where to buy a colored crest

2. how to get the old one off (is it just glued on?)

Thanks!

Hi there! Could you please provide more details as to which LED tailights you're using? I've got a 2000 C4 and love your idea.

Thanks

Right, but over at Pelican Parts they calls it a temperature sensor and are selling it for $215. Yikes. I'm sure it labelled wrong then since you once mentioned that the temp sensor is over on the dash on the passenger side.

Thanks...

First of all...that manual is fantastic!

It says that the part is a temperature sensor. How can a temp sensor be behind a solid plastic "alien eye" Furthermore, could this temp sensor really be causing the alarm to beep when engaged? I guess was thought that this sensor was a motion sensor like the one I have on my Audi.

Thanks Richard. What is your reference? Owners Manual or somewhere else on the site.

Thanks.

Hi everyone:

I am seriously thinking about swapping out my PCM1 nav system in my 2000 Carrera C4 for a double DIN nav system. I've read everything I could find on these forums and it seems like most people go with either Pioneer, Kenwood or Alpine. Over on the Boxster forum are some great DIYs using Euro Motorspeed's frame which is abslutely critical to the swap.

My question is that I assume the only thing of real value that I would lose in doing the swap is the Porsche travel statistics (mpg, distance travelled, etc) that are accessed by pushing the BC button. i know that some are duplicated on the dash computer but not all. Can anyone confirm that the new HU's don't have the capability to decipher the car's stat's.

Thanks in advance.

Eo11: Thanks for posting another DIY for a double-DIN installation. It really is fantastic. I do have a couple of questions though:

1. Your link to Euro Motor Speed's wiring diagram in your post points to the photo and not to a wiring diagram. Could you post the wiring diagram as I assume its an error. That would be very helpful

2. How long did the entire install take?

3. If you have time I'd like to get your thoughts on the 120BT's performance.

Thanks again...

Loren:

So that's what those "eyes" are for. I've got the same problem as Davet18. I don't have a Durametric but if the part isn't too expensive I'd like to swap a new one in. Part #?

This begs another question: When setting the alarm, if the system isn't supposed to beep, how do you know when you've set it. Just the flashing lights? Most cars do both a flash and a beep.

Thanks

Hi Everyone:

I'd like to replace the silver crest on the steering wheel of my 2000 Carrera C4 with a colored one. Can anyone direct me as to where I may purchase one? It's 1.5 inches tall. I've looked at pelican and suncoast to no avail.

I assume I can just pry off the silver one and the new one will come with double sided tape or something similar. Thoughts?

Thanks!

Just wanted to reopen this thread to see if anyone can refer me to a link on where to purchase matte bezels for the 2-din HU. I'm planning on replacing my PCM system on my 2000 Carrera and the job hinges on getting it to look as close to stock as possible. It seems like that trim piece is the only thing standing in my way. I checked ebay and can't seem to find triellionaire's products (or anyone else's for that matter).

Thanks so much. Enjoy the spring driving weather!!!

Thanks a lot. That makes sense

Hi again everyone:

While poking around in the guts of my dash (I'm swapping out the stock dash speakers) I noticed that I really don't know what this part is/does. It is on the passenger side of the car above where the glove box would go. From the inside of the dash it seems to be an electrical part. Hope someone can shed some light on the issue.

Thanks again.

Thanks Loren (as usual!). So I guess they just snap on and off. That seems a little too easy. I will give it a go tonight!

Hi everyone:

The PO installed a Sirius sat radio system in my 2000 C4 which I am in the process of removing. The receiver was placed under the passenger seat and the "faceplate" which transmits to FM radio was velcroed to the navigation disc reader mounted in the console (PCM1). I've attached a couple of pics showing the faceplate dangling from a wire that was passed next to the heating system unit in the console (first photo).

I want to remove this faceplate but can't find where the wire goes once it disappears behind the heating unit. Can someone out there tell me how to remove the carpet, heating/cooling unit, or the leather panel that makes up the side of the console in the passenger footwell (second photo)? I really do not want to cut the wire (easiest solution I know) but rather take out the entire cable that connects the faceplate to the receiver.

Thanks!!

Jimmy

I would have to agree with BM996's logic. Needing to pony up another 12-15K for a refurbished engine would be very painful to most people. Of course there are some people who may be able to take this in stride but my guess is that most would shudder if the situation presented itself. So the idea of getting rid of the car is a valid option. We can argue at what the precise failure rates are, but in reallity, anything over 1-2% is pitiful for any major auto manufacturer these days, and especially a German one. The few 996 owners I know really don't have much confidence in their cars. Its almost like they feel that their engine will let go one of these days and they all just hope that they're close to home when it does finally come to an end.

Obviously, as an owner I completely get the reason to own one of these cars, but if I could afford it, I'd trade up to a 997 and forget about this issue altogether.

As an aside, I don't have a warranty/insurance on my car. How does one go about purchasing insurance against these types of failures. How much would it be. Ballpark of course.

Hi Everyone:

I spent the weekend reading old posts about how inadequate the 996's audio system is and about what everyone has done about it. As usual, lots of really good info here.

My question is more about audio electronics here and hence the new post. When I bought my car the PO intstalled a new amp in the trunk (Kenwood Excelon KAC-X451) which I am pretty sure is a 4 channel amp and then daisy-chained another amp installed on the rear shelf to drive a 8" subwoofer in the same location. The car is a 2000 996 C4 with door speakers (sub's from what I have gathered on this forum). The HU is stock PCM1 with navigation. Not sure if the stock HAES amp is still present and/or hooked up.

So, I ripped out the rear amp and subwoofer since I wanted the luggage space. I've replaced the stock dash and rear speakers with 4 inch coaxials in hopes for better sound and am currently looking for options for the door speakers which are still stock.

Here are my questions:

1. Since I have 6 speakers now (2 dash, 2 door, 2 rear) do I need to replace the trunk mounted Kenwood 4 channel amp with a 6 channel one? I am not sure how things are wired up yet but wanted to understand the system a little more before I started completely tearing things apart. I'd rather not buy a new amp. Is the stock HAES amp a 6 channel? Why is it so small compared to the massive Kenwood I have taking up valuable real estate in my trunk?

2. Everyone says the rear speakers are for "fill". Am I the only person who actually wants these speakers to produce sound? Currently most of the sound comes for the dash speakers and I find that slightly irritating and would rather have most of the sound come from behind my head. In other cars, one could just use the fader control, but in this car the fader and balance control doesn't seem to work sufficiently well, if at all. Could this be a wiring isse from the PO or a setting on the amp?

3. Do I need to put new subs in the doors or can I just go with regular speakers? I am pretty sure my BMW 323 does not have subs yet its sound system works amazingly well, at least IMHO. I like a lot of bass but I don't want so much that the mirrors vibrate with the music (which I can get the BMW to do with little to no distortion).

The goal is to eventually get rid of the PCM1 for another double din unit with navigation but in the meantime I am just trying to create a system whose sound reflects the quality of the car. I don't want to spend hundreds of dollars and still get mediocre sound.

Hopefully the renntech audio gods will tell me what to do.....