Having a bad day: Speedo problem, then Idle problem

[boxstershorts]

The day started when I wanted to finally fix the speedo (wife went shopping and I was home alone). I had replaced the gauge face but mispositioned the needle. Anyhow, when attempting to remove and replace the needle (just as gently as I did it the first time) the little plastic shaft that the needle plugs onto must have come dislodged from the inner mechanism because the needle no longer responds at all. Am I doomed to buy a new cluster? I decided to explore the speedo and I got down to the little white plastic module that controls the needle...can I buy this part somewhere? I actually relatively easy to get down to that point (I don't recommend playing around on it unless you're speedo is already toast and there is nothing more to lose as in my case).

So, in my depression over the speedo, I figured I'd do my easy fix and change the tail fog light that was burned out. Turns out it's not the light (nor one of the 3 tail fog light fuses (???)). So I zero in the gray and white wire as the culprit. I decided to follow it and see if there was a cut in the wire along the trunk firewall where all of the wires are. I got to a black connector (one of 4 similar ones) but this was the easiest access connector where I can see the gray and white wire. I disconnect it to clean and measure resistance. To check the voltage, I had to turn the key but I turned on the engine (SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT!!!!!) the check engine came on and I turned the car off immediately. I never fixed the wire problem and now the car is idling at 2400rpm!!! What did I do?!?
Did I blow a component or is the onboard computer overcompensation for whatever it is interpreting the problem as?

Having a bad day. (and now looking for something else to do in my spare time alone when the wife is gone shopping!).

JP

[RandallNeighbour]

In German cars, they only illuminate one fog light in the back so people behind you don't think you are standing on your brakes. Those Germans think of everything.

You can probably just get the CE light cleared at a dealership or a mechanic's shop for very little money (some will even do it free for you).

As for the speedo, only the entire cluster is replaceable and I don't think Porsche sells the tiny parts inside. It's their way of making money I guess. However, you can send your cluster to Palo Alto Speedometer in California and they should be able to repair it. You can find them with Google, I'm sure.

The other way around this is to buy a used cluster and see if you can dismantle it and swap out the bad pin for a good one. I have a cluster I'll sell you, should you be able to tear yours down and see that it is replaceable. If I can get a $100 bucks out of it, I'll part with it. PM me if you are interested.

[boxstershorts]

Howdy Neighbour,
Nice to meet you.

Rear fog light: Only one light is intended to be on: I'll have another read through the manual and check it out. I found it strange that they would put a socket and wire on the right side if there is no intention to use it. I'll check it out. I also read somewhere that some drivers use the rear fogs to scare off tailgaters. But that's plausible because there was no light in the socket.

CE light: Turning off the light is one issue. The other is that the engine is revving way to high. I'm giving it a few hours to cool down and see if anything changes. When I let it sit 30 minutes or so, it was a more stable idle speed (at first it was very erratic idling).

JP

[boxstershorts]

Howdy again,

I just thought back at to what you said... Do you think turning off CE (and resetting the CE code) the onboard computer will stop trying to correct for whatever it thinks is wrong and the idle speed with go back to normal? Could it be that simple?

Can you tell I'm a guy that has to understand the problem before paying to fixe it?

JP

PS: I just might take you up on the speedo offer

[Tool Pants]

In a prior message you said you had a 2001, which is the new style instrument cluster.

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=14592&st=20&start=20

On the old style cluster we could remove the needles and put them back on, with no problem. There is a problem with the new style 996/986 cluster. I have not had the time to figure it out - yet.

[boxstershorts]

Hi ToolPants!

No, I have a 2003 S. Can't remember refering to a 2001 (might have been while I was still shopping for a car). That link you gave me shows what seems to be the same speedo motor as in my speedo. As I mentionned I took apart the speedo down to this point which is relatively easy (with care and proper grounding). But I couldn't open the motor in situe and didn't want to unsolder the motor from the board before knowing what to do after that. Note: Before: the needle had some resistance to rotation during adjustment. After: no resistance at all but the hard stops at each end of travel.

Does a base model cluster motor have the same travel as an S model (I mean, do the indicated speeds have the same intervals?) I'm trying to find out if I can swap a base model boxster cluster speedo motor into mine.

Sorry to throw so much at you (you're a lifeline!) but what is your take on my idle RPM problem? (I mean aside that I'm an idiot for touching connectors in the first place...but what better way to learn)


JP

[boxstershorts]

Last night it was idling around 2400rpm even after cooling down for 2 hrs. First thing this morning I started her up and she purred around 1000rpm and all seems normal. Or course I still have to have the CE turned off. This brings up 2 questions:

1)What happened for it to idle so high and to now be back to normal?

2)Is there a diagnostic module I can buy without forking over 4K$ for the PST2?





I'm having way to much fun with this car!!! Even the damn problems are fun to figure out! Everytime I take something apart I wonder at how simple and user friendly the design is. To a mechanical design engineer, this car is a optimized dream!