Carrera Gauge Swap - Page 6 - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Chuck W. · 06-14-2015, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KRAM36

Will the 996 speedometer read correctly?

Yes it will. No issues at all.

KRAM36 · 06-14-2015, 08:30 PM

Good to know Chuck, thanks for the quick response.

EJ-Fresno · 09-12-2015, 04:14 PM

Question regarding the circuit boards: can they be simply switched between 2 Boxster clusters, and still hold mileage and VIN? Or the new cluster will have to be reprogrammed no matter what?

particlewave · 09-12-2015, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EJ-Fresno

Question regarding the circuit boards: can they be simply switched between 2 Boxster clusters, and still hold mileage and VIN? Or the new cluster will have to be reprogrammed no matter what?

The gauge faces and circuitboard are separate. If you're just looking to change your gauge faces, you can keep your original circuitboard and it will retain the VIN and mileage.

EJ-Fresno · 09-13-2015, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by particlewave

The gauge faces and circuitboard are separate. If you're just looking to change your gauge faces, you can keep your original circuitboard and it will retain the VIN and mileage.

So I can remove the circuit board from my current cluster and install it directly into the "new" cluster and it will be plug&play?

KevinH1990 · 09-13-2015, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EJ-Fresno

So I can remove the circuit board from my current cluster and install it directly into the "new" cluster and it will be plug&play?

Yes

This would handle problems like scratched lenses or damaged dials.

986wsm · 09-12-2015, 10:53 PM

Anywhere in the uk you can take a 986 to have the 996 cluster swap done for you with all the reprogramming

KevinH1990 · 09-13-2015, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 986wsm

Anywhere in the uk you can take a 986 to have the 996 cluster swap done for you with all the reprogramming

This thread How to - Upgrade to a 996 Instrument Cluster - How To - www.BoXa.net on Boxa.net has a post that indicates there is a person who can do it. They provided a link to this web site: Welcome to Reap Automotive Design

mikesz · 10-20-2015, 08:54 AM

I have the cluster, ordered the sender and wiring and still have directions you sent me a year ago. How did you cut the surround to allow for the 2 additional gauges?

KevinH1990 · 10-20-2015, 04:30 PM

Porsche Boxster 996 Gauge Cluster Upgrade - 986 / 987 (1997-08) - Pelican Parts Technical Article

Look at photo #4 in this article.

I have a black surround that I trimmed before I decided to use a 996 surround. If you are interested I'm willing to part with it. Based on what I can make out in your avatar, it appears that you have a red interior so I don't think it will work for you.

mikesz · 10-21-2015, 08:06 AM

Yes my interior is Boxster red, probably the biggest reason we got the car. I will let you know. I just purchased another surround to try to cut it as a guinea pig. I will try with the dremel and keep fingers crossed. Do you still have the programmer gadget you used to update the eprom on the new cluster? Did the wire come with the programmer or is there a special gadget needed to connect the programmer to the cluster?

KevinH1990 · 10-21-2015, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikesz

Do you still have the programmer gadget you used to update the eprom on the new cluster? Did the wire come with the programmer or is there a special gadget needed to connect the programmer to the cluster?

I sold the programmer to another board member who was also doing the swap. I think it has been passed on to several other board members. Why don't you post an ad in the parts forum and see if someone still has it.

You need an interface cable with SOIC Clip (SOIC stands for small outline integrated circuit) to attach the programmer to the circuit board. This looks similar to the one I had: 8-Pin Gold Plated SOIC Clip Test Clip with 0.1" Lead Spacing: Electronic Components: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

You will also need the leads to attach it to the programmer.

EJ-Fresno · 10-22-2015, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikesz

Yes my interior is Boxster red, probably the biggest reason we got the car. I will let you know. I just purchased another surround to try to cut it as a guinea pig. I will try with the dremel and keep fingers crossed. Do you still have the programmer gadget you used to update the eprom on the new cluster? Did the wire come with the programmer or is there a special gadget needed to connect the programmer to the cluster?

I did swap clusters and thus have a EPROM programmer available for sale.
I'll PM you.

mikesz · 11-02-2015, 10:13 AM

how about running the wire from the new oil sender to the dash? where is the oil pressure switch located? What guage wire did you use to wire it up to the new cluster in the dash?

BRAN · 10-21-2015, 08:29 AM

pelican parts mentions 986 AND 987 (-2008) for that swap mod?
i see...it is just the section of the technical articles...cool

KevinH1990 · 11-02-2015, 04:58 PM

Here's a picture of the oil pressure sending unit: http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Boxster_Tech/90-ELEC-996_Cluster/images_med/Pic6.jpg To install mine, I found that I had to open the access port behind the seats and also put the top in service position and have access from the top.

To run the wire to the dash, I used some 16 or 18 gauge wire I bought at an auto parts store. I removed the center console and ran it underneath. Once you take out the console, the path is obvious. http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Boxster_Tech/90-ELEC-996_Cluster/images_med/Pic7.jpg

The entire article is on Pelican: Porsche Boxster 996 Gauge Cluster Upgrade - 986 / 987 (1997-08) - Pelican Parts Technical Article

mikesz · 11-22-2015, 07:06 AM

How can you determine what chip you have so you can select it on the eprom programmer to read it? I have a comparable guage cluster from a 996, a eprom programmer. I am at the point where i am trying to read the chip on the 996 cluster but there are many 93c56 chips to choose from.

KevinH1990 · 11-22-2015, 09:43 AM

Mike,

I've seen some folks on Boxa.net indicate that they have had problems reading the chip when they used certain programmers other than the GQ-4X. You can read about it here: How to - Upgrade to a 996 Instrument Cluster - How To - www.BoXa.net

It has been a long time since I did this, but I remember that I had to swap the bits that I read from the chip.

hemonu · 11-22-2015, 11:22 AM

Hello Mike, just choose one of the many. Most programmers allow to choose many vendors for the same chip with identical pinning and specification.
I used a cheap programmer instead of the GQ-4X. The problem was that the chip is inside the circuit board and the supply voltage goes from the 93C56 to all the circuits. That causes the overload protection of the programmer to shut down the 5V. My workaround was to power the gauge with 12 V from the connector and voila ... I can read and write the EEPROM.

mikesz · 11-25-2015, 11:30 AM

I am asking when you hook up the programmer to the chip, Does the programmer automatically recognize the chip? When I connect everything up and click the read button it says the read was successful but I expect the data to show on my laptop and it doesn't. Admittedly I am using a programmer other than the GQ4x. but again if I used a gq4x when everything is connected would the programmer automatically recognize the chip and when I click read the file would appear on the screen? I am not that worried about swapping out data I do it all the time its getting to that point that I am having issues with.