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Old 06-06-2014, 11:56 AM   #1
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996 C4S Cluster install

Well had the cluster for 2 weeks & had made up the loom/wires for the OBC hack so decided today I would build up the courage & fit them.

All in all it was pretty straight forward, the cluster I had found on eBay & shipped from Belgium although it was a UK 996 C4S which just so happened to have the mileage within 1k of mine so £170/$270 later I had the C4S cluater , binnacle & surround.

Went in straight forward at the same time as the OBC hack, when connected up the OBC was working fine, no need for a code.

All fitted back together, took a couple of pictures.

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Whilst there I also fitted the oil pressure sensor wire ready to connect when I fit that next weekend

Cheers

Dan

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Old 06-06-2014, 05:18 PM   #2
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I'll bet you that your gas gauge is off, meaning it shows about a quarter full when you're out of gas
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Old 06-06-2014, 05:25 PM   #3
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Great work

As Chris alluded to, you will want to copy and paste your old clusters file onto the new one when you get the chance (save your old cluster). This will make the gauges read correctly, match VIN and odometer.

I have instructions on upgrading to a 996 cluster if you want them.
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Last edited by particlewave; 06-06-2014 at 06:51 PM.
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Old 06-06-2014, 06:38 PM   #4
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You need a new battery, the voltage is low.
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Old 06-06-2014, 11:09 PM   #5
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I'll bet you that your gas gauge is off, meaning it shows about a quarter full when you're out of gas
Cheers I'll keep an eye on it
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Old 06-06-2014, 11:11 PM   #6
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You need a new battery, the voltage is low.
I'll check after a few days of driving as I had been in the car afterwards tinkering with amp settings whilst battery connected so may show a bit low until charged

Last edited by danch; 06-07-2014 at 03:09 AM.
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Old 06-06-2014, 11:12 PM   #7
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Great work

As Chris alluded to, you will want to copy and paste your old clusters file onto the new one when you get the chance (save your old cluster). This will make the gauges read correctly, match VIN and odometer.

I have instructions on upgrading to a 996 cluster if you want them.
Thanks, that would be great although the instructions I followed said it wasn't a necessity ?
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Old 06-07-2014, 02:17 AM   #8
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Good Job, Danch!
and welcome to the club

You should be on the save side with your (2002-2004) 996 C4 cluster.

1.) Does the convertible top lamp work?
2.) Does the battery show ~14V when the engine is running? If so, all is fine.
3.) Oil pressure: You will need to install a 996 oil pressure sender for the gauge to work. It is very well described on the pelicanparts net/book.
4.) Indeed, watch your gas gauge (last quarter) for a couple of gas fillings. Mine was working fine, although the last quarter of the gas is more or less calculated by the DME, cluster etc by using estimates and historically data of the car, as far as i know).
The last quarter "felt" a little inaccurate, as the BC was showing (imo) too high rest miles. But after a couple of refillings the BC was showing/calculating more and more accurate values (as if the DME/cluster were "learning" with each trip).
5.) I was keen enough to let the gas gauge light up the first trip (circling around gas stations ), and I was not even running completely on fumes (worries = gone).
6.) My gauge cluster was officially reprogrammed (0km to actual km) by a Porsche dealership. I kept the old cluster.
7.) Do you get a warning in your Matrix Display about a defective gauge (--> oil pressure)?

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Last edited by BRAN; 06-07-2014 at 02:33 AM.
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Old 06-07-2014, 02:38 AM   #9
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Good Job, Danch!
and welcome to the club

You should be on the save side with your (2002-2004) 996 C4 cluster.

1.) Does the convertible top lamp work?
2.) Does the battery show ~14V when the engine is running? If so, all is fine.
3.) Oil pressure: You will need to install a 996 oil pressure sender for the gauge to work. It is very well described on the pelicanparts net/book.
4.) Indeed, watch your gas gauge (last quarter) for a couple of gas fillings. Mine was working fine, although the last quarter of the gas is more or less calculated by the DME, cluster etc by using estimates and historically data of the car, as far as i know).
The last quarter "felt" a little inaccurate, as the BC was showing (imo) too high rest miles. But after a couple of refillings the BC was showing/calculating more and more accurate values (as if the DME/cluster were "learning" with each trip).
5.) I was keen enough to let the gas gauge light up the first trip (circling around gas stations ), and I was not even running completely on fumes (worries = gone).
6.) My gauge cluster was officially reprogrammed (0km to actual km) by a Porsche dealership. I kept the old cluster.
7.) Do you get a warning in your Matrix Display about a defective gauge (--> oil pressure)?
Thanks BRAN, it's a nice thing learning new things & this was no exception & when I sat back and it worked I thought...yeah! Happy with that.

To answer your questions :

1) Yes
2) Yes it does
3) Yup got it here ready to fit next weekend
4) Will be doing, have an actual full tank so will be monitoring.
5) Thanks, will do the same
6) Mine was within 1k more than my car so happy to suck it up as I'll be keeping the car for a while.
7) Yep get that as well as my Airbag warning which I've had since purchase as yet to get to garage as work away

Loving the car, the best chassis I have driven & car behaves well in corners & yup Seal Grey all the way

Got a few other things coming & will be getting the IMS sorted asap as a precaution.

Dan

Last edited by danch; 06-07-2014 at 03:11 AM.
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Old 06-07-2014, 04:01 AM   #10
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If the cluster is like my turbo never cut the power with less than half a tank. Doing that is supposed to throw off the gauge. To get the gauge to reset you need to top off the gas and remove the negative terminal. The last 50% is not actual but calculated by the cluster.

Sent from my LG-LS980 using Tapatalk
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Old 06-07-2014, 04:28 AM   #11
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How much of this is plug and play vs. hack ? I like the idea of the additional real gauges.
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Old 06-07-2014, 04:32 AM   #12
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Originally Posted by Ckrikos View Post
If the cluster is like my turbo never cut the power with less than half a tank. Doing that is supposed to throw off the gauge. To get the gauge to reset you need to top off the gas and remove the negative terminal. The last 50% is not actual but calculated by the cluster.

Sent from my LG-LS980 using Tapatalk
Thanks, will keep an eye on it & thanks for the info
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Old 06-07-2014, 04:35 AM   #13
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How much of this is plug and play vs. hack ? I like the idea of the additional real gauges.
This cluster for me was plug & play, the hack was for the OBC which I wanted as well, only thing I have had to do is the wire for the Oil pressure gauge

I live the look now & find it a great mod & think it should have come like this.
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Old 06-07-2014, 07:31 AM   #14
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Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc View Post
How much of this is plug and play vs. hack ? I like the idea of the additional real gauges.
The cluster swap is pretty well documented on the net (pelicanparts, etc.)
Was pretty much plug'n'play for me as well.
I used my old gauge pod to keep that nice 986 exclusive bridge look, dremeled a little and got it painted in seal gray. I was lucky to get a new cluster for a MY04 Porsche 911-Jubiläumsmodell (standard with aluminum colored trim rings).

Just be sure to get a proper gauge cluster for your MY:
MY97-00 Boxsters: instrument cluster from a C2, not a C4 (have a different gas tank)
MY01-04 Boxsters: any non-Turbo/GT 996 cluster from 2002-04 (preferably C2, as C4 tank troubles are still being reported)

Don't forget to document the swap and reprogramming (to your actual miles/km) of your cluster, if you plan to sell your Boxster again.
Don't forget to swap clusters preferably with 3/4 or (even better) a full tank.



Btw: The 3M VHD tape is still sticking, excellent stuff. Will prepare the Boxster emblem with it pretty soon.
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Old 06-07-2014, 07:54 AM   #15
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Thanks, that would be great although the instructions I followed said it wasn't a necessity ?
It will be a problem if you want to sell the car down the line and the ppi shows mismatched VINs and odometer.
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Old 06-07-2014, 08:32 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by BRAN View Post

Just be sure to get a proper gauge cluster for your MY:
MY01-04 Boxsters: any non-Turbo/GT 996 cluster from 2002-04 (C2 or C4)
.
I don't think that's correct. I swapped a C4 cluster into my 2002 986 and had the "gas tank problem" (everything else worked fine):
C4 has a 20 gallon tank, 986 has a 16 gallon tank and the C4 cluster still thinks it has a 20 gallon tank ....
In order ti get this fixed you need a PIWIS and your immobilizer code
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Old 06-07-2014, 08:56 AM   #17
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Originally Posted by ChrisZang View Post
I don't think that's correct. I swapped a C4 cluster into my 2002 986 and had the "gas tank problem" (everything else worked fine):
C4 has a 20 gallon tank, 986 has a 16 gallon tank and the C4 cluster still thinks it has a 20 gallon tank ....
In order ti get this fixed you need a PIWIS and your immobilizer code

What I've found :

2003 996 C4S
Fuel Tank Capacity
64 Litres
14.1 UK Gal
16.9 US Gal

2003 986 S Boxster
fuel tank capacity :
64 litres
14.1 UK****Gal
16.9 US****Gal

So no difference, checked a few different sites.

Regards

Dan
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Old 06-07-2014, 08:58 AM   #18
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Originally Posted by ChrisZang View Post
I don't think that's correct. I swapped a C4 cluster into my 2002 986 and had the "gas tank problem" (everything else worked fine):
C4 has a 20 gallon tank, 986 has a 16 gallon tank and the C4 cluster still thinks it has a 20 gallon tank ....
In order ti get this fixed you need a PIWIS and your immobilizer code
Thanks for the info, Chris, I edited my post

Well, Dan...better monitor your gas gauge closely and tell us how well it works.
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Old 06-07-2014, 11:30 AM   #19
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Thanks for the info, Chris, I edited my post

Well, Dan...better monitor your gas gauge closely and tell us how well it works.
Will do & will report back
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Old 06-07-2014, 12:22 PM   #20
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Will do & will report back
Looks good Dan. Nice work how long did it take to install?

Sorry if you said

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