Engine ECU

[Roger1965]

Are you saying I need a new immobilizer as well? Or that the old one will need to be coded as well. My mechanic quoted me the dealer price for a new ECU and then told me I could order the ECU used and didn't mention anything about reprogramming issues so I assume they have the equipment to do it. I was having a brain fart at the time and forgot to ask him about the coding issue

I just recently did a little searching on the Internet and remebered about the recoding issue so I couldn't talk to the shop about it because they're closed today. They are the highest highest regarded indie in town so my choices are them or the dealer. But the necessary equipment is not exclusive to the dealer, correct?

There are a lot of Boxsters and Caymans in their parking lot so I assume they have the proper equipment. I just remembered this coding thing on the weekend and I'm freaking out about it.

My issues here are less about cost and more about building a relationship with a good shop, something I don't think I can do with the dealer here

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by Roger1965

Are you saying I need a new immobilizer as well? Or that the old one will need to be coded as well. My mechanic quoted me the dealer price for a new ECU and then told me I could order the ECU used and didn't mention anything about reprogramming issues so I assume they have the equipment to do it. I was having a brain fart at the time and forgot to ask him about the coding issue

I just recently did a little searching on the Internet and remebered about the recoding issue so I couldn't talk to the shop about it because they're closed today. They are the highest highest regarded indie in town so my choices are them or the dealer. But the necessary equipment is not exclusive to the dealer, correct?

There are a lot of Boxsters and Caymans in their parking lot so I assume they have the proper equipment. I just remembered this coding thing on the weekend and I'm freaking out about it.

My issues here are less about cost and more about building a relationship with a good shop, something I don't think I can do with the dealer here

No, I'm saying that when the DME is coded, it needs to have the immobilizer present to make sure that they are communicating, otherwise the car will not run. They need to be coded as a pair.

Anyone (with $20K for the first year) can lease a PIWIS system from Porsche, which is why not that many outside the dealers have them. The PST II is the older version, which will also work on your car, so you would have a better chance of finding one of them. But you have to have one or the other, nothing else will do the job.

A more interesting question would be why does your wrench feel you need a new DME? They do not fail all that often, and the codes that appear when they do go bad are pretty specific. I'd first be sure you really need one, as they are not cheap, nor is the process of setting the car up.

[Roger1965]

Okay, what about my original question : If I have my original DME rebuilt, will it need recoding at all? The DME is not sending a signal to the MAF.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by Roger1965

Okay, what about my original question : If I have my original DME rebuilt, will it need recoding at all? The DME is not sending a signal to the MAF.

To answer your original question, yes it will still need recoding and testing with the immobilizer to make sure they are pairing correctly, otherwise the car will not run.

That said, if the exact reason that they feel you need a DME is "the DME is not sending a signal to the MAF", you have a bigger problem: They do not know what they are doing. On your car, the MAF sends signals to the DME, not the other way around. The DME takes information from the MAF and other sensors to make corrections in the fuel mixture, etc..

I'd suggest getting a qualified second opinion from a shop that works specifically on Porsche's, and has a Porsche diagnostic system. You cannot correctly diagnose these cars with "global" OBD II scanners, you need the correct system.

[Roger1965]

I probably worded that wrong. The DME and MAF are not communicating, and the MAF is new.