Software tuning for 986 w/996 engine
 

As the title suggests, this is a grey area with a few uncertains. My car is a 2000 with a 2000 3.4l engine, and I've been running with a stock 2.7 tune for a few years now.

I've contacted a few vendors that support Porsche tuning, like Pedro's garage, APR, and Revo... And they seem to not want any part of this project. Someone suggested that uploading a 996 tune into my 986 ecu (part number 996.918.605.00) would totally disable the conv top function.

I don't have cats or the secondary air system, so do I need to take my car to someone with a PIWIS and do a ROW tune first?

Thanks in advance for helping me clear this up, and I'm sure many people doing the conversion will appreciate this thread.

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What about an ECU from a 996 convertible?

Thanks, Im going to send FVD an email.

Do I have to flash my ecu to 996 ROW program first? I dont want a check engine light for not having cats or secondary air injection.

Also, the 3.2 tune FVD has wont work on my car. I have a cayman S airbox and 3.5" airflow meter...

I would recommend an individual ecu tuning (engine map optimization) on a dyno, because all that tuning files you can buy are based on non modified engines.

If you have installed a different size MAF housing, you have to reprogram the DME with a program for that size MAF housing. Any Porsche factory authorized diagnostic tool can do this once you have the programming codes uniqe to your DME. The 2000 996 ROW program should work great. A aftermarket program SHOULD work better,but it WILL cost 10 times more.

bpd is the expert - he's running a 996 tune on his 986 - any issues with roof operation?

Thank you for clearing that up. In addition to the car running as intended, I also want some more power. Should I get the 996 ROW tune first and then get a 996 software upgrade?

Also, do I have to worry about which throttle setup I have? Im using E-gas.

I pm'd you my number if you want to call and talk about how to get it tuned up.

I am running a 1999 996 3.4 motor in my 1998 986 ( original 2,5). I am using a 987 air box with 3.5 silicon tubing and a stock 996 throttle body and MAF. I had my 986 5.2.2 DME flashed as a 996 ROW. Car runs strong and everything works including my Top. Car is really quick !!!
I ran into trouble when I combined a 996 analog gauge cluster (with my 986 cluster mother board) and installed them in the car. My 986 DME which thought it was a 996 ROW could not talk to my gauge cluster that thought it was a 986 cluster. I had to re-program the 93c56B flash chip in the 986 mother board to make it think it was a 996 mother board and all now works perfectly. At no time in this process did my top stop working. Hope this helps some!!

Reebuck have you checked your afr's at all?

You should notice a power difference with the factory program, all 2000 & later are E-gas so no issue there. Aftermarket programing is far less cost effective for power gains so I can't justify them. None of this will affect convertable top operation.

Dme
 

Yes, I checked my AFRs. and they show the car running slightly lean. I have to pick up some parts at Porsche on Friday so I am going to have them verify what my Durametric is showing. I'll let you know on Monday what they say.

Thank you guys, I definitely know which direction to head. I'm going to get a 996 ROW version code and then do a software upgrade for a 996.

Jaay, I'll probably text you in the next day or so. Thank you.

Answer
 

I was asked how my AFRs are after my motor swap and 996 ROW flash.

FRA.....1-3....at 0.93
FRA.....4-6....at 0.91

TRA.....1-3....at 0.00
TRA.....3-6....at 0.17


Porsche dealer's numbers were only differed from mine by about + or- 0.01 so I guess my AFR looks to be good with the ROW flash. I am sure I could get it better with a dino tune but I am not there yet.

Thanks

This is an old post, but lets see if I can revive it. I want to be sure this will work for me.. Here is my situation...

anyway- we just built a mutt engine. 3.2 block bored to 3.6, 996 intake manifold, 987 airbox with 3.5" silicone pipe between the 987 MAF housing to the throttle body. My throttle body is an 84mm.

Now, the engine starts and just runs for about 30 seconds and then dies. We can keep it running with a blip of the throttle, but it won't idle.

Is this similar to what others had in their Boxster with an upgraded engine?

I am going to try and get an ROW tune but wanted to compare my situation with yours as it sounds the same. Does it need to be a 996 ROW tune? and not a 986 ROW tune?

Thank you.

What year is your Car / ECU and donor motor

[QUOTE=arethusa71;532481]This is an old post, but lets see if I can revive it. I want to be sure this will work for me.. Here is my situation...

anyway- we just built a mutt engine. 3.2 block bored to 3.6, 996 intake manifold, 987 airbox with 3.5" silicone pipe between the 987 MAF housing to the throttle body. My throttle body is an 84mm.

Now, the engine starts and just runs for about 30 seconds and then dies. We can keep it running with a blip of the throttle, but it won't idle.

Is this similar to what others had in their Boxster with an upgraded engine?

I am going to try and get an ROW tune but wanted to compare my situation with yours as it sounds the same. Does it need to be a 996 ROW tune? and not a 986 ROW tune?


Yes, as I said before 987 MAF housing needs a 996 program as the housing is similar size.