OBC hack

[rick3000]

The OBC is a computer function in the car's computer, it is accessed through the instrument cluster. It is not a little box in the car that can be removed, nor is it located in the cluster or any other specific location.

Also, you can buy silver trim for your cluster on eBay. There is no need to upgrade unless you want a different color leather on it.

I think you should carefully read over the OBC hack, you seem to not fully understand how this hack works. It is a big undertaking if you don't understand it, you will have a lot of trouble. I am not trying to mean, just helpful.

Best of luck with you Modifications!

[brian2034]

I've built two 8 second drag race cars, I also built a 250mph fully aerobatic Glasair airplane with a complete glass instrument panel. Also a 27 foot power boat with a supercharged 600hp chevy engine and a custom harley from scratch. With 25 years experience building all thing mechanical I'm sure I can complete a simple install of a 4 stalk in a porsche.

If you read the information on this HACK from this web site and other the hack is straight forward!!

But as you can see from this thread like "bigb" mentioned the cluster can be installed in another car and then turned on. And I also read else where that the OBC was under the seat.

I just want to know the FACTS not opinions if I can replace the cluster and the OBC is located in the cluster it would be GREAT if its not I will do the hack and deal with turning the OBC on next time we travel.

Thank you for the warm welcome to the site


Sorry a Glasair is an Experimental aircraft you purhase as a kit, which takes 3000-5000 hours or more to build.

[rick3000]

My advice would be to install the stalk, and then find out wether or not your OBC is on or not. I may be incorrect but as far as I know (Tool Pants may be correct) you cannot remove the cluster then ship it somewhere and have the OBC turned on.

[thomschoon]

I did this hack on my '02, just install the parts per the listed website above and see what you get, mine was already turned on so I didnt have to do anything else, if it hadnt been then I would have done the trip to the dealer. You can order the parts from Sunset Imports in Portland, will cost you close to $200 delivered.

Good luck

[brian2034]

What year cluster will fit a 2002 Boxster??
From what I read it looks like all years are the same and will fit the car, but I think they changed the digital layout part of the cluster in 2001 or 02. I would like to keep the same type that was original to a 2002

[Tool Pants]

2001-2004 will work with a 2002. Keep in mind the following:

A USA cluster is different than a Canadian cluster.

In 2002-2004 Porsche offered as an option a cluster that had a dot matrix middle display, if the car was made with the OBC option. Since you do not have the OBC option you do not have this dot matrix display. Look in the owners manual for pictures of the dot matrix OBC cluster.

If you do the retrofit on your car with the existing cluster then the OBC displays will look just like a 2001 with OBC. Your OBC display will not look like the OBC pictures in your 2002 manual because you do not have the optional cluster as your car did not come with OBC.

I do not understand why you would want to replace your cluster. They are very expensive. But if you do for whatever reason then consider a 996 cluster so that you will have the additional gauges.

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=12805

[brian2034]

Tool Pants

Thanks for your reply, to answer your questions.

I purchased the Boxster in Las Vegas Last month and trailered it back to Canada.

When we were shopping for a Boxster we liked the silver or white face cluster with the silver trim but the cars we looked at were in rough shape.

The Boxster we purchased has the standard black cluster but the car was in excellent shape!!!

So I would like to change it to the silver or white cluster also I want the OBC option which it doesn't currently have.

The parts are ordered for the 4 stalk hack and if I can find a silver/white cluster which has the OBC turned on (if I understand the OBC is in the cluster) I can solve two issues with one purchase.

The nearest Porsche dealer is 900 miles and a 8 hour ferry ride away, if I don't find a cluster it would be cheaper to find someone to send mine to who is willing to install it and turn on the OBC then ship it back.

IF THE OBC IS IN THE CLUSTER

Brian

BTW my clock control stem is also broken

[bigb]

Originally Posted by brian2034

I've built two 8 second drag race cars, I also built a 250mph fully aerobatic Glasair airplane with a complete glass instrument panel. Also a 27 foot power boat with a supercharged 600hp chevy engine and a custom harley from scratch. With 25 years experience building all thing mechanical I'm sure I can complete a simple install of a 4 stalk in a porsche.

If you read the information on this HACK from this web site and other the hack is straight forward!!

But as you can see from this thread like "bigb" mentioned the cluster can be installed in another car and then turned on. And I also read else where that the OBC was under the seat.

I just want to know the FACTS not opinions if I can replace the cluster and the OBC is located in the cluster it would be GREAT if its not I will do the hack and deal with turning the OBC on next time we travel.

Thank you for the warm welcome to the site


Sorry a Glasair is an Experimental aircraft you purhase as a kit, which takes 3000-5000 hours or more to build.

Brian, it sounds like the OBC hack shouldn't be a problem at all for you. Also, I am not sure what I wrote that indicated to you that the cluster could be installed in another car and then turned on.

On my car, the OBC was "turned on" by the dealer (in essence enabling a flag, which is turned off by default in cars that do not come with the OBC as a factory option). Then, the OBC hack was done. Hope this helps and doesn't confuse/mislead you in any way. Feel free to post if you need any clarification(s), and good luck with the hack.