Issue with PCM 2.1+Navi installation

This is my 1st post to the group (actually 2nd if one takes in account my original msg/review of article on installing PCM) and I am sorry to say that it is on a sad note. I installed the head unit and the dvd unit (as described elsewhere). It was very easy, thanks for the great instructions. I also took my own pics to supplement some in the article as I have the Bose Surround. Unfortunately it is not working. I verified all the connections including the fiber (working), but unfortunately the screen does not come on, nor does any sound. I notice that the on/off button when pressed lights up for a minute or so, and that the fiber gets active. I can hear the CD drive as well as the DVD drive going on (I can feed them disks and eject, therefore everything is powered) but it seems that I got a DOA unit, or that for some reason, Porsche will need to reset computer to turn everything on? Any suggestions? Thanks. TonyX.

Im going to be doing the retrofit soon too.. but based on Ken's article, it seems like you will just get errors on the screen until its coded, but it should still come on (and perhaps play audio) Sounds like the unit is DOA

Off to a dealer.... You need to visit a dealer and get them to code the unit and the car to recognize the new setup. Reckon of them charging you about an hours worth of work takes about 20-30 minutes to do the setup and the initial calibration. ps If you could post the photos of the install that would be great.

The head unit should still work and should absolutely power on before it specifically keyed to your car. G.

gmorat is right, what you describe is wierd. The headunit should absolutely turn on, but might not have any sound. Now, it happens to me sometimes if the car is turned off or if I press the button to off really fast and then wait. My first suggestion is when you turn the car on, hit the button on the top right, the screen on\off button. If that does nothing, try hitting the eject button, see if it makes any noise. Then try loading a cd, see if it accepts it. - Suneet

Also if you turn on the car and the head unit doesn't come on, wait at least 2 minutes to see if it later does come on. If it does after a period of time that means you have a break in the fiber ring somewhere, a PIWIS test will reveal where.

Thanks for the ideas. As I mentioned on my original msg there is indeed power in the unit. If I press the left round button (on/off) after a few seconds it comes on (barely noticeable with daylight but very visible in the dark). At the same time the fiber becomes alive. I verified that light would go from one end and back. Therefore fiber is good. Pressing the top right button to turn on/off screen does not make a difference. I have plugged the CDR-24 back in place and works normally even with the navi DVD still plugged in and therefore confirming that fiber and electrical connections are good. Unit will turn itself off after 30 seconds or so as the lighted button dims after a while and the fiber goes dark again. As the head unit comes on (confirmed by button turning on, fiber, and CD drive noises - I can put a CD in and eject it without problems -) there is at least two problems with the unit: 1- screen does not turn on; 2- no audio. Power does not seem to be the issue nor fiber. It seems that the unit is bad and that I will have to return it and all the hassle involved although I am still hoping that someone knows some magic incantation to make the thing go live!

Visit the dealer.... I can assure you that the car needs to be configured for the new PCM. See the attached file (this is a 987 document but the procedure is the same) Hope this helps. (Sorry about the quality of the doc, but couldn't upload the entire PDF)

Nick you can always upload the entire PDF to the Files section and then link to it here in the forum.

Nick, I agree with you that the car computer system needs to be configured to recognize the new hardware but from what I understand the unit should still work even if showing some error msg. I basically want to avoid taking the car to the dealer to have them confirm what I suspect that the unit is dead. Thanks, Tony.

Pcm 2.1 I fitted a PCM into my boxster and had simillar problems. In the old days you could have have PCM fitted to the car and then have NAV and telephone modules fitted later. My PCM would not function until the car was made aware of it.

Nick, That is interesting as no one else had this problem as I have and apparently you also had. So I should just pay a visit to the dealer instead of just shipping the unit back as I am tempted. BTW, the installation as described and photographed in the article(s) by K-Man S shows the unit powering up including the display. To make sure that it was not an effect of having the NAVI in the system, I re-plugged the original fiber back (taking the NAVI out of the loop) and therefore making it look like the article installation of the head only but did not change the behavior or lack of it of the head unit. K-Man S do you have any comments? I will try to get my sales guy a good Porsche tech in one of the local dealers (around Chicago), and see what they say. Thanks, tonyx

Im sure Ken could chime in, as he has done the retrofit in a 987. Speaking of which, I have all my retrofit stuff on order!

Honest Dealer.... If you are lucky and have a good relationship with your dealer he may put a PIWIS on the car for free then you will know for sure.

Update after dealer visit They looked over the car for about 1hour. The diagnostic was that installation was incorrect PIWIS codes 1- no dvd or amp avail 2- no diversity prob. We know that 2 is expected so they should have recognized that; and 1- is hard to believe as I can slide the CDR-24 back into it and music will work fine. The good news is that now the unit turns on and all the sound/radio functions seem to be working even though no sounds is produced. Over these next few days I will be traveling so I won't be able to verify that something got disconnected in the mean time. Before I take it in again (they will credit the 1hr, and will do any repairs under warranty if necessary) I will check wiring and fiber once more. Conclusion: closer but no cigar. At least the Porsche manager that I talked too was very friendly... If anyone has ideas or a good contact in the Chicago area, please let me know. Tony.