Outside Temperature

I noticed on some 996's that the outdoor temp is shown below the mph. My 996 does not show this, is there a switch somewhere to change modes so I can see the out door temp? I know its a newbie question, but I don't have the owners manual. Thanks!

Yup, you need to have someone with a PST2 or PIWIS turn on your OBC (On Board Computer).

Thanks Loren! Anybody close to Santa Cruz, CA with a PST2or PIWIS this is a chance for a free case of beer. I'll drive to the location of your choice. Are there any other benefits to the OBC?

Case of Fullers ESB....hmmm tempting, but I do not have either unit but I do drink beer, so maybe next time

or just play with the lever below the turn signal. At least that's what you do on a C4S 2002.

If you have a 1999-2001 there is a work on cars day in San Jose and we can turn it on for you. http://www.renntech.org/forums/index...howtopic=14592

What year 996 do you have? You can download a pdf of the owners manual here: http://www.renntech.org/forums/index...ads&showcat=16 You probably have to register first, but it's free... If I were you, I would check it out before I bought anyone a case of beer - Nick

On a 2002 - 2004 model, one of four different bits of information can be selected to show in the tach, below the information message area. 1. Outside Tempature. 2. Miles Per Gallon. 3. Miles remaining on the current fuel level. 4. Average Speed driven. Moving the lower stalk on the left side of the steering wheel up or down will allow you to toggle through the four selections.

I believe this "onboard trip computer" was an option on the '99-'01 cars, but standard on the later ones -- the OP may not have that "little stalk under the turn signal".

Thanks for all of the replies. I'll be bummed if I don't have the OBC, I like seeing the temp. Thanks Tool Pants, I'll see you on Saturday.

Yeah, I wasn't sure about the '99 - '01 model years. Since he didn't list the model year of his car, I thought I would share what I knew to be true about the post facelift cars.

All 99-01's have the OBC but it may not be "turned on/enabled" which is why you need the PST2. Once you have it turned on you can do the "OBC hack" for about $40 in parts and maybe an hour of your time which will allow you to cycle through outside temp, average speed, average miles per gallon and distance until empty. Pretty cool addition really. Or you could go one step further and install the 4th stalk onto the steering column which will give you the 'speed gong' in addition to the above functions. This will make it look factory installed. Not worth the extra cost or time to me but it is an option you'll have. So go get the OBC enabled!

Spudbutter has a 1999. So when I turn the OBC on he will be able to see the outside temp. At the July 28th work on cars day we are doing the 4 stalk retrofit on a Boxster. If Spudbutter can get his parts before Saturday we can do his car at the same time.

Ok, someone clarify, if I can see the outside temperature does this mean the other options are ALREADY available to me, or do I need the mod above to get the other features besides the temp...

If you can see the outside temp display then the OBC is turned on. But until you retrofit a switch or the 4th stalk you cannot see the other OBC info. The stalk/switch allows you to cycle from the temp display, to the next display, to the next display, and so on. To see the other features you need to do a retrofit. For some reason Spudbutter's 1999 has never been turned on.

Thanks tool pants, I appreciate the clarification.....

Where can I find out more about this "hack". I have a MY00 without the stalk, but the outside temperature display is always on. Does this mean, with some magic and $40.00, I can access the OBC? Thanks Stefan

Link to hack - no affiliation, just info I found. Link Good luck.

I felt on the steering column today and you can feel the soft spot where the stalk would go. I think the wiring would be over my head though. Has anyone accomplished this....

We remove the rubber gasket and cut a square hole for the OBC stalk. That is the area of the soift spot you felt. You can buy a replacement gasket that already has the 2 holes cut, but that is a waste of money. On the back of the gasket there are lines so you know exactly where to cut. I have done at least 30 trip computer retrofits over the years. I will be doing 1 and maybe 2 retrofits on Saturday at the work on cars. Come to San Jose and we can do your car at the same time. We have also filmed 4 retrofits and put them on a DVD.

Actually I am coming to San Jose in August but not as soon as this weekend. I will be there from the 16-18 of August.... Unfortunately though I will not have my car with me....

Thanks Stefan

It was turned on. Not much drama. Before.

After.

Also did the OBC/trip computer retrofit with stalk on a Boxster. A bit more drama since you need to remove and replace parts.

Lol, thanks for the pics ToolPants! It reinforces my satisfaction that I did the 'hack' instead of adding the lever, yikes that's a lotta wires! Well.....that and the fact that the last time I pulled my steering wheel off I accidentally exploded the clockspring assembly (although it provided an interesting conversation piece when my friends came over and asked why I hadn't put my steering wheel back on yet).

Anybody have an idea of what a dealer would charge you to turn the OBC on? I'd like to have the temp displayed on my '99. Thanks!

IMHO a good dealer would be "no charge" - a not so good dealer would be 1 hour labor (it takes about 1 minute to do it).

I like the OBC my 2000 came with, but I get depressed whenever I accidentally hit the 4th stalk and it lands on MPG! 17, 18 - pretty sad stats!

Thanks Tool Pants for turning on the temperature display. I enjoyed meeting everybody at Henry's. It read 96F on my way home through San Jose and by the time I got to Santa Cruz it was a nice 74F. Gotta love the CA coast!

Hello. Somethings strange happend with my friends 996 1998 when I activated the onboard computer with the PIWIS-2. Now the tachometer shows about 25/30% too much. Idle in DME shows normal but the tachometer shows 1100 rpm . Any ideas about this issue ? It shows just the outside temp. no stalk mounted. Have tried to turned it off again but still the same issue !

Try this: http://http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/box_OBD_Mod/box_obd_mod.htm