The magical Sport Exhaust button

A buddy loaned me his '07 GT3 for 4 days. On the second night he called for my opinion on this and that and then asked if i had turned on the "Sport" (exhaust apparently) button. I admitted I was a still a little intimidated of this beast and hadn't played with that or the suspension control. He said I should go try it out asap and let him know what i thought. About 2 hours later I just couldn't take it any more and went outside to check it out (around midnight). Wow is an understatement! I got back from "checking it out" about an hour later. That is maybe the coolest single button ever, although the neighbors were less amused and it's always bad when the wife meets me at the door. Now for the question. What was the first year of that magical sport button and is it only available with an option package? This will greatly affect the year models I'm in the market for now. Thanks

i think that's the PSE (porsche sport exhaust) that you found. IIRC, it was an option in all 996 models.

I love the magic button.... sneaking out on early Sunday morning drives makes it to easy. You can install the mk2 PSE, the mk1 is discontinued.

I drive my 997S in Sport mode nearly ALL the time because of the PSE sound. I flip off the suspension tightening control however,--it's just too harsh for my tastes. Many 997 owners with the PSE have elected to actually disconnect (do a 997 search for that) the electronics that control the pneumatic controller to the mufflers leaving it in the default 'sport' condition all the time. Because of Swiss anti-noise pollution laws these cars have a short range around 50 kph (31 mph) where the non-sporting sound is all you can get.

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+1, I had mine disconnected so that I can always hear the sweet music.

My 2002 C2 came with no PSE button on the dash. When I first got the car, the sport exhaust would not kick in until you reached 30-35 mph. I understand this set up was meant to meet noise pollution laws in Europe. Gee, I thought we had some pretty stupid laws here in California. First thing I did was disconnect it. Now it sounds good even at idle. Tom L 2002 C2

My 04 C4S came with the option. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was in "Sport" mode by default and you had to push the button to get it quiet. +1 to Redridge, with the button pushed, it is quiet as a mouse.

When I bought my 03 the first thing I did was go to disconnect the cutoff that happens at 30mph and discovered the previous owner had already done it! Mine is never is quiet mode.

That's some buddy! I wish my friend would loan me a GT3.

I put a small toggle switch in between the speed signal..... so if I can control it via button or with a flick of a switch.... have it controlled via speed signal.... takes an extra 5 min work.

That GT3 has just sprung its third oil leak! It has already spent 2 months of the 24 he's owned it at Park Place Dallas. He not happy.

Is there a noticeable difference in power with it on/off, or is it just the sound?

Sjfehr - I don't think it has any effect on power since it only opens the baffles below 30-35 mph. Above that speed they open on their own. That car is so stinkin fast that it was too hard to tell.

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No ****. Wheres this friend, ill get lunch next time!

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Shane, You are correct. Porsche makes no claims for increased HP with PSE. I am nor certain about how the GT3 PSE works but for all other naturally aspirated 996 cars the PSE, with the wiring, works like this: PSE OFF - car runs in QUIET mode (similar to stock or non-PSE mufflers) PSE ON - from 0 to 30 MPH (approximately) car runs in LOUD mode - from 30 to 45 MPH (approximately) car runs in QUIET mode ** - from 45 + MPH (approximately) car runs in LOUD mode ** This is known as the "cut-off" (or "cut-out") mode. It is required to be compliant with some Euro noise abatement laws. There is a "hack" or modification that can be made to the electronic controlling unit to eliminate the "cut-off" mode completely.

I NEED a PSE!!

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I NEED a GT3 !

.... or a GT2!

LOL Already have "some" (not most) of one of those.....

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That hack is to cut a diode on the circuit board... that however is destructive, just simply disconnecting the speed signal to the PSE control relay is the best way to do it... This will keep the PSE in loud mode all the time.

Red, you are correct. There is also a second hack that adds a toggle switch to the top of the circuit board housing that disables speed signal, which is similar to what you have done. Here's an idea that would be cool! You know how the heated seat switch has three settings.... Off (no LED), Low (yellow LED), and High (red LED)? I t would be fun to see if you could wire the PSE switch to have PSE Off (no LED), PSE Normal (yellow LED still have low speed cut out) and PSE On (red LED and no low speed cut out). You might have to use the guts of the heated seat switch and use the face plate of the PSE button on the switch. That would be a fun project, just to see if it could be done.

So what is actuated with the switch? Are there gates that are opened inside the mufflers? And if you don't have the switch, are the baffles or gates already there but controlled by the car only?

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Hmmmm.... I have heated seat on the mk1, and dont have this option... not that I think anyway, since I dont drive in the winter and have had the gt3 seats on. Im putting my stock seats back on (going family mode this season) and will look into this... cool idea though. Yes, there is a butterfly valve that is open/close via vacuum. the switch will control the open/close function... In EU, the speed signal will open/close it. All PSE have the valves mounted... but since the valves are open as default, people dont put the electronics in to control the valve... which I think is a waste since they paid alot of money for that valve.... Aside from a great sound, the valve is what separates it from other exhaust system.

Red, Maybe the MK I heated seat switches don't work that way, but I am 99.99% certain the MK II version works that way. Can someone who has heated seats on a MK I car verify how they work. Do they have a low and high setting or just on/ff?

That PSE switch idea is very doable... do you have a part number on that heater switch. Tim, now that I think about it... I already have the setup you just talked about, except my speed toggle switch is on the relay carrier, and the PSE full on switch is on the dash.... If that heater switch has a double pole double throw and a two-state led... then its very doable.

Red, Here are the heater switch part numbers 1999 - 2001 Gloss black switches Left - 996 613 153 00 - A02 Gloss Black Right - 996 613 154 00 - A02 Gloss Black 2002 - 2004 Mat black switches Left - 996 613 153 10 - A05 Mat Black Right - 996 613 154 10 - A05 Mat Black

Thank you sir!

It sounds like you already have done this already on your car, but not on a singular switch. Now the hope is that the heated seats switch are double throw and double pole. I am sure they are two-state led, at least the 2002 - 2004 switches are.