Embarrassing PCM 3.1 headunit problem - Page 1 - Porsche General - PistonHeads UK

I had the radio unit out of my 981 CGTS to find a really annoying rattle/buzz thats was driving me mad for the 3 weeks I had been away on hols in France. After refitting the unit my CarPlay kit won't work although my phones bluetooth says its connected. After a bit of faffing I eventually found the CarPlay issue to be a bent pin on the main connector block on the back was bent. I tried to gently straighten to out but inevitably it decided to seek pastures new and made a bid for freedom. The rest of the head unit works perfectly, just the carplay kit doesn't. My phone says its connected, but obviously its broken on the carplay function. Who would be able to repair the headunit with replacement pin/s? PS, don't take the mickey out of me, I'm emabarresed enough already!

It should be possible to bend the pins back again, you need to be very gentle, use fine nose pliers and a flat blade screwdriver to easy the pin into shape. I've done it a few times on computer equipment which has been abused.

Im afraid the pin broke off as i tried to straighten it out. It was pretty badly bent.!i was using a small pair of needle nosed pliers and I nearly had it sorted nut as ever, the final tiny tweak broke it. Not happy, cackhanded muppetry.

andygo said: Im afraid the pin broke off as i tried to straighten it out. It was pretty badly bent.!i was using a small pair of needle nosed pliers and I nearly had it sorted nut as ever, the final tiny tweak broke it. Not happy, cackhanded muppetry. Depending how handy you are with tools......... You'd potentially have to disassemble to board level and desolder the connector. RS / Farnell would have a replacement. Or failing that industrial/electronic repair companies could do it - Radwell / NIE have repaired lots of industrial stuff for me over the years to board/component level.

andygo said: Im afraid the pin broke off as i tried to straighten it out. It was pretty badly bent.!i was using a small pair of needle nosed pliers and I nearly had it sorted nut as ever, the final tiny tweak broke it. Not happy, cackhanded muppetry. Easily done. If the only thing wrong with the unit/plug is one pin could you not open the unit up, solder a cable on it inside at the back of the broken pin, bring the cable out via a grommet on the casing and connect the cable on the external plug with something like a m/f bullet connection to allow for unit removal? Not an elegant solution but should work.

I’m wondering that as the two pins were touching they might have done some damage to something else. After my first attempt at straightening I connected everything up and the CarPlay didn’t work so I disconnected everything to check if there was still an issue. It was only when I tried to finesse the pin that it snapped off. I’m in dialogue with nm automotive who supplied my CarPlay kit to send the whole lot back to repair. They have been brilliant to deal with previously so although it might be a bit expensive (£250+) at least it will be correct.

andygo said: I m wondering that as the two pins were touching they might have done some damage to something else. After my first attempt at straightening I connected everything up and the CarPlay didn t work so I disconnected everything to check if there was still an issue. It was only when I tried to finesse the pin that it snapped off. I m in dialogue with nm automotive who supplied my CarPlay kit to send the whole lot back to repair. They have been brilliant to deal with previously so although it might be a bit expensive (£250+) at least it will be correct. Always better to do things properly when it is an option, just offered an alternative (bodge) to try. Let us know how the story ends.

Will do, might help someone else…

You should check the connector on the cable to confirm this is not damaged. Strange to get all contacts inserted correctly but not the last row, must have jammed it in good to that amount of damage to the contacts. Nothing worse than fixing the head unit, put the connector back in and get the same result because of unseen damage.

I have got the CarPlay working now, but that particular pin is the sound output for phone calls so quite important to get sorted.

andygo said: I have got the CarPlay working now, but that particular pin is the sound output for phone calls so quite important to get sorted. If you are now just down to one broken pin, are there any spare pins not used on the plug loom side - swap pin used both sides?

I understand what you are saying, but to be frank, it’s all a bit cramped and delicate in there and think it’s best left to an expert with the gynaecological skills to operate…

I have got the CarPlay working now, but that particular pin is the sound output for phone calls so quite important to get sorted.

I have got the CarPlay working now, but that particular pin is the sound output for phone calls so quite important to get sorted.

andygo said: I have got the CarPlay working now, but that particular pin is the sound output for phone calls so quite important to get sorted. I think you have already got the answer, if you are not fussed about the cost it will always be better to send it off and get it back repaired as it was.

Another option would be to bypass the plug for that one wire. You would have to access the other side of the plug inside the head unit, solder a wire to the circuit and run it to the outside so you can attach to the wiring by the loom multiplug via a spade connector or similar. It’s a slightly Heath Robinson way of doing it but very effective and will be out of sight once the unit is back in the dash. I have done similar in the past with engine ECUs that have come in with a damaged pin.

Someone who is used to repairing head units will be able to replace the connector without issue. Try someone like carphonics.co.uk

The damaged pin is at the bottom of the connector block . Absolute nightmare to get at. I partially dismantled the unit but couldn t work out how to access it.I ve sent off to be fixed. It’s the black box at the bottom right protected by a grid that has no obvious way of safely releasing. I didn’t want to cause more damage! Edited by andygo on Saturday 26th July 13:23

Makes sense, they should get it sorted . Disappointing thread title BTW, I was waiting for you to tell us that it plays pawn every time your MIL gets in the car

Steve H said: Makes sense, they should get it sorted . Disappointing thread title BTW, I was waiting for you to tell us that it plays pawn every time your MIL gets in the car Oh, did I not mention? It does that everytime your missus gets in the car, lol. I have the PCM back now, ahead of time and all working perfectly, progress emails every step of the way. Well done NM Automotive and thanks.