Programming the Porsche 987 "Sport" PDK "flappy paddles" wheel lights

For those people who have swapped the rather boring and not terribly useable rocker-switch PDK wheel for one of the Sport PDK wheels - there is one finishing touch on the installation that isn't immediately visible. The PDK sport wheel has lighted lettering that illuminates when the PDK is in sport or sport/plus mode, or in launch mode - for those people who have the sport/sport-plus option. It just looks cool, and for some odd reason quite satisfying to me: This isn't set by default if you start out with the toggle-switch wheel. So how to turn this on? The Foxwell NT530 is capable of programming this function and turning the lights on. Hookup the Foxwell, turn the ignition to RUN, let it identify your car by VIN#, then navigate first to PROGRAMMING (top level menu) then to STEERING WHEEL ELECTRONICS. There it is! Change "Multi-function or Sport/Launch display" from "Not-installed" to "installed" - and Bobs your uncle - it will work once you cycle the ignition. Easy... and as I said - quite satisfying. The dealer wanted $200 to program it. The high-class independent wanted $175. The Foxwell cost me $165 with the Porsche software, so I made $10 by DIY.

I’m wanting to do this to my 2011 Cayman s . Did you have to do anything else to the paddle shifters to switch from the buttons? I have the sport and plus buttons installed and work but not the chronometer on the dashboard. I’m wondering if this swap will still work. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I have the aftermarket Sport/Sport+ software upgrade on my car (no chronometer on dashboard) along with the upgraded PDK Sport Design steering wheel and the lights work just like on Don's. I've never tried Launch Control (not sure the software upgrade includes that function), so I don't know whether that light would illuminate on mine or not.

Thank you for the info. I’ll go ahead and order my new steering wheel then. I don’t care for the shift buttons and have wanted paddle shifters for a while but didn’t want to have to go through all the modifications like the 987.1 owners with the tip tropics. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Nothing else is needed. All you have to do is turn the lights on using the NT530 . I also don't have the chronometer.

That is great to know. I have a Piwis so I can do that. Thanks for the info from all. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Interesting. I swapped the stupid button shift wheel for the SportDesign paddle shift wheel many years ago and the lights just all worked properly from the get-go. Same for many others. In fact I can’t recall ever reading about any other 987.2s requiring programming after this swap either. So if you’re planning to do the same swap, just install the wheel and see if everything works before buying anything extra. It should be plug & play. Edit: Mine came off of a 997 Turbo S and worked straight away.

The flappy-paddle wheel wasn't actually available from Porsche on the 2009 models. It didn't show up until sometime in the 2010 model year. It was rather obviously planned to be available, so I'm guessing that setting was part of the coding for the ECU, especially since the PDK ECU received updated coding around 2010. I can imagine Porsche leaving it enabled on cars where the wheel was available but not installed at the factory since it does no harm for it to be enabled, and throws no error codes.

This seems more easy than I expected. So there is also a button for launch control of the right side?

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "button for launch control of the right side?" If you mean a setting to activate the "Launch Control" light in the right spoke of the wheel, I'm assuming it's activated at the same time as the other lights (Sport, Sport-Plus) are activated. I didn't see any separate setting for that (and logically it would make sense to activate it at the same time.) I haven't tried using Launch Control since I don't like treating my cars that way, but perhaps someone else has?

@Pvm Yes, with the Sport Design steering wheel, the "Sport" or "Sport +" modes are illuminated on the the left side of the wheel and the "Launch Control" mode is illuminated on the right side. However, as I noted above, I'm not sure the aftermarket software includes Launch Control. Maybe it does, I've just never tried it.

What "aftermarket software" are we talking about? The Sport/Sport-Plus software (and hardware) come directly from Porsche (perhaps you mean after-sale software?) and AFAIK, aside from missing the useless stop-watch lump, is identical to what you'd get if you had ordered it when the car was built.

I installed a 991 Sport Wheel (bought used locally) on my 2010 Cayman S , and just tried this with my Foxwell NT530 . Sadly, it still doesn't work. I've tried switching from "Not Installed" to "Installed" numerous times, and no luck. Anyone have any ideas? deilenberger, what model Porsche (991, 987, 951) wheel did you install? I'm wondering if it's because it's off of a 991. Other than the lights on the wheel itself, everything else works.

I have no idea what model my wheel came off - I bought it used. If I had to guess - probably a later year 987.2 / PDK . I know I found one more setting that might affect the operation of the lights. If I have time tomorrow (Father's day so I might be out driving the Boxster ) I'll try to hook up the NT530 and see if I can find it again. I'll take some pics of what I think are screens related to this.

I missed your April 27 post until just now, Don. In response to your question, yes, I used the term "aftermarket" to mean this was not a factory installed option on my car. FWIW, looking at the Suncoast Parts site, I see now where they state the software upgrade does not include "Launch Control" for 2.9L 987.2 cars. Racer Boy, I hope you get this sorted to your satisfaction very soon. Best, George

Here are a few other pics that might be significant.. This section of the programming menu.. Note the settings.. make certain the system knows the PDK is installed. If you look at my pic above, as it came from the factory this wasn't set. This is further down in that menu - make sure it knows about the PDK. With these settings mine work fine.

Thanks for the information! I'm sorry it has taken so long to respond, work was very busy just before we went on vacation, then while on vacation in Mexico my wife broke her leg! We returned home early and there has been a lot of time spent at the hospital while she got surgery on her leg, then taking care of her, so I haven't had much "me" time to plug in the Foxwell . If I remember correctly, I did set things just as you showed in the pictures, but then the "Sport" and "Sport Plus" modes wouldn't turn on any more, so I put everything back to how it was before I changed settings. When I get the chance I'll try again.

Hi All, Bit of a thread revival here, But about a year ago I became the owner of a PDK 987.2 that had already had the sport design wheel, but the displays in the wheel did not work. Ive attemped to follow these instructions but I too like Racer Boy, My sport and sport+ modes dont work at all. @Racer Boy , how did you fix this? More details of my journey: I came across this thread and decided to get an NT530. I updated the 'Multi-function Sport/Display' function to installed, but it didn't seem to work. In hindsight I probably should have left it to complete a few key cycles. Sport modes still worked. As per the follow up posts, I updated the 'automatic transmission (Tiptronic PDK)' option too that was initially set to 'not installed' (but the lower PDK was already set to installed) to see if that helped. It did not. Sadly not the Sport and Sport + modes now dont work. I have now returned all the settings to as they were including the 'Multi-Function or Sport/Launch Display' to Not installed. Sadly my sport and sport + buttons still do not work. Hoping a few key cycles will sort it. Any further guidance folks?

When I initially enabled the sport/sport+ wheel display my sport and sport+ didn't work. The lights on the wheel did though. It fixed itself with several key cycles.. I have no idea why this happens, but it seems like it just does.

Thanks for your reply, I'll give it a go. I read in a couple of places some odd behaviour too, when programming various steering wheels. in one case the owner spent time turning everything new to do with the wheel and controller, off via the Foxwell . Then turned it all back on again. Pulled all the adaptor wiring out, and plugged it all back in to get it to work! https://********.com/forums/987-forum/1198563-multi-function-steering-wheel-coding.html In this wheel coding guide they do say to keep clearing codes, which might help in resetting the comms to each other? 997.1 & 987.1 Multifunction Steering Wheel Coding Guide PIWIS coding steps for upgrading Porsche 997.1 and 987.1 models to a multifunction PDK steering wheel with the required control module. gpsadapter.us 3. Select to "steering col. switch" unit and read and erase all fault memories. Then switch to "codings" and set "Automatic (Tiptronic/PDK)" and "PDK" (both!) to "installed". Also set "Multi-function or Sport/Launch display" and all your other values to "installed" if the car is equipped with them (for example speed control system). 4. Then select "PSM" unit and read and erase all fault memories. After that read your security code (The security code is read with the PIWIS2 under menu item "Actual values") and do a steering-wheel-sensor-calibration (security code is needed here). (some cars need this calibration clear PSM faults) 5. Erase all fault memories and then have fun while driving a Tiptronic car with PDK-Paddles