PCM 2 woes.

Hello All, Any one had experience of the Navigation system giving a systems error message? I just had a search through to see if there have been any one else who may have had the same issue but can't find anyone. Basically All the PCM works fine except I have lost the Nav system. When I select Navi I get the message "Systems error - Navigation not available." This condition may be a result of a dead battery that occurred recently. I had one of those Silver 5 year warranty Bosch batteries, bought it 2 years ago from Halfrauds. Credit where credit is due though. I took it back, got it tested and it had a short on it and I had my receipt. No quibble, walked out the store with a new one. Anyway I digress, any one had any experience of this type of message and is there a reboot option? Nothing in the manuals table of messages which is annoying. RB.

Definitely try a system reboot first. Press the 1, 4 & 8 buttons at the same time.

Nice one Richard, I'll give it a bash. RB

Nope, didn't sort it Richard. Any other reasons I should get the systems error message that you know of? RB

Best get someone to do a diagnostic check then. As the satnav is built in to the PCM 2.0 unit (unlike older and newer systems that have external nav units) it isn't likely to be a communication issue which is common in the other systems. I had a similar problem on Andy Watling's car (watlina) on which the phone module just stopped working. In his case, the PCM lost its coding settings, and just needed recoding and it burst into life. Hopefully it will be something as simple as that.

Thanks old chap, - Paragon it is then (after a planned PU respray and wheel refurb) RB

Oh dear, PCM still not working in Nav mode. For some reason the Nav doesn't get recognised. Codes have all been checked but Nav still won't work. Couple of things to ask. Car going going back in tomorrow for further testing and a swop out with anouther PCM unit but interestingly speaking to the guys at Paragon, the PCM can be sent away for repair (PCM 2). Anyone used such a repair service? And in preperation for what seems to be the inevitiable ouctcome (repair or replace) has anyone repced their PCM with a double din unit? I know PCM 1 owners have in the past but has anyone done it with the PCM2? If so I would be mightly interested in what you settled on. As always Thanks in advance. RB

Does it play audio CDs in the head unit? That would at least check the drive unit is working (a common failure). Try it with an original audio CD, if you still have any! You can try Maple Audio: http://www.mapleaudio.co.uk but repars to these units can be expensive. Another company I have used (on my daughter's Beemer satnav) is Revtronic in Bradford: http://www.revtronic.com Replacing the PCM2 unit has its problems. You have to either bypass or replace the amplifier, as the inputs are fibre optic, and there aren't any aftermarket units with fibre optic outputs. There is a fibre-optic to RCA interface, made by NAV-TV, called the MOST-HUR, but it is £££. Another snag is that I believe the Bose speakers are 2 ohm impedance, and aftermarket units are built for 4 ohm.

Hello Richard, Just popped out to the car as we found a CD in the office (Daily Mail Drive Time Classics - Banging!!!). Head unit plays fine. The guys at Paragon got the sytem to recognise everything but the NAV. For some reason it isn't recognised. They want to try another unit in its place tomorrow to see if the same thing occurs. I have had the Dension 500 using Ipod since the system was launched so I was aware of the MOST issue but didn't know if anything had hit the market with the facilitate an emulation in the way the Dension system has. Thanks for the links. We'll see what comes of tomorrows investigations. Just painted the front PU and had all four wheels refurbed so could well do without a PCM replacement if it comes to it. RB

I believe you can buy the navigation module (I think it just screws to the back of the PCM unit) as an exchange part. At £540+Vat, it isn't cheap though. Strange there are no error codes stored. Or maybe you could find a second hand one on 'the bay', or from someone here who has replaced theirs.

Yes thanks Richard, looks like a raft of options to consider if it comes back that the Nav unit is kaput. In preperation for a search for a replacement, Have you got the specific part numbers for a PCM2 that will fit my car (54 plate, one of the last 996 4s). Had a look on Ebay and a few that have come out of cayennes are available should I need to go down that route but would need to know compatibility. Cheers RB

For a Bose (M680) or Harman (M490) system the original part number was 996.642.214.02.A05 As with all things Porsche, there were several revisions: 996.642.214.03.A05 996.642.214.04.A05 996.642.214.05.A05 996.642.214.06.A05 996.642.214.07.A05 If it is an un-amplified system (unlikely but possible), the part numbers are: 996.642.204.02.A05 996.642.204.03.A05 996.642.204.04.A05 996.642.204.05.A05 996.642.204.06.A05 996.642.204.07.A05 DON'T get a Cayenne one - they are a different physical size.

Cheers old chap, That was my worry that there is no compatibility!!! RB

Richard, Finally found that the Navigation Module has in fact failed but strangely no error codes have shown this. Paragon swopped out my unit and placed a new PCM which was not recognised. However, swapping the navigation module did the trick . At least I able to find out that the address I need to navigate to isn't on the Nav disk now !!! Happy Days! RB

Cured my error message after a frustrating weekend in January I had the same problem with error messages after a rushed jump start and a battery change on my 996 Targa. PCM2 not working at all. No fuses gone in fuse box however I thought there maybe a fuse in the back of the PCM unit, removed unit from dash, there was and it had blown. Replaced fuse in PCM, now error message no phone no sat nav. Searched forums tried reboot no change. Another long shot that there maybe other hidden fuses searched under the bonnet removed the amp and cd Changer only a few screws. The amp had a small removable panel and found a very small glass amp fuse, blown . (Nicked the one out of my sons guitar amp, replaced from Maplins) Replaced fuse now all working well . Hope this helps Tag10

Hello Tag10, and thanks for replying. My issue was a duff Nav unit. The PCM and Amp were all working fine. I had all the features of the PCM except the Navigation. Along with the phone the nav system are ancillary units tha plugs into the PCM. The replacement of the Nav unit did the trick. Whilst I was waiting for the car to go in for the investigation into why the Nav wasn't working, the battery drained a couple of times which after the swop, the battery held its charge so whilst it wasn't 100% confirmed the Nav unit was to blame, in all likelyhood it had a part to play. RB