Replaced 2008 Steering wheel with 2012 R paddle wheel. How to code?

I bought a steering wheel and airbag from a 2012 R 987. I bought a new Electronics unit for the 2012 and the wheel position sensor. Got the horn to work but the airbag light stays on and the paddle shifters don't work. Any ideas is there programming involved? and if so, what is needed to program, does it have to go to the dealer? Thanks Paul

I think you need to get onto a PIWIS

It's possible the Foxwell NT530 might do it. It worked fine on my '09 going from the toggle-wheel to the same paddles-wheel you have, but it wasn't necessary to swap anything out except the steering wheel... I used the Foxwell to activate the two lighted displays in the left side spoke for "Sport" and "Sport-Plus". My WAG is the electronics unit has to be coded to your car and the bits installed in your car. Was the unit "NEW" or "USED"? One question - did you turn the ignition on while the airbag wasn't connected? If so - that explains the airbag warning light. That light has to be manually turned off by clearing the codes from the trigger module. Same thing if removing the passenger seat (seat occupancy detector) or any airbag. Once the airbag code is set it can only be cleared with a tool like the Foxwell or PIWIS . Dunno where you're located - but if you're near NJ and want to take a drive - I'd be happy to hook mine up and we can see if it will do it.

Don, Thanks for the offer but I'm in Seattle area. Yes the parts are new. No I did not turn on the ignition without the airbag. I have the POR11 where I can read and clear the faults but they come right back. It was necessary to swap out the EU as the horn is wired differently between an 08 and 2012. Interested to find out what PIWIS is, have to go on goggle

Oh my, PIWIS not cheap. I see there are some refurbished computers with PIWIS interfaces and software. Don't know if the software is a yearly license renewal.

You actually can't buy a legal PIWIS . Porsche rents them to shops - for around $15k/year. One local shop I frequent actually rents one legally, they do a lot of high-end Porsche work and are even used by the dealer for some work the dealer doesn't want to tackle. There are illegal copies of PIWIS (aka "refurbished" which is a lie - they're simply clones) which consist of hardware (computer, the PIWIS software, and the PIWIS vehicle interface) advertised. They're typically from China - and start at about $1k, and depending on the version go up from there. I doubt very much if any updates are available for them once you've purchased one. And I believe some of them only have the German interface, making it difficult to use/understand if you don't speak German.

BTW - dunno the capabilities of the POR11, different tools often have different capabilities for different model Porsches. I've found the Foxwell NT530 to be generally pretty extensive for the 987.2 cars (mine), and I suspect the same for the 987.1 cars but can't verify it since I haven't hooked it up to one. It does do some PIWIS level programming on the .2 cars (module replacement, storing values from the old module - writing them to a replacement module, etc.. turning devices on and off - telling modules what's connected so the module knows to look for it..) If anyone in the NJ area has a 987.1 and wanted to come over some Saturday afternoon, we could explore what's possible with the NT530 . BTW - we are trying to gather this sort of diagnostics info in one place for ALL Porsche models and ALL available tools at Porsche Diagnostics - please let us know if you can help. We need to hook up cars to various tools, so far mostly in NJ, but if we have volunteers elsewhere - I think we can expand this effort.

I might suggest getting the NT530 from Amazon or something, where there is a return policy. Buy it, see if it does what you want, and if it doesn't then return it. I'd recommend keeping it if it works, because you don't want to be THAT person... and because it will likely be useful in the future anyway for other issues. It's also FAR lower cost versus PIWIS . The alternative is to bring it to a shop, of course... assuming they are helpful about it.

You said you replaced a 2008 steering wheel. Are you trying to paddle shift a Tiptronic? I don't think that will work.

Yep that's exactly what I'm trying to do. It should not be this hard, after all the paddles are just switches, and it's been done before by fitting Merc switches and wiring to the plus in the steering wheel. There again I need a later EU just to get the horn to work, which is also just a switch to ground. I just need a way to fool the system. I was planning on installing a wheel with the Merc switches, but I hate the triangle wheel.

The foxwell 530 will work for coding. Are you certain you don't need the steering column control module? I did this in an 07 tiptronic and had to update that module in order for those paddles to work. Sent from my SM-G991W using Tapatalk

OK Thanks, I have ordered one, should be here by tomorrow. Thanks Paul

Your current tool will not be able to code that module. You need the foxwell or the dealer piwis machine Durametric won't do it neither will vag com Sent from my SM-G991W using Tapatalk

Ordered the Foxwell 530 with the Porsche load.

Get the Foxwell and hooked it up today. Was able to clear the airbag fault. I do need to code the new EU module. Anyone know how to do this with the 530 ? All day on the internet has got me nowhere except confused.

There should be an option to read the data in the old module (it has to be installed in the vehicle obviously) then write it to the new module. This is intended to be used when a module is experiencing problems and needs to be replaced with a new module. I suspect that may bring back the airbag fault, but you know how to clear that now.

I changed out my sport wheel / airbag on my 981CS to the Macan Multifunction wheel / airbag. I forgot the electronic module that I purchased that converted the signals between the two. The issue that I ran into was in the coding. On the 981 - it does require PIWIS ...but also require a generated code. Local dealer would not sell just the code and programming to me... I tried a '3rd party' generated code - going through a local Indy with Piwis - but the code would not be accepted. I learned that if my 981 would have had the factory Multifunction wheel - then no programing would be needed for all to work...but as I had the sport wheel....there were no MF functions coded to my car. So, I have an updated steering wheel (walnut /luxor beige) with fancy buttons that do nothing. The paddle shifters work as they always have.

You can delete the MF buttons by replacing the trim inserts with plain ones. If you need I can provide part numbers for them.

I tried installing the old EU and reading data, then installing the new one again, no luck. I'm getting good at swapping these modules out now, not a skill I really wanted to get good at.

Since I haven't done this.. is there an option in the Foxwell to read data from the old EU and then write it to the new EU? I know for a number of modules on the 987 I saw that option, but since I didn't need a new interface on the 987.2 I didn't really look for it.

I had an epiphany. Talked to the guy I bought the wheel from, he had the EU from the same car so it would come coded. Should have thought of this before I shelled out for a new one. Live and learn. So when it wrrives I will try it out. My office is starting to look like a Porsche spares shop.

EU arrived today. Installed. The EU fixed everything, no coding everything works and I have a cool paddle shift steering wheel.

Good job!

Hello man7sell, can you post the correct part number of the EU needed to update an old triangle tiptro steering wheel to a 991.2 steering wheel with PDF paddels ? Thank you