Oldtee

87 Carrera is showing symptoms of a sick DME. Not dead, just sick. Interested in options for repair, ie reputable vendors. I would prefer to send mine off and have it tested and fixed, rather than exchange for something that may have been submerged, fried or beat to near death. Any thoughts?

fasteddie99

Steve Wong. Lots of threads singing his praises.

pingman

Oldtee,
Systems Consulting out of Calif. is also a very reputable and helpful group. They can test and or repair your "brain", and have a quick turn-around time. I had other problems than my DME, but they were kind enough to get on the phone with me and help me troubleshoot my way through it. This after I had sent my box to them and they did a diagnostics on it and found nothing wrong. It has been said that 70% of the boxes sent to them are okay. Web address is www.systemsc.com. Good luck! Pingman

theiceman

what you need is a rennlist budy you can swap it with for testing

rusnak

the problem with testing the dme is once you spend the money, you'd be better off having the money go toward a rebuild. If they'll credit you the testing fee, then I'd go with systemSC/ Loren because they've been around for awhile and on the west coast, are recognized as Porsche experts.

On the other hand, if you go with a rebuilt unit, or don't mind owning a spare dme, then there are cheaper alternatives. Specialized ECU Repair on Ebay comes to mind.

OT, what is your car doing, have you tested everything else, and what makes you think it's the dme?

Ian Ledger

Yes this makes sense, it is always better to complete the diagnosis, rather than to go straight to the "solution"
Ian

DRACO A5OG

Use a very strong Maginifying Lens/Glasses and strong light to look for Bad Solder Joints and then re-solder if needed.

Or as stated send the unit in for a godd once over by a specialist

Oshin11

I FULLY recommend Systems Consulting as well. My dme relay, DME, and alternator were all fried completely and Loren of Systems Consulting rebuilt it for me. Updated all the wiring and such as well. VERY affordable and he does amazing work. www.systemsc.com

DonMo

I used Specialized ECU Repair in South Florida, quick turn around and reasonable. Don't chase parts until you get a working DME, otherwise you will spend the cost of the repair twice. Once in parts and the other to fix the real problem.

Oldtee

Thanks to all who answered.

Rus.... First, a very good mechanic with a computer, after testing, said he suspected the computer was sick. It does not respond to the O2 sensor, runs a little rich and doesn't have the response a 87 should with a 964 cam. I put this computer into another 87 with inconclusive results. This is my daughters car and I don't drive it often enough and she doesn't know what she is missing. She has said to go ahead and send it out but I am reluctant to spend her money (poor school teacher) without certain results.

dshepp806

I agree that the "sickness" can be solder joints (although not always, as many things could be happening here)....a cheap, inexpensive fix should you carry the soldering skills...I sure as hell fixed a friends' DMA by reflowing 2 solder joints (primarily: coil driver)...transistor was fine,...solder connection was intermittent from heat fatigue....

Best of luck,

Doyle

rusnak

OT, I would say that rather than sending it in it's much safer to check the air fuel ratio first, then check the O2 sensor. The DME is pretty durable and the chances are less likely that it's bad. The fact that it's running rich leads me to ask "how old is the O2 sensor?" Doyle has a point too, if you can re-solder the joints, you might fix it.

My '84 was running rich but I adjusted the base CO level and repaired the O2 sensor connectors. I also eliminated vac leaks and it runs perfect now.

Can you get hold of an LM-1 air fuel gauge? See my other posts in the Secret Ops thread and the air fuel ratio thread for my trials and tribulations.

Oldtee

air fuel ratio was checked, alan expensive test equipment. O2 sensor new. No leaks. I'm not soldering anymore. Too old, can't see and close stuff moves about! Guess its going out.

dshepp806

Understood, Oldtee. No problem with having the pros look at it.

Best,

Doyle

rusnak

Doyle, this is OT, but what do you use to remove the lacquer on circuit boards before you re-flow the solder joints? I was thinking about trying this on my old CC module when I get some time.