Computer (DME) Gurus (Long)
01-26-2014, 09:33 PM
#1
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Computer (DME) Gurus (Long)
Maybe someone here can help solve this mystery.
Car is an '84, engine # 43E20217 bought in Puerto Rico.
PET calls for a DME # 944.618.111.01 - 0261 200 015 with a (J) listed as the model. Car has run like a champ since I bought it 25 years ago.
Not long ago, I made the mistake of using a booster while trying to fix a no-start. Car started and not long after began showing signs that maybe the DME was fried and was ready to let go.
I switched to my spare DME with the same serial number and sent the suspect DME to the folks at Specialized ECU Repair in Florida and asked them to fix it.
They tested it and told me there was nothing wrong with it.
I told them to check all the solder and whatever and send it back.
The car wouldn't start with the supposedly repaired unit.
It would fire once and then give up the ghost.
They asked for the unit back in order to do "deeper" testing".
Got it back approximately two weeks later and still no joy. Would still fire once and quit. Send it back, they said again, so I did.
They sent me a clip of my unit starting another car, so, cool.
Sent it back to me and still no go.
They asked for the unit back for further testing.
I commented that PET shows three different serial numbers for early cars from '82 to '85.
944.618.111.00 for '82
944.618.111.01 (the original one in my car and my working spare)
944.618.111.02
and 944.618.111.03 for '83
They said that the last two numbers really mean nothing, meaning no difference because all they represented was the "batch" numbers of the DMEs purchased by Porsche for that year.
So they sent me another.
The serial number they wrote on the unit was 0 261 200 015 with no OO, 01, 02, or 03 suffix.
No go.
Went through the drill again, each time with me having to pay shipping from Puerto Rico and back. $25.00 each way...
One last time.
They told me this time they were sending me a "brand new unit"
Nada.
Can anyone here care to throw some light on this, or is my car so "special" that even the experts at Specialized ECU Repair are stumped?
Car is an '84, engine # 43E20217 bought in Puerto Rico.
PET calls for a DME # 944.618.111.01 - 0261 200 015 with a (J) listed as the model. Car has run like a champ since I bought it 25 years ago.
Not long ago, I made the mistake of using a booster while trying to fix a no-start. Car started and not long after began showing signs that maybe the DME was fried and was ready to let go.
I switched to my spare DME with the same serial number and sent the suspect DME to the folks at Specialized ECU Repair in Florida and asked them to fix it.
They tested it and told me there was nothing wrong with it.
I told them to check all the solder and whatever and send it back.
The car wouldn't start with the supposedly repaired unit.
It would fire once and then give up the ghost.
They asked for the unit back in order to do "deeper" testing".
Got it back approximately two weeks later and still no joy. Would still fire once and quit. Send it back, they said again, so I did.
They sent me a clip of my unit starting another car, so, cool.
Sent it back to me and still no go.
They asked for the unit back for further testing.
I commented that PET shows three different serial numbers for early cars from '82 to '85.
944.618.111.00 for '82
944.618.111.01 (the original one in my car and my working spare)
944.618.111.02
and 944.618.111.03 for '83
They said that the last two numbers really mean nothing, meaning no difference because all they represented was the "batch" numbers of the DMEs purchased by Porsche for that year.
So they sent me another.
The serial number they wrote on the unit was 0 261 200 015 with no OO, 01, 02, or 03 suffix.
No go.
Went through the drill again, each time with me having to pay shipping from Puerto Rico and back. $25.00 each way...
One last time.
They told me this time they were sending me a "brand new unit"
Nada.
Can anyone here care to throw some light on this, or is my car so "special" that even the experts at Specialized ECU Repair are stumped?
01-26-2014, 11:45 PM
#2
..
Last edited by 911Königin; 01-27-2014 at 07:41 PM.
01-27-2014, 12:06 AM
#3
Nordschleife Master
Are you sure it's not just your voltage regulator. It's likely a booster might have damaged the diodes inside the regulator. A failing voltage regulator will cause erratic DME operation, it's an easy swap to rule it out.
Only DME difference I know off in the same MY is for cars without a cat and 10.6cr, mainly Euro and other but not all ROW. Do you have a cat?
Only DME difference I know off in the same MY is for cars without a cat and 10.6cr, mainly Euro and other but not all ROW. Do you have a cat?
01-27-2014, 10:46 AM
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Car runs perfectly on the spare DME, but will not run with the rebuilt/new DME.
Have tried it four times now.
Rebuild was from Specialized ECU Repair.
http://www.ecudoctors.com/
They sent me a clip showing the unit starting one of their cars in Florida but does not do so here in Borinquen.
Something might have happened when it crossed the Bermuda Triangle, you think?
Have tried it four times now.
Rebuild was from Specialized ECU Repair.
http://www.ecudoctors.com/
They sent me a clip showing the unit starting one of their cars in Florida but does not do so here in Borinquen.
Something might have happened when it crossed the Bermuda Triangle, you think?
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01-27-2014, 03:06 PM
#11
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Early cars don't have swappable chips.
I'm thinking perhaps our computers here in the Island of Enchantment are somehow different from the USA.
PET shows a (J) after the model.
Would that mean Japan, perhaps?
Do I have a Japanese car?????
Coño.
I'm thinking perhaps our computers here in the Island of Enchantment are somehow different from the USA.
PET shows a (J) after the model.
Would that mean Japan, perhaps?
Do I have a Japanese car?????
Coño.
01-27-2014, 04:54 PM
#12
Burning Brakes
The DME ending in 01 means that it is the Japanese model DME, but I don't think that would have much effect. The only distinctive features I can find for Japanese cars is that they monitor the temperature of the exhaust gas and have a carbon filter for gas tank ventilation.
01-27-2014, 06:23 PM
#14
Nordschleife Master
You are assuming it is stock and not modified with a daughter board and swappable chip. Maybe yours is modded for a removeable chip, or maybe the spare is. 30 mins to check.
iirc if it doesn't have a silver label with a Porsche part# on the chip it's not stock.
iirc if it doesn't have a silver label with a Porsche part# on the chip it's not stock.
