I had a look at the archives but have some remaining questions concerning DME resets.

If they are silly than pls forgive me my ignorance as I have got 2 left hands when it comes to mechanic issues. To those who take some time for me : THANKS appreciate very much!

1) Is a regular DME reset a good thing to do ? I mean does it helps to keep the car performant ?

2) The car was stalled for six months when I bought it. They had the battery changed as the old one was 'gone'. The thing is that I do not know if they drove around for 15 minutes as should be after the DME reset due to the battery change. The car runs OK for me, but it's my first Porsche so I can not really compare.

Should I reset the DME and drive around for 15 minutes just to be sure ?

3) Is it in my case possible that the car performs better after a reset ?

4) Are there any problems/dangers I can encounter after a reset.

For the record : 3 month owner of a C4 '89 71.000 km, no idle problems.

THANKS very much for your time.


WSP964

 

I'd like to comment on a few points as I don't know the answers on all of them.

The reset of the DME should not yield any problems and can be safely done. I don't think it needs to be done regularly, and I would not do this either as it would also reset the stored faults (if any) which is not too handy if there's a problem as it make diagnosing more difficult.

One thing in particular that I sympathise with you, is to know how the car is supposed to drive. It's my first Porsche as well, and compared to the other cars I own it's way faster and handling is surely different (read better). But when it comes to certain items whether the car is really performing up to its capabilities, I could not really say - it seems to behave well, so no real problems there. But items like for example a heavy clutch, I don't know. Surely the clutch is much more heavy than in my Audi V6, and shift changes are also not as smooth, but that can simply be the design, difficult to judge. Others may comment on this, but at the same time it is very subjective. It may however be a good idea for a new thread: "What's the definition of a well-behaving 964". It's different for a change in that it's focusing on the merits of the car, rather than potential problems.

Especially with these types of cars where maintenance and repair is quite expensive, you'd like to know whether yours is doing well or that you're about to spend (part) of your life savings on it. When I first entered this forum some time ago, I was "shocked" as to the amount items that may go wrong. With my Audi I never worry, if it breaks, it breaks and I have it repaired - but that hardly ever happens...

In any case, we're supposed to enjoy the car, but maybe we'd enjoy it even more when knowing it's performing up to its design specs

 

Hi,

1) Not much benefit to this. Reset of the DME is sometimes used as a first attempt at curing a problem but there is no benefit to resetting regularly.

2) It can't hurt - at least then you know it's been done.

3) I doubt it, and probably not enough for you to notice. The 15 minutes after the reset are for the DME to "learn" some of the settings, so the idea is to drive it as normally as possible. I'm not sure you would be able to tell much difference between the safe default settings and the learned ones - although the learned ones are obviously the ones you want.

4) I don't know of any.

Dave
90 C4

 

Arthur,
A quick comment on your heavy clutch. It's a bit difficult to know how heavy "heavy" is, so yours could be perfectly normal - but I've been told by my mechanic that my clutch is quite heavy and that this is a sign that it's pretty old. Apparently, as the clutch gets older it tends to get heavier - so I was warned that I will probably need a new clutch in the near future.

Dave
90 C4

 

Dave,

That's exactly what I mean. It's subjective. Compared to the Audi it's heavy, but then again, when I jump from the Porsche into the Audi it feels as if you can just touch it and it goes. It may be the Audi is very light in handling.

That's why I asked the OPC to have a real *subjective* look at the clutch as I would want to have it repaired under warranty if it is about to go. I still got a couple of months, but you know how these things go, once the warranty is over, the thingy goes and I would be <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" />

 

Dear WSP964,
A DME reset is a very good idea. It is easy to do and yes it does make a difference. If you make any changes, like installing a drilled airbox. Do a reset. If you have a flat battery make sure you do a reset procedure drive. If you have a major change in weather for extended periods, like Winter, do a reset once the bad weather has kicked in. I do not recommend you do one every second day but if you encounter a major change or introduce a major change, do a reset.
I do one every three months or so. I tried it as an experiment and I like it so I stick with it. Many of my colleagues do the same.
If you strike any engine related problems, do a reset.
As far as the clutch is concerned. The 964 clutch is heavy as compared to most autos. When I jump in the wifes Audi or even the daughters 944 I often feel my foot is going to go through the firewall. Now you do have to differentiate, heavy clutch pedal under the foot and changing gears. If your gear changes are all smooth and easy, no lurching or kangaroo petrol, then all is okay,
Ciao,
Adrian
911C4

 

Adrian - what is kangaroo petrol <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

 

Great, thanks guys. As I said I'm not the best mechanic in the world , probably the worst, so any help is welcome.

I'll sure be around again to tease you guys with silly questions, cu later.

WSP964

 

Dear Arthur,
You do not know what Kangaroo petrol is? It is a very special petrol that when you put it in your auto it makes it hop down the road rather than drive smoothly down the road.
Remember the very first time you ever used a clutch and you set the auto bucking and hopping down the street. Back home in Australia we would say, seeing this, "That auto has been filled with kangaroo petrol",
Ciao,
Adrian
911C4

 

Adrian,
<img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />
You can get Kangaroo petrol in Ireland, Germany and France.
<img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />
I've seen it myself !!!
<img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />
...of course I've never had any in my car....

<img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

 

Think you have a heavy clutch?? Try driving a race car all day, hop back into your Porsche to go home, and you will think your left foot is pushing on a pillow!

 

Dear Irishdriver,
Kangaroo Petrol is exported all over the world.
Ciao,
Adrian
911C4

 

Not to change the subject, but, I agree with you on that Horst. I recently did a 21 lap session at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in an Indy style car. What a blast. Average speed - 155 MPH. Top speed - 167 MPH. Anyhow, the clutch in those things are REALLY HEAVY. Total adrenaline rush though.