mitch48

I'm having mucho trouble with my new steering wheel. 2006 Cayman S 6 spd. w/ Sport Chrono.

I bought a Sport steering wheel from Cayman Parts Direct, and got the round airbag and PSM module with it. I took these to my dealer and they swapped it out, but said that the PWIS recognized my car as a Tiptronic, so the module I got was obviously for an auto. I drove it this way for a few weeks until I received the correct module. During this time, the cruise light would not come on, and I had to press the button on the cruise stalk twice to activate it, but otherwise everything was fine.

I got the new module and had it installed, and then the PSM failure light came on and stays on all the time. Also, the Sport Chrono won't work. I then took it back to the dealer a third time (150 mile round trip) and this time was told that their PWIS could not communicate with my car.

I've been told that Porsche issued a special TSB informing dealers that anytime the PSM module was changed the Steering Angle Sensor should be changed as well or problems are likely. I don't know if this is my problem, but I'd really like to get this solved. I love the thicker wheel, and don't want to go back to the old skinny standard one with the triangular airbag (this one has the round airbag), but this is what the dealer told me I'd probably have to do to get the systems restored. This is a fairly small dealer, but they have done a fair amount of upgrades to customers' cars in the past, and they told me they usually find a way around the PWIS errors they get, but that Porsche cautions against swapping out any parts like this.

BGB Motorsports

There's a TSB that says that every time you disable, change or unplug the PSM control unit you must re-initialize the steering angle sensor. You don't have to change the angle sensor every time but you do need to initialize it. I've seen not initializing it issue a "PSM Failure" warning on the cluster but once you drive forward 30 feet, it goes away. Something else is still going on with your car but if you want to try yourself re-initializing the angle sensor that process is as follows (try this for now as i noodle over your problem - i copied and pasted it out of the online service manual):



Testing and Inspection











WM 456000 Initializing and calibrating steering-angle sensor

General warning notes

Caution
Increased risk of accident when ever power supply is interrupted. PSM does not function.


•The steering-angle sensor must be initialized (taught) whenever the battery is disconnected.

Note

•The steering-angle sensor is integrated into the steering column switch and records the movements of the steering wheel (steering wheel angle) using light switches. The data is transmitted to the PSM control unit via the CAN bus.
•During initialization, the steering-angle sensor learns its current position (straight-ahead position).
•The steering-angle sensor must always be initialized if terminal 30 was interrupted (for example, battery replacement, undervoltage, steering column switch disconnected, relevant fuse removed)!
•Calibration must be performed when working on or carrying out subsequent work on the chassis.
•The calibration results in zero point balancing (exactly straight ahead).
•The steering angle sensor is calibrated when first fitted and when any work has been carried out on steering and chassis. Examples of this would be opening the steering wiring and alterations to toe and camber.
•Calibration includes initialization.

Checking steering-angle sensor

Initialize steering-angle sensor

1.Turn wheels to straight-ahead position.
2.Start engine.
3.From the straight-ahead position, turn steering wheel approx. 20°to the left and 20°to the right (past straight-ahead position).
4.Drive the vehicle straight ahead for at least three seconds at a speed above 6 km/h (3.7 mph) . After successful initialization, the stored fault code is erased from the fault memory. The PSM indicator light in the instrument cluster goes out. After initialization has been completed, the battery must not be disconnected, the relevant fuse must not be removed and there must not be undervoltage. Otherwise, initialization will have to be carried out again.

Adjusting steering-angle sensor

Calibrating steering-angle sensor

Note

•The steering-angle sensor must be recalibrated on the measuring platform following repairs to or work on the chassis/steering or if the steering-angle sensor/steering column switch/hydraulic unit is replaced.
•Calibration includes initialization.
•In order to be able to calibrate the steering-angle sensor correctly, the vehicle must be on the measuring platform, the wheel alignment values must be correct and the steering must be in the straight-ahead position.
•To calibrate the steering angle correctly, the PSM control unit must first be coded successfully (e.g. after replacing the hydraulic unit).
•The safety code is displayed under >> PSM >> Actual values << in the Porsche System Tester. Please take note of this code for future use.

The steering angle sensor must be calibrated using the menu with PIWIS tester under the specified test conditions:


1.Switch on ignition.
2.Turn wheels or steering wheel to straight-ahead position. In the straight-ahead position, the steering wheel must deviate by no more than ±2.0° from the horizontal position (steering center position).
3.Before calibrating, first turn the steering wheel from the straight-ahead position approx. 20°to the left and 20°to the right (past straight-ahead position).
4.Turn wheels or steering wheel to straight-ahead position and calibrate the steering-angle sensor. To calibrate, you must enter the security code in the actual values menu.

mitch48

Thanks for the advice, I'll give it a try in the morning. The dealer will not return my calls and I can't get anything at all out of them. I think the tech did a calibration of the steering angle sensor when the new PSM module was installed, he had me drive the car around the block and the PSM light didn't come on until the next day, but its been on ever since. Then the next time I was in they told me their PWIS could not communicate at all with my car, so I'm wondering what I'll do if I have a problem that requires connection to the PWIS? I've just about had it with the dealer due to their lack of communication and am considering finding a good indy shop that has experience and the proper equipment to deal with my problem.