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I have a 2001 996 Turbo Tiptronic that’s recently had the engine and gearbox removed to fix a leak between the gearbox and transfer case. Since everything was refitted, the instrument cluster has been showing some very strange faults, and both the specialist and I are a bit stuck.
When turning the ignition on, the display shows “Error Bordcomputer”, followed by “Selector lever not engaged.” Once the car is started, it returns to “Error Bordcomputer”. The reverse light flashes while in P, and when moving the selector to D it shows both first and reverse at the same time.
Despite this, the car drives normally and shifts through all gears without issue.
The clocks were swapped with a set from a 996.2 Tiptronic, and those worked perfectly with no faults.
Has anyone come across this before or got any ideas what might be causing it?
Based upon your description, I suspect the problem is within your cluster. You say you replaced the clock? I'm guessing the whole sub-board? Not just the LED screen? I would start with the cluster. Either swap with a known good cluster or open it up and check all of the inner connections.
I looked through the workshop manual. Can't find any references there to assist you. Not even a reference to "error Bordcomputer"
I still think the OP should focus on the cluster/clock. While the OP says the cluster/clock was working prior to the leak repair, I wonder if the systems were working with RAM until there was a reset and then reverted to ROM. Hence the recent wonkiness.
I'd confirm compatibility between the clusters and then confirm the programming. btw, the Pelican article points out that clusters are USA or ROW but the Porsche manual says there are other choices such as UK, Japan, etc. I pulled up my coding and there seems to be about 10 different codes (more than shown in the photo) No idea what most of them are but I suspect they all do something. The only way I know to change them is to extract the coding from the original cluster and then over-write the new one (I don't think that'll update the mileage.)
Sorry for the confusion I caused by changing my terminology half way through my post. Clocks is a lazy term from instrument cluster in the UK, but obviously the instrument cluster has a clock in it, so I appreciate I made that a little bit harder than it had to be.
And thank you for your help so far.
So we changed the instrument cluster with a set of working from a 996.2, and they worked fine. I understand there is always a first, but these cars are 20 plus years old now and in all the years that these cars have been built, I can not find one reference to an instrument cluster failure in this manner on any forum.
So I suppose my question is given the donor instrument cluster is from a Carrara 4 Tiptroinc with a different part number, can have complete confidence that it isn't the car and the fault lies within my turbo instrument cluster?
That is a good assumption. Perhaps you can find a shop to repair the instrument cluster?
I bought a used Turbo instrument cluster when I manual swapped my car and had the mileage reprogrammed to match. Just note that 2001 has a different programming than 2002-2005; so I have been told.
You should not need to spend $5000 for a new cluster at the dealet.
My C2 instrument cluster was replaced by a C4S cluster by the previous owner. Fuel gauge was totally out of place, due to the different way of the fuel tank. I had to use PIWIS to recalibrate it. Keep your fuel gauge in mind... Better to repair your original cluster
Instrument Cluster 'Error Bordcomputer'
