997 Turbo Tiptronic Weird Electrical Issue
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
997 Turbo Tiptronic Weird Electrical Issue
Hey guys, we have a 07 Turbo Tip in at our shop and have run into a strange issue. We were unable to start the car due to an error message stating "Selector Lever not Engaged", accompanied by a lack of gear indicator lights on the cluster. Reverse lights wouldnt turn on either. However, when we turned the headlight switch to on, the reverse light turned on, gear indicator lights came on, error message went away, and the car started normally. With the car running, if you shut the headlights off, the error message will display and the indicator lights go blank again.
Anyone have any idea what could cause this? I'm stumped!
Anyone have any idea what could cause this? I'm stumped!
Pro
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 666
Likes: 335
From: Bainbridge Island, WA
At times it seems too simple but with Porsches acting strange electronically I always check the battery age and strength.
They do weird-*** things when the batteries aren't in peak condition. Again probably not it but it's always something to check.
They do weird-*** things when the batteries aren't in peak condition. Again probably not it but it's always something to check.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 4
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That's the first thing we did was replace the battery, still same issue, cranks strong with headlight switch on. I pulled the side cover to check and make sure there wasn't any weird wiring trickery going to the ignition switch or headlight switch... My thoughts were homemade antitheft, as the car is also equipped with LOJACK.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Spoke to the customer and apparently this is a new problem that began after it was shipped from FL to AZ. I traced the wiring from the LOJACk and it only has 3 wires: an antenna wire, a wire straight to the cars battery, and a wire which goes to a backup battery in the front trunk... So I feel I can eliminate that as a cause.
The customer wants us to figure it out, but I don't want to just throw parts at it and hope for the best.
The car did sit with a dead battery for about a year, but a new battery was installed and the issue wasn't present before the car was shipped.
The customer wants us to figure it out, but I don't want to just throw parts at it and hope for the best.
The car did sit with a dead battery for about a year, but a new battery was installed and the issue wasn't present before the car was shipped.
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 28,549
Likes: 8,355
From: Clemson, SC
Now that you have a new battery in it and have successfully started the car, disconnect the battery for 10 minutes, reconnect it, and try again.
The center tunnel switch that senses when the vehicle is in park has also been knows to go out on the Tip equipped cars.
The center tunnel switch that senses when the vehicle is in park has also been knows to go out on the Tip equipped cars.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 178
Likes: 122
Hey guys, we have a 07 Turbo Tip in at our shop and have run into a strange issue. We were unable to start the car due to an error message stating "Selector Lever not Engaged", accompanied by a lack of gear indicator lights on the cluster. Reverse lights wouldnt turn on either. However, when we turned the headlight switch to on, the reverse light turned on, gear indicator lights came on, error message went away, and the car started normally. With the car running, if you shut the headlights off, the error message will display and the indicator lights go blank again.
Anyone have any idea what could cause this? I'm stumped!
Anyone have any idea what could cause this? I'm stumped!
I installed a sound system head unit (only a head unit) many years ago and didn't use the factory ground wire, instead, I ran the HU ground directly to a metal brace tied to the chassis. The customer brought it back with headlight issues and the wipers would come on with the headlights. lol Turns out the main ground for the dash was bad and it had been grounding through the factory radio ground and the antenna. By not using the factory ground wire, the dash was now without ground and crazy feedback ensued. I worked on that damn car for two days. I hate electrical gremlins.
The addition of aftermarket electrical parts would be a red flag to me. As noted these cars have very sensitive electrical systems and even a low voltage situation causes issues.
#goodluck
#twocents
Last edited by propchef; Oct 30, 2020 at 11:45 AM.
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Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
How good are you at troubleshooting electrical issues? I ask because it could be a ground loop/bad ground.
I installed a sound system head unit (only a head unit) many years ago and didn't use the factory ground wire, instead, I ran the HU ground directly to a metal brace tied to the chassis. The customer brought it back with headlight issues and the wipers would come on with the headlights. lol Turns out the main ground for the dash was bad and it had been grounding through the factory radio ground and the antenna. By not using the factory ground wire, the dash was now without ground and crazy feedback ensued. I worked on that damn car for two days. I hate electrical gremlins.
The addition of aftermarket electrical parts would be a red flag to me. As noted these cars have very sensitive electrical systems and even a low voltage situation causes issues.
#goodluck
#twocents
I installed a sound system head unit (only a head unit) many years ago and didn't use the factory ground wire, instead, I ran the HU ground directly to a metal brace tied to the chassis. The customer brought it back with headlight issues and the wipers would come on with the headlights. lol Turns out the main ground for the dash was bad and it had been grounding through the factory radio ground and the antenna. By not using the factory ground wire, the dash was now without ground and crazy feedback ensued. I worked on that damn car for two days. I hate electrical gremlins.
The addition of aftermarket electrical parts would be a red flag to me. As noted these cars have very sensitive electrical systems and even a low voltage situation causes issues.
#goodluck
#twocents
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2nd Gear
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Im decent, though the majority of 911s I work on are of the air cooled variety, so mostly analog stuff. I eliminated the headlight switch as the cause by putting in another switch from a different 997 we have here... Same issue. I did notice that the gear indicator light is flickering, And when the center console is jiggled it causes the flickering to happen more. I'm thinking the next move will be to access the control unit under the shifter, though once I'm there I'm not exactly sure what I should be looking for. I'll keep you guys updated on what I find. In the mean time, if you guys have any other suggestions let me know... I'm trying to avoid drowning this customer in headscratch "labour"
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 2,550
Likes: 1,147
From: Bay Area on the Peninsula
Quote: "All I was doing was removing the seats and carpet"
That is a **** load of work. You probably had to remove the center console, messed with the shifter assembly, and somewhere disturbed a ground or a bad connection.
Shut the car off, turn the head light off, try to restart the car while grasping and pulling on all wire bundles you can see at the center console area ...
That is a **** load of work. You probably had to remove the center console, messed with the shifter assembly, and somewhere disturbed a ground or a bad connection.
Shut the car off, turn the head light off, try to restart the car while grasping and pulling on all wire bundles you can see at the center console area ...
2nd Gear
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Quote: "All I was doing was removing the seats and carpet"
That is a **** load of work. You probably had to remove the center console, messed with the shifter assembly, and somewhere disturbed a ground or a bad connection.
Shut the car off, turn the head light off, try to restart the car while grasping and pulling on all wire bundles you can see at the center console area ...
That is a **** load of work. You probably had to remove the center console, messed with the shifter assembly, and somewhere disturbed a ground or a bad connection.
Shut the car off, turn the head light off, try to restart the car while grasping and pulling on all wire bundles you can see at the center console area ...