It started with a check engine light that was read to be 1539. That pointed to a cam adjuster on the right bank. I took it an Indy here in southern Oregon and today I got the bad news. The solenoid shorted internally ( 0 ohms) causing the ECU to overload and burn a circuit. It's being shipped to be rebuilt ($700) and then mechanic is going to get into the motor to replace the solenoid. What an unpleasant surprise. It's a '99 Cab with just 60K Bob

 

Is the engine going to be removed from the vehicle? Now would be the best time to address the VarioCam wear pads (aka “chain ramps”). I’d also change the cam chains too.

Edit: In another thread, Porschetech3 mentioned to stick an inline fuse of 1 amp between each cam adjuster solenoid and the ECU. It’ll prevent your next ECU from being damaged by the same problem. (I need to do this too…)


https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...l#post19582029

 

The variocam pad/soleniod service seems to be a $3-5k repair depending on your indy. Thats usually both sides and is mostly a labor charge. It sucks it burnt the dme but there r much more expensive things tht can happen to these motors.

 

I'll let you know what it's costing me on Thursday as I'm having my cam chain guides replaced only 01 C4. Not excited about this one but you have to do it or risk major issues down the road!

 

I call BS (not on your post OP, but on indy).
Also, seems you're deep in the woods already but I had 1539 and it went away on its own with an oil change, a new seal (very easy to replace), some electrical cleaner on the connector, and finally some spirited driving. You have a low mileage '99 and IMO it is very, very likely you just needed to drive the thing as the actuator may have been gunky. I could be wrong. Something you'll learn about 996's is often times, the problems fix themselves with simple driving. These cars do not like to sit.
Sorry this happened to you and I hope it all works out. Will not be inexpensive so do as you please. I believe dme is under driver side seat, so would check under there after indy gives it back to you and see if it looks like it had been replaced. Given that it's being repaired, it probably won't look new so idk, you know your car...just take a peek and see if it looked like someone actually went under there. You could check torx bolts on seat rails and see if they look a little stripped, so at least you know the seat was out and is likely the thing was actually repaired.
Look we live in weird times and people are hurting for cash. He's going to charge you for an engine out procedure and it won't be cheap. Just trying to stick up for you.

 

Assuming the diagnostic work is correct its been determined that the variocam soleniod is bad (this happens) and it burnt the dme (also happens)....btw, the dme is in the back shelf and the alarm module is under the seat. The soleniod sits on top of the actuator and can not be fixed by changing the oil....it also requires the cam cover to be removed to replace. At that point the variocam pads would only be a few more minutes to replace. If the dme was pulled for repair it should be sent to Ecudoctors in FL and they will do their own diagnostic. If its not burnt up it will only cost $99 and at that point the op can choose how he proceeds.

 

I stand corrected on dme location, but 1539 is a variocam fault code on bank 2 and is not always a solenoid problem. Could be the actuator, hence the rec for oil change and spirited driving. I was referring to seal that slips through the connector that is visible outside the engine. An oil leak there could cause an issue and make it more difficult for the actuator to work properly, throwing a 1539. Op please update thread on if ECU turns out to be bad. Not sure where your indy is sending it. Fingers crossed it is Ok. If ok i still stand by rec to replace seal and change oil/drive it. Again 60k miles is low and that would be my first order of business. If he does cam cover by just lowering engine mounts very likely you will have a cam cover oil leak upon install, unless he is skilled, which I'm hoping he is. I also don't understand how a variocam solenoid would short the dme.

still refuse to buy into the "the things happen narrative" with these cars, sorry. And that's coming from me, someone in process of fixing mine (cracked bank 1 head near spark plug hole 3). not that it matters but I've concluded that it's because of my mishap with my aos/hydrolocking the engine with oil, or the water pump blade theory and the car overheating without me knowing it. nothing just happens out of thin air. there is always a why.

 

We've been repairing the 986/996 DME ECMs for this problem for $375 over the last 10-15 years for Porsche dealers, independents, and Porsche owners.

 

What do you charge for diagnosis?

 

@systemsc Do you also do "Immobilizer by-pass " on the Porsche DME's...... and or Immobilizer repair ? Is so, what is the cost ?

 

Happened to me as well. Mine is also a 99 Cab, around the same mileage too. Although my code was a P1531, and I needed to have the solenoid replaced. Then 6 months later, a P1530, but this time, the solenoid failed and I ended up having the DME fixed (ECU Doctors) due to a burned transistor. I decided to also have the 4 tensioner pads replaced while they were in there because those were worn out already.

I remember getting misfire codes on all 6 cylinders at the same time, which prompted me to get the plugs and coils changed. That did not fix the issue of course, but it probably needed new plugs anyway.

That was probably 4 years ago and everything has been good since.

 

We don't do "immobilizer by-pass". With regard to 996 immobilizer repair, the majority (>90%) of its failures are water damage, so we don't repair them. We do repair the 993 immobilizer.

 

Off topic, but it surprises me that none of these PCB assemblies have any conformal coating. Worse case for water damage would be connectors. Arathane or Parylene would be more than adequate for the job.

 

Yes, that would be very helpful, but water always finds a way to cause damage to electronics.
How about the Porsche engineers not mounting electronic modules on the floor?