DME Questions

[Thrasher]

Without actually cracking open my DME, I was wondering if anyone could tell me if they've seen this sticker before and what it might mean:




Also, anyone know the purpose of the brown wire/connector near the DME? It was actually not connected when I got the car, but I connected it and found no changes in anything. It looks similar to the wire for the door switches and my interior lights still don't turn on when the doors are opened.



Thanks!

Craig

[ChrisBennet]

Connect for California (lower performance), disconnect for other states.

Look at this thread 3.2DME Mystery Solved - Almost...

-Chris

[scottb]

Do a search for "dme" and "brown wire". You'll find lots of discussion of what the brown wire does, and does not, do.

Not sure about the label.

[Thrasher]

bump

ok - I've found the brown wire threads and it's re-disconnected.

Anyone know about the sticker? I'll get in there and open it soon, but if anyone can decode what the text means, that'd also help.

Thanks,

Craig

[kepperly]

the interior lights are controled by the overhead light's position.
It can be set at on, off or on only when the door is open. It is a rocker switch built into the over head light and you can change the mode by depressing the front or rear of the light itself.

Keith Epperly 87 slant nose turbo look carrera cabriolet

[Thrasher]

Thanks, but that's not the issue. My lights work in the "on" position, but not in the "on with door open" position.

To be more clear about the question - does anyone know if an aftermarket chip maker puts a sticker on the DME that says something like:

ECU CONTROL 1294

...as seen in the picture above - it doesn't appear to be an OE sticker.

Thanks,

Craig

[RickM]

I've never seen, nor heard, of a sticker coming with an aftermarket chip.
Your sticker appears to be some type of inspection signoff.

Perhaps Loren can shed some light.

[Lorenfb]

1. The brn wire goes to pin 10 of the DME and is an octane selector (retards timing
when connected - U.S./Japan).

2. The sticker is not a Porsche Factory/Dealer add-on. It probably was placed there by a performance
mod company after installing a non-stock chip. So, it may be the S.N. of the chip/mod.

[RickM]

Originally posted by Lorenfb

2. The sticker is not a Porsche Factory/Dealer add-on. It probably was placed there by a performance
mod company after installing a non-stock chip. So, it may be the S.N. of the chip/mod.

We'll see after the box is opened.

[ChrisBennet]

Check the bottom of the DME to see if it has ever been opened before you go opening it. The sticker looks more like an "initialed" inspection sticker than anything a performance chip company would supply. Maybe "G.A." tested or checked the unit for some reason?
-Chris

[RickM]

Originally posted by ChrisBennet
The sticker looks more like an "initialed" inspection sticker than anything a performance chip company would supply. Maybe "G.A." tested or checked the unit for some reason?
-Chris

Or perhaps a sticker from a refurb shop or something along those lines.

[Lorenfb]

"Or perhaps a sticker from a refurb shop or something along those lines."

Good guess! You're probably right.

[Thrasher]

So I finally got the DME out, (since I had the battery out of the car for alternator replacement) look what I found:



Looks like the PO did 3 upgrades for performance, probably all in 1995:

1. K&N Cone filter
2. B&B headers and single-out muffler
3. Autothority chip

I was considering the Wong chip upgrade, but now I'm not sure. Autothority's site is pretty weak, so I don't know much about the parameters of this chip.

Anyone familiar with Autothority? Can you shed light on what this chip's parameters might be?

I have always used 93 octane, just in case this was the case (and my non-technical PO claimed it was necessary, but never said why).

Will a Wong chip make much difference in low-end, etc?

Thanks,

Craig

[NY65912]

Search Steve W ........and be pleasantly surprised!

Although some may differ, most will not. The Steve W chip makes the car soooooo much "drivable" and bottom end is very noticeable.

Good Luck

Oops...here we go again!

[Thrasher]

I've read all the recent "debates" on aftermarket chips and had pretty much convinced myself to get the Wong chip, especially with my conservative 1984 mappings I thought I had on the OE chip.

But, now that I've found I have the Autothority chip, I'm curious if anyone has used both and can comment on the Wong chip being substantially different.

I do feel like my car could use some more low-end torque, especially given the fact I'm running headers that are probably best suited to a 3.6 L displacement and associated camshafts.

I definitely feel a kick at 4k rpms, but would like more response a bit lower on the rev's.

[Thrasher]

Yes, that is my understanding. I would re-connect it at emissions inspection time, but other than that, leave it disconnected. A search will turn up quite a bit on the brown mystery wire.

[ChrisBennet]

Originally posted by SoCal911SC
Is that on all 84-89 Carreras?

If so, could it be disconnected for better performance when using 91 octane?

If it retards the timing, connecting it will reduce performance but also decrease the likelyhood of pinging with lower octane gas.
-Chris

[Wavey]

Craig, if you contact Steve he can tell you exactly how his chip is different from Autothority's. He has info on most other chips that are/were offered. I believe Autothority is out of business, BTW. But I believe the Autothority mainly relies on a very advanced ignition and max fuel at full throttle, and not much else. Steve's chip will definitely offer you more in the sub-4K range. If you want to drive mine, it should be on the ground in about 2 weeks (just need to install the pads and bleed the system, then go for the corner weight/alignment).

Re: the dome light, check the door switches; they're very succeptable to corrosion. A good cleaning might do it, but they're cheap to replace. Mine disintegrated when I tried to clean them.

[kepperly]

I've had both and Steve's mastery is above the rest. Don't think just do it and you will never look back. Make DAMN sur you have a well versied elcetronics guy solder in a receptacle plug RIGHT on your model.

Keith Epperly 87 slant nose trubo look carrera cabriolet

[movin]

Just a minute with that idea of disconnecting the brown wire. If the aftermarket chip was engineered to work in a stock environment it might not be a good idea to disconnect it, or you may get too much advance! Any comment about this from Steve Wong? I and quite a few others are running this scenario in our Carreras. It is ok to pull the brown wire?