PCCM+ Getting Installed today . . .

[RNajarian]

MAJOR DEVELOPMENT ! ! ! Or ? ? ?

Since my 14 year old son likely will be learning how to drive in my Cayenne I decided to add the optional reversing camera on my PCCM+.

I download the Porsche Aftersales document for the PCCM+ installation, available online.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10237379-0001.pdf



Reading the document it states Porsche Part 955.645.510.00, included in the PCCM+ is the connection needed to convert the Porsche proprietary Fakra cable to the RCA connector most aftermarket cameras use.



The directions state plug cable 955.645.510.00 (Reversing camera adapter cable) into the brown Fakra wiring harness near the TV tuner.

Without thinking I removed the PCCM+ headunit expecting to plug 955.645.510.00 into the appropriate Fakra cable at the back of the headunit, then run the RCA cable to the rear of the vehicle. Except when I removed the headunit I noticed the Fakra cable at the rear of the head unit was Green! (PCG.642.573.00) See photos in post #36.

I quickly noticed that BOTH the green Fakra cable behind the headunit and the adapter cable and adapter cable 955.645.510.00 (Reversing camera adapter cable) are male.

Furthermore the photograph of the connection shoes 955.645.510.00 plugging into a brown female Fakra cable which is located in the rear CD compartment!



Sure enough in my right rear compartment in the Cayenne, where the CD player is, there is a female brown Fakra cable JUST LIKE IN THE AFTERSALES PHOTOGRAPH.

Hopefully that means I will only need to tap into the reverse light for +12v and run the RCA cable from the rear CD compartment to the license plate light in the rear hatch where the camera will be installed.

That likely would eliminate the need to remove interior panels to run the RCA cable from the headunit to the rear hatch . . .

Stay tuned. I’m going to research what the male green Farka cable is behind the headunit.

Fingers Crossed. . . .

UPDATE

The green Fakra plug in photo #36 (PCG.642.573.00) is described as an amplifier connection and video input. . .

PCG.642.573.00 1x Adapter cable for amplifier connection, reversing camera


Hopefully I am still on the right track here. . .

[brp914]

...And what happens is a bust (edit for me, not Najarians update). Spinning wheel for infinity. On the upside, Pelican will take it back. Also on the upside, the wireless android dongle works. Pressing the Nav button takes me to Google maps. It seems android is different than Apple carplay. For Apple it seems to mirror your phone screen to pccm+, but for android I have to browse somewhere. I don't see my phone screen. I was able to go to Amazon Prime Music and play tunes. Hopefully google maps speaks directions. Hopefully I can speak a destination request but I don't know what to say. Totally new at this stuff.

[brp914]

Navi micro SD not loading.

[RNajarian]

Camera Install Update:

Didn’t work. Engine on, PCCM+ on, vehicle in reverse, power to reverse trigger, power to camera. . . Nothing. Ran PCCM+ diagnostics to recognize hardware. . . Nothing.

Current thinking the brown Fakra connection in CD compartment isn’t hooked up to PCCM+. In fact I believe it was a connection for my original XM Satellite radio receiver. I looked for the other end of that brown cable near the headunit hoping I could use that to eventually carry the camera video signal . . . but couldn’t find the other end.

I spoke with Malibu955 over on Rennlist who stated the brown Fakra cable shown in the Aftersales document was for the factory installed backup camera. In either case this was a dead end.

Plan B:

Ordered Female Fakra/Female RCA adapter to plug into male green Fakra connection in back of headunit. Looking at the Pin-out it looks like this is the camera input. A guy over on Rennlist said the CANbus tells the PCCM+ is in reverse. I may tap power from pin #8 or via reverse tail light.

So when the cable comes I’ll try again . . . wish me luck.

[RNajarian]

SUCCESS!

Hot Dog!! I figured out the wiring for the reversing camera!!

All I need to do now is run the cables !!

Updates as they become available

[RNajarian]

The tedious task of running the RCA cable from the headunit to the rear hatch is nearly complete.

The aftermarket camera I bought was designed to replace the original license plate light (LED bulb with camera) it looks original.

The Amazon description said the RCA cable was 6 meters long (19 feet). When I got a little past the “C” pillar I realized the RCA cable wouldn’t reach. I didn’t measure the cable but it’s NOT19 feet.

That’s OK because I’ve got a spare 4 foot RCA cable I’ll connect using a female/female RCA connection.

The RCA cable that came with the camera has a red wire intended to tap into switched +12v from the headunit (the yellow wire at the PCCM) and power the camera. I haven’t verified this yet but the guys on Rennlist swear the yellow wire is hot when the car is in reverse.

I’ll verify this tomorrow, if is isn’t hot in reverse I’ll have to tap into the reverse lights.

As soon as my female/female RCA adapter arrives I’ll finish the project.

[RNajarian]

CAMERA INSTALL UPDATE;

All the wiring is DONE! Camera works, all that remains is to put everything back together.

Important note, the yellow wire in the back of the PCCM+ that went into pin 8 and was labeled switched camera 12v did not provide power.

I ended up tapping into the driver side reverse light which wasn’t as daunting as it would seem. My RCA cable and camera power cable ran on the inside of the D pillar so all I had to do was tap into the camera power cable as it ran to the camera inside the D pillar.

[RNajarian]

I completed the addition of a reversing camera to the PCCM+ in my 2005 Cayenne Base. Here are some thoughts for anyone wanting to do this project.

1) I purchased an aftermarket reversing camera from Amazon that replaced one of the license plate lights. The camera and light are incorporated into one OEM looking unit.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK1LVVD8?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

2) The Aftersales document states you need to connect the supplied Male/Female RCA adapter to a brown Fakra cable in the CD compartment to access the a video line in the rear area of the 955, thus eliminating the need to run a RCA cable from the head-unit. This didn’t work for me likely because my car wasn’t initially equipped with a reversing camera. The brown female Fakra cable I had in the CD compartment was a connection to my factory installed XM radio receiver,

3) I needed to purchase a female Fakra/female RCA plug to connect to the VIDEO in connection on the back of the head-unit. A green male Fakra connection.(Pins 10 & 11)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKZ94C3P?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

You will need to run this RCA wire from the head-unit to the license plate light in the hatch.

4) The guys over on the 997 side said the yellow wire that went into pin 8 was a switched +12v for the camera. It did not work for me, so I got power from the rear tail light, pin #5 and ran it into the vehicle at the D pillar area where I intercepted my RCA cable with a +12v feed for the camera. Using the reverse signal ensures the camera isn’t on constantly.

5) If I had of known beforehand I would have bought a connection to the Porsche license plate light connection to easily tap into the ground/+12v license plate light. I ended up soldering connections, but buying the female connection from Amazon would have been easier. See photos of the male connection coming from the vehicle and the female connection I would have bought.

6) Once the camera is connected with power you will need to run the PCCM+ configuration in the CAR setting to finalize the installation.

7) Finally, since the new reversing camera light is white, I replaced the other side which had a 20 year OEM yellow incandescent with a white light LED replacement bulb, just so the light matches on both sides.

Special thanks to Malibu955 over on Rennlist who was my technical advisor during this project.



Seen here is the green male Fakra connector (video in) for the PCCM+ and the yellow cable that did NOT provide +12v for the camera.


This is the male connection that plugs into the license plate light.


Next time I would buy this female connection to easily connect to the license plate light on the new camera and to easily access a ground for the camera and light.

[RNajarian]

I completed my reversing camera project and while the head unit was out I thought I would spend some time troubleshooting the AM radio issue.

Problem: After I had the dealer install the PCCM+ the AM radio didn’t work.

I took it back and got the run around from them, “AM radio isn’t good in LA.”

I had an extra GPS antenna and wondered . . . Would it make a difference?

Solution: Once I unplugged the top antenna (yellow) the AM radio came to life. I now get strong signals on at least four stations.

Unplugging the bottom antenna (black) the signal goes out again.

With the top (yellow) antenna unplugged AM/FM/Satellite and GPS all seem to work properly. Except the FM radio has a stronger signal with the top yellow connection plugged in.

. . . so for now I haven’t quite resolved everything but at least know the issue is an antenna one. One of the guys at Rennlist suggested I swap the PCCM+ antenna dongle connections so the yellow lead is on the bottom and the black on the top. Which would have the yellow Fakra cable coming from the antenna plug into the bottom connection coming from the PCCM+.

I’ve ordered a spare PCG 642 574 00 from our host to make the modification, if it works great, if not I’ll still have an unmodified cable to go back to normal.

Stay Tuned . . .

[RNajarian]

UPDATE

The Porsche part PCG 642 574 00 which I ordered from our host is not available from any US warehouse and needs to be shipped from Germany.

Likely a 3-4 week delay. Apparently switching the cables is easy. . . . but I would like an unmodified spare just in case . . .

Updates when they become available

[RNajarian]

UPDATE AND RESOLUTION:

I received Part number PCG 642 574 00 from our host over the weekend.

It was a special order factory PCCM+ connection.

This part did come with the PCCM+, I just wanted a spare in case I screwed up the modification required to fix the AM/FM reception issue.

One of the PCCM+ gurus over on Rennlist posted a modification needed to be done to part PCG 642 574 00 to resolve the AM/FM reception issue.

https://rennlist.com/forums/997-forum/1334821-pccm-diy-guide-12.html

Refer to post #170.

You can switch the cables at the end shown in the photo below (taken from the Rennlist post) or swap the connections at the yellow or black plastic ends.



Photo from Rennlist post

Prior to the modification there was NO AM reception in the PCCM+ as installed by the dealer.

With this modification I am receiving the strong AM and FM signals clearly. Once I get out on the open road I’ll have a better sense how well the reception is, but currently parked between two buildings my reception is much better than it was before the modification.

So I will chalk that up as a win.

Updates as they become available

[RNajarian]

PCCM+ and Reversing Camera Final Notes

It has been a little over two years since I first started this thread.

The PCCM+ is an obvious upgrade over the original PCM unit.

Pros
-It is nice having the steering wheel controls work with the headunit, especially volume and channel selector.
-The Apple CarPlay (and android equivalent) is nice - however it is not wireless. You can buy a $40 Apple CarPlay adapter and easily convert it to wireless. See post #29 for more details
-You have the option to add Satellite Radio for $80 See post #4 for more details
-You have the option to add a reversing camera (THIS IS A MUST). See post #36 for more details
-The touchscreen is nice
-When you make a call the contact’s name appears in the center dash display
-The vehicle trip information menus are nice (average mpg/mph/range/ temperature etc)
-It keeps proper date/time (PCM was affected by the 1024 week GPS cycle problem)
-USB port is nice
-The Bluetooth streaming for music works well.
-The center display will show the telephone contact when you are in a call.
- I don’t remembering the PCM showing tenths of miles until you get under 10 miles, but the PCCM+ shows tenths of miles over 10 miles to waypoint



Cons
- Cost. Purchasing Head unit and having it installed at the dealer was $2,500. Our host sells the same PCCM+ head unit for $400 less. I am not sure if DIY installers need to use a PWIiS system to recode the head-unit
- The AM radio debacle. See post 10
-The menu for manual radio number selection is seriously troubled. When I try and select the number 72. The number 332 pops up EVERY TIME. Essentially renders this function useless. Unfortunately at this point I am out of apwarranty.
-Unit response can be slow or lagged. It takes longer to “boot up” when you start the car.
- You cannot delete preset radio stations. Once set you can only reassign a station to the preset
- When I custom ordered the vehicle in 2004 (MY 2005) I had a compass option on my speedometer cluster. I have lost that functionality with the PCCM+. Though if you wade through a few menus on the head unit you can find a compass.
- The built in microphone and external microphone aren’t the best
- The look of navigation maps is fair. As compared to my Mercedes navigation maps the PCCM+ maps look less refined.
- The reversing camera has a white LED light incorporated to replace the license plate light (needed to illuminate the license plate at night.) I replaced the right side incandescent OEM bulb with a white LED light for conformity of the license plate lights. This threw a “License Plate Light Out” warning on the dash. I replaced the LED with the original bulb and the warning went away.
- I was worried by tapping into the reverse tail light for power to the reversing camera would elicit a similar false error message, but fortunately it did not.
-On one drive the navigation system 1/2 way through the trip flashed a “Destination cannot be reached” error. You would think I was driving on a lake, but was on a major road. Apple Maps had no problems finishing the route.
-Remember that slow computer that made you wait when opening up programs. . . It’s the same with the PCCM+

Operational Notes
-When using the revering camera the head unit lowers the volume of the head-unit. (Probably so you don’t get distracted)
-There is no way to connect a CD unit (assuming you still use CDs)
-It does look factory and is a major improvement over the PCM
- Map upgrades are available, by purchasing a new SD card with the maps and replacing the older map chip

Would I do it again?
Depends, looking OEM is important to me. Now that I have worked out 90% of the bugs, I would say. . .

Maybe. If I got the unit installed for $1,500 then yes. Was it worth $2,500 for all the trouble I’ve had to go through and still have unsatisfactory AM reception, no it wasn’t.

The wireless Apple CarPlay addition does improve the functionality of the head unit. In fact, if you go the PCCM+ route, buy the wireless Apple CarPlay (or Android equivalent) and exclusively use that. I’ve found the use of the Apple navigation system is better because it incorporates the traffic for free. You would need to pay a $6 a month extra on the SiriusXM subscription to get the same feature.

There are aftermarket units out there with more options/features for less.

6/6/2025 Update
I’ve extensively been driving the 955 the past month, usually this 2,500 mile/year garage queen is in the . . . well garage.

All the Pros and Cons listed above are still valid. I would note that using the wireless Bluetooth CarPlay adapter purchased from Amazon has made all the difference in the world.

The Apple interface is better than the one that came with the PCCM+.

The AM radio reception is much better, still not as good as with the PCM and the FM reception ISN’T as good as before I did the modification listed above.

I may further investigate this as time permits