Problem with P.C.C.M. Plus and On Board Computer

[Roger12345]

Hi Phil

The update has been done, only completed fifty miles since and no resets so far, fingers crossed.

 

[Boxster1999]

Hello Andy Thanks so much for the confirmation that you've had the update done. Here's hoping it proves to be the solution to the issue. I also hope other members will be able to get their cars booked in once the knowledge of the fix becomes more widely known.

Would you kindly post updates as you do more miles please.

Thanks Regards Phil.

 

[Eagle1972]

I have been reading the thread with interest.

I have a 2004 996 (with Bose) and I have been thinking about updating to the PCCM Plus.

Are there any other ‘features’ that I should be aware of please other than the on board computer reset issue, which is hopefully fixed with the software upgrade?

Would you still recommend upgrading to PCCM Plus having lived with it for a little while please?

Many thanks,

Tim

 

[Roger12345]

Hi Phil

Only managed fifty miles since software update, once i have covered a few more I’ll update you fingers crossed it’s sorted.

Hi Tim

Yes i would recommend the PCCM, reset problem aside its better than a similar system in my Q5

all the best.

 

[Boxster1999]

Hi Tim yes I too would recommend the unit to any member wanting 21st century connectivity in their car. The unit also looks right in the car as if it always came from the factory.

I would however recommend having it installed at a Porsche dealer. Mainly due to the various niggles owners are experiencing.

 

[BatKing996C4S]

I have been reading the thread with interest.

I have a 2004 996 (with Bose) and I have been thinking about updating to the PCCM Plus.

Are there any other ‘features’ that I should be aware of please other than the on board computer reset issue, which is hopefully fixed with the software upgrade?

Would you still recommend upgrading to PCCM Plus having lived with it for a little while please?

Many thanks,

Tim

An Issue I have encountered but have yet to find another user to confirm as it seems no one is using MP3's these day is music playback on the SD card slot cannot deal with any song's with an apostrophe in the title ('). Which in my experience was at least one song in every album I had on it. Whenever you would start playing a song with an apostrophe in the title the unit would get stuck on that song, attempting to skip forwards of backwards would result in the same song just being replayed and with a lot of songs like this the unit would sometimes crash randomly resetting to the first song it would play when you insert the card and while browsing would jump around as you go forward and backwards to seemingly random songs.

A work around is as I have used a batch renaming program to remove all apostrophe's from all my songs which seems to have fixed the issue but it's kind of a dirty workaround and not something you would expect from a £1400 system. When I contacted Porsche they wanted £234 for labor to investigate the issue with no guarantee of success and no doubt would tell me what I know. That it's a software bug Pretty disappointing really that getting any support so far on this unit from Porsche has been like pulling teeth.

 

[Pete Ansbro]

I confess to being another "shall I, shan't I upgrade to PCCM Plus" driver.

Driving home in the dark last night reminded me how much I prefer all my internal lighting on the lowest possible setting on the rheostat which made me wonder how effectively the PCCM dims down on request or whether it lights the cabin like a floodlight especially in satnav mode.

So I thought I'd ask here and a quick search brought up this string of problems which is worrying unless everything is now happy ever after?

Why might I want PCCM Plus? Well, I find that there's no perfect place for my samsung android to sit and especially when I'm using WAZE to find my way around. Ability to link my phone hands-free would occasionally be useful but I would also like to listen to my choice of music or podcast and not just have to accept radio station selections.

I have been reading the thread with interest.

I have a 2004 996 (with Bose) and I have been thinking about updating to the PCCM Plus.

Are there any other ‘features’ that I should be aware of please other than the on board computer reset issue, which is hopefully fixed with the software upgrade?

Would you still recommend upgrading to PCCM Plus having lived with it for a little while please?

Many thanks,

Tim

An Issue I have encountered but have yet to find another user to confirm as it seems no one is using MP3's these day is music playback on the SD card slot cannot deal with any song's with an apostrophe in the title ('). Which in my experience was at least one song in every album I had on it. Whenever you would start playing a song with an apostrophe in the title the unit would get stuck on that song, attempting to skip forwards of backwards would result in the same song just being replayed and with a lot of songs like this the unit would sometimes crash randomly resetting to the first song it would play when you insert the card and while browsing would jump around as you go forward and backwards to seemingly random songs.

A work around is as I have used a batch renaming program to remove all apostrophe's from all my songs which seems to have fixed the issue but it's kind of a dirty workaround and not something you would expect from a £1400 system. When I contacted Porsche they wanted £234 for labor to investigate the issue with no guarantee of success and no doubt would tell me what I know. That it's a software bug Pretty disappointing really that getting any support so far on this unit from Porsche has been like pulling teeth.

 

[BatKing996C4S]

As much as I've had issues getting hold of this update, I do love my PCCM+, It's the best solution for our cars and I've tried fitting aftermarket solutions, the CDR23 and PCM2(with a Dension gateway). Also if you buy a new one you will already have the latest firmware so the bugs will have been fixed on yours that I am trying to get hold of via update software. The automatic dimming does work well but you can also set up a manual screen brightness for when you cars lights are on or off if it doesn't dim enough for your needs but for me even on auto it isn't distracting at night.

On an early 996 I would say the PCCM is nice but doesn't offer much over an aftermarket solution for the price other than looking Porsche OEM and being plug and play.

But on a later car such as my 2004 996 that is where is works out to be a very good value package. Not only do you get the factory look but you are already set up for with MOST fibre optic, so no having to mess around with converter boxes which for a decent ones like mobridge costs around £500 if you were looking aftermarket radios but also you get instrument cluster information which no aftermarket solution offers. You can see you track information and your turn by turn navigation with distance to next turn and direction on your screen just below the rev counter.

For your phone you can then use android auto, I have the media box in my glove compartment so my phone goes in there and then can access maps, podcast and music etc of it from the head unit. I know some others are using Cplay2air but believe there is an android equivalent that you can plug in the media box and have wireless CarPlay so you don't even have to take your phone out to access everything.

 

[Pete Ansbro]

As much as I've had issues getting hold of this update, I do love my PCCM+, It's the best solution for our cars and I've tried fitting aftermarket solutions, the CDR23 and PCM2(with a Dension gateway). Also if you buy a new one you will already have the latest firmware so the bugs will have been fixed on yours that I am trying to get hold of via update software. The automatic dimming does work well but you can also set up a manual screen brightness for when you cars lights are on or off if it doesn't dim enough for your needs but for me even on auto it isn't distracting at night.

On an early 996 I would say the PCCM is nice but doesn't offer much over an aftermarket solution for the price other than looking Porsche OEM and being plug and play.

But on a later car such as my 2004 996 that is where is works out to be a very good value package. Not only do you get the factory look but you are already set up for with MOST fibre optic, so no having to mess around with converter boxes which for a decent ones like mobridge costs around £500 if you were looking aftermarket radios but also you get instrument cluster information which no aftermarket solution offers. You can see you track information and your turn by turn navigation with distance to next turn and direction on your screen just below the rev counter.

For your phone you can then use android auto, I have the media box in my glove compartment so my phone goes in there and then can access maps, podcast and music etc of it from the head unit. I know some others are using Cplay2air but believe there is an android equivalent that you can plug in the media box and have wireless CarPlay so you don't even have to take your phone out to access everything.

Thanks for this. My facelift 2002 Cab might well like it. Perhaps it's time for a chat with my indie who is both indie and young enough to know all about "modern" in car entertainment[:-] I'm guessing that "the media box" is part of the package.

 

[Eagle1972]

Thank you for the post, which is really helpful.

I have a 2004 996 with Bose and the onboard computer and I have been thinking on the PCCM+ option. Could you expand a bit more on the benefits you get with a later generation 996 please?

I think you said that you get the directions in the instrument cluster as well as on the Satan’s screen?

Could you also expand a bit more please on (I have an iPhone in case that is relevant) the benefits of the MOST fibre optic comment? Is your understanding that the Cplay2air would plug into the media box that they install in your glovebox and that provides a Bluetooth connection to your phone please?

Many thanks for any guidance/insight.

Tim

 

[BatKing996C4S]

See picture attached of what the screen looks like with the PCCM+ showing navigation and information of what I'm listening to.

Late 996's like my 2004 C4S and your 2004 don't have simple copper wires for audio signals to the amplifier like all 911's before and most other cars but rather a fibre optic loop. Essentially meaning you can't just buy an aftermarket radio and fit it. Instead you need to buy a converter box to sit in-between you stereo and amp so you can put copper in and get fibre optic out. The cheapest of these boxes are around £120 but are pretty terrible sound quality wise and only offer 2 channels while the ones you need to get a decent signal out cost around £500 a lot of people rip out their entire audio system for new rather than deal with this if they go aftermarket. The PCCM+ already supports optical audio for our cars and is plug and play so compared to aftermarket there is no messing around with buy additional boxes.

Yes, the media box has two USB inputs. One for USB sticks marked USB and the other for using CarPlay/Android auto when your phone is plugged in, if you instead plug in a Cplay2air box into this second USB input then you can connect to it on your phone via bluetooth for the benefit of wireless CarPlay, personally I prefer to use the TomTom maps for the unit and bluetooth phone connectivity for calls and music so don't know much more about CarPlay I'm afraid.

 

[BatKing996C4S]

Those images don't seem to have uploaded so see my video here showing the navigation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNMY10sKXO0 (don't worry about the bug, it has since been fixed)

and you can see the media box in my post here on 911UK http://www.911uk.com/viewtopic.php?p=1554094 3rd post down.

 

[jmspear]

I installed my PCCM + myself, its not easy with the MOST system cars, mine is a 2004 anniversary, installed it myself last autumn, contacted my local OPC (they are mentioned in this thread) they couldn't help with the install issues (aerial amplifier issues) so I did some investigation and sorted it myself, then lo and behold the OPC called me up and asked if i had fixed it, yes I said, can you help our tech's please they have the same issue and can't fix it, so I sent them pics and instructions, never heard back from them, which I thought was a bit off , but hey ho, moral I don't disagree with using your local OPC least you have come back and its not easy on the MOST fibre optic cars, and I am pretty competent at diy car work, BUT don't think they have been trained in how to install it, plus I understand (last Autumn) there is no tech bulletin for the MOST cars, I asked for one when I was having problems.

However, as has been said it is an AWESOME system, and I love it way better than the one in my latest BMW and my friends Merc, definitely a brilliant upgrade and highly recommended. Oh and no computer reset issues here.

 

[Boxster1999]

Hello All. Just want to report that I had the software update installed on my car last Tuesday at the Porsche Centre Sheffield. My thanks go out to Mike and his team for looking after the car.

Unfortunately I'm not going to be able to complete much mileage in the coming months. However I will update the post in the medium term.

Thanks should go out to fellow members for posting their thoughts and highlighting their experiences. Thanks Phil

 

[BatKing996C4S]

I'm still awaiting my update, been chasing it up for close to 3 months now. Wish Porsche would just have an online page for PCCM+ users to download the latest update to put on and SD card and load rather than the current system of finding out updates exist through forums and then having to repeatedly chase up OPC's to get hold of it.

 

[bracobob]

After 3 months of chasing I finally got the update installed yesterday at Edinburgh. Main problem was the branch personnel would not contact Porsche GB as I kept telling them. They seem to think they knew better, even had the car for 10days and claimed they had fixed it themselves. I eventually had to get a meeting with the Synter after sales area manager who was not happy with the after sales treatment. It also helped that I kept a diary of every phone call and visit since June when this all started. I cannot understand why Porsche GB has not traced every unit sold in the last 2 years and just done a simple recall. The actual fix takes about 30 minutes and once a branch has done one the rest is simple. Could save a load of irritation and bad publicity Only done 50 miles so not celebrating yet.

 

[MarkSummers]

Evening folks,

sorry to resurrect this, but on a slight tangent, am I alone with not having the 2 rotary knobs on my unit light up with the car lights (other buttons on the unit light up amber fine).

 

[BatKing996C4S]

All normal, no lights for the rotary knobs on the PCCM+.

 

[MarkSummers]

All normal, no lights for the rotary knobs on the PCCM+.

Thank you. I couldn’t remember whether they were lit on later (2015+) PCM’s. That’s one less thing on my list to have a headache over.

 

[MarkSummers]

All normal, no lights for the rotary knobs on the PCCM+.

Sorry to bother you again, but I’ve removed the unit due to a problem with the media box lead/connection. Now the car alarm beeps at me every 10-12 seconds or so & the remote has stopped operating the central locking (although it sounds like the relay is trying to work if I attempt it whilst sat in the car). Then all I get is the double horn-beep suggesting a fault. I’ve looked behind the radio unit again to check no cables have been damaged/disconnected but can’t see anything.

The beep is really annoying, plus not being able to lock the doors other than individually on the key is not satisfactory along with the constant beeping as we’re away in the car this weekend and will need to leave it unattended so I need to fix it today

Please has anyone any ideas?

*edited to add, I’ve realised I can’t actually lock the passenger door as obviously there’s no key hole/barrel!