Softronic Flashing
Discussion
The issue started a few months ago where my 997 was having cold misfires. The engine light would come on and the reading was multiple misfires. Otherwise, the car ran fine. I then changed the coils, plugs, air filter, temp sensor, battery, MAF sensor and solenoid valve adjusters. The cold start misfires would not go away. Finally, I had the car boroscoped and the Porsche dealer did not find anything wrong with the engine. After 12 hours of diagnostics at Porsche dealer, it came down to the clutch or reprograming the DME and losing the Softronic flashing. I decided to go with reprograming the DME which was the less expensive option. Since reprograming the DME, the car has not had any cold misfires. No one has ever touched the DME since the Softronic software flashing. According to the Porsche dealer, the software was corrupted.
In hindsight, it would have been easy for me to have the DME flashed back to Porsche default, however I did not realise that the software could get corrupted. Hopefully my experience will help someone else in the future.
In hindsight, it would have been easy for me to have the DME flashed back to Porsche default, however I did not realise that the software could get corrupted. Hopefully my experience will help someone else in the future.
So just to confirm the timeline - you had the Softronic flash and all was ok for a bit, then the problems started.
How was the OPC on reflashing the DME? LOts of teeth sucking and "we shouldn't really do that", or "its knackered so for ££ we'll fix it." Did they know it had been modded (had some experience of "you have modded the maps, welcome to barge pole world").
How was the OPC on reflashing the DME? LOts of teeth sucking and "we shouldn't really do that", or "its knackered so for ££ we'll fix it." Did they know it had been modded (had some experience of "you have modded the maps, welcome to barge pole world").
Had the car been jump started or battery run very low before the problems started?
It seems possible that standard or modified map may well have suffered the same issue. The problem with the modern motor car is you now have three issues to consider when diagnosing faults. Years ago you either had a mechanical issue or an electrical issue both of which could be tested with the right knowlage and equipment. Now days you have a third issue which is software and that is not so easy to work out if it's faulty or not.
Diagnostic work is not cheep as even a simple issue takes time to accurately diagnose.
It seems possible that standard or modified map may well have suffered the same issue. The problem with the modern motor car is you now have three issues to consider when diagnosing faults. Years ago you either had a mechanical issue or an electrical issue both of which could be tested with the right knowlage and equipment. Now days you have a third issue which is software and that is not so easy to work out if it's faulty or not.
Diagnostic work is not cheep as even a simple issue takes time to accurately diagnose.
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