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WE37 - Updating Software for Various Control Equipment and Devices (Workshop
Campaign)
Important:

CRITICAL WARNING - THIS CAMPAIGN INCLUDES STEPS WHERE SEVERAL CONTROL UNITS IN THE
VEHICLE WILL BE PROGRAMMED WITH THE PIWIS TESTER. IT IS CRITICAL THAT THE VEHICLE VOLTAGE
IS 13.8 VOLTS DURING THIS PROGRAMMING. OTHERWISE, THE PROGRAMMING COULD FAIL RESULTING
IN DAMAGED CONTROL UNITS. CONTROL UNITS DAMAGED BY INADEQUATE OR EXCESSIVE VOLTAGE
WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE TECHNICIAN MUST VERIFY THE ACTUAL VEHICLE
VOLTAGE IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER OR IN THE PIWIS TESTER BEFORE STARTING THE CAMPAIGN
AND ALSO DOCUMENT THE ACTUAL VOLTAGE ON THE REPAIR ORDER. PLEASE REFER TO EQUIPMENT
INFORMATION EQ-1105 FOR A LIST OF SUITABLE BATTERY CHARGERS/POWER SUPPLIES WHICH
SHOULD BE USED TO MAINTAIN VEHICLE VOLTAGE.

Model Year:

2015

Vehicle Type:

918 Spyder

Concerns:

Software update of the following control equipment and devices:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Information:

High-voltage battery
Air conditioning
Rear axle steering
DME control unit
PDK control unit
Porsche Communication Management (PCM)
Instrument cluster

This is to inform you of a voluntary Workshop Campaign on the above-mentioned vehicles.
New software is available for the specified control equipment and devices.
The new software will correct the problems described below and implement improvements and function
enhancements:
•

High-voltage battery and air conditioning control units

At outside temperatures below 41° F (5° C), a component protection function, which is used to reduce the
performance of the air-conditioning compressor, is active for the air-conditioning compressor.
Due to the diagnostic strategy in the vehicle system, however, this can be detected as a fault in some
cases. As a result, implausible fault memory entries are stored and the Check Engine light is activated.
To prevent this from happening, the control units will be re-programmed using an updated data record.
•

Control units for rear axle steering

With the previous software used for the control units for rear axle steering, there is a possibility that the
error message "Fault rear steering Possible to drive on" will be displayed immediately after switching on

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the ignition. If this happens, the rear axle steering actuators will be locked at zero position. The vehicle
then behaves like a vehicle with conventional toe control arms.
The rear axle steering function is fully available again after switching the ignition off and on again.
To prevent the rear axle steering from malfunctioning, the control units for the rear axle steering will be
re-programmed using an updated data record.
•

DME and PDK control unit

New data records, which increase engine running comfort and driving comfort in certain driving situations, are available for the DME and PDK control units.
•

Porsche Communication Management (PCM)

With the previous PCM software, the PCM system can restart automatically at times during continuous
operation and intensive use of all PCM functions (e.g. when using the navigation system and displaying
the weather chart at the same time).
To prevent this from happening, the PCM software will be updated.
•

Instrument cluster

For standardization reasons, changes were made to the warning messages that appear on the
instrument cluster when the language option Russian is selected (no more English warning texts appear
when Russian is selected). When Russian is selected as the required language, this only affects how
warning messages are displayed on the instrument cluster; English is still the system language.
Information
When the instrument cluster is re-coded, the individual settings implemented in the instrument cluster
by the customer will be lost and are reset to the default values of the country version that applies to
the vehicle.
It is important, therefore, to ask the customer during vehicle acceptance about his/her individual
settings implemented in the instrument cluster and restore these after carrying out the
campaign if necessary.
Action
Required:

Update the software for the affected control equipment and devices.
Information
It takes approx. 90 minutes in total to program the various control equipment and devices.
Once the software has been updated, the following steps must also be carried out in the specified
sequence:

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•

Reading out and erasing fault memories

•

Performing throttle valve adaptation

•

Calibrating electric machine

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Adapting the decoupler/separating clutch*

* For adapting the decoupler, the state of charge of the high-voltage battery must be at least 20%.
Please check the state of charge of the high-voltage batterybefore carrying out the campaign.
The state of charge of the high-voltage battery is shown in the "Car & Info" display on the instrument panel
or can be read out from the DME control unit using the PIWIS Tester:
‘DME 918S Hybrid’ > menu  ‘Actual values/input signals’ >> value group “Y_Hybrid” >>> value
“Y161_Hybrid battery, absolute SoC actual value.”
Charge the high-voltage battery before carrying out the campaign if necessary to ensure that the state of
charge is at least 20% and the decoupler can be adapted.
Affected
Vehicles:

The VIN(s) can be checked by using PIWIS Vehicle Information link to verify if the campaign affects the
vehicle. This campaign is scope specific to the VIN! Failure to verify in PIWIS may result in an improper
repair. This campaign affects 70 vehicles in North America.

Parts Info:

Part No.

Designation

Qty.

918.642.901.00

 SD card for PCM update

1 ea.*

* Every Porsche dealership responsible for looking after a vehicle affected by the campaign is provided
with one SD card for the PCM update.
Only one SD card must therefore be ordered for every Porsche dealership responsible for looking after a
vehicle affected by the campaign. This SD card remains available as a tool in the relevant Porsche dealership.
Tools:

•
•

Battery Charger/Power Supply - Suitable for Lithium Ion type batteries, recommended current
rating of 70A fixed voltage 13.8V. Refer to Equipment bulletin EQ-1105.
9818 - PIWIS Tester II with PIWIS Tester software version 14.700 (or higher) installed.

Work
Procedure:

See Attachment “A”.

Claim
Submission:

See Attachment “B”.

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Procedure:
Information
The software for the affected control equipment and devices should be updated in the sequence
specified below if at all possible.
The sequence has been tested and optimized. Waiting times caused by programming and carrying out
the required on-board diagnosis of the high-voltage system will be reduced if this sequence and the PCM
and instrument cluster software updates, which are carried out partly in parallel, are observed.
Sequence
1

Control equipment/device

Programming
time (approx.)

Software update
performed using

High-voltage battery and air conditioning control
(combined programming sequence)

8 minutes

2

Rear axle steering

4 minutes

3

DME and PDK control unit
(combined programming sequence)

12 minutes

4

Porsche Communication Management
(PCM)*

20 minutes

SD card, Porsche part
number 918.642.901.00

5

Instrument cluster*

50 minutes

PIWIS Tester with software
version 14.700 (or higher)
installed

PIWIS Tester with software
version 14.700 (or higher)
installed

* The PCM update and the programming procedure for the instrument cluster can be performed partly in
parallel: Once the PCM update has started, the instrument cluster can be re-programmed in parallel using
the PIWIS Tester.
The procedure described here is based on the sequence described in the table.

Attachment "A"
NOTICE
Control unit programming will be aborted if the Internet connection is unstable.
•

An unstable Internet connection can interrupt communication between PIWIS Tester II and the vehicle
communication module (VCI). As a result, control unit programming may be aborted.



During control unit programming, always connect PIWIS Tester II to the vehicle communication module
(VCI) via the USB cable.

NOTICE
Programming interrupted

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•

Malfunctions in control unit

•

Risk of damage to control unit



Route the line between the PIWIS Tester and the vehicle communication module (VCI) without tension to
prevent the line from slipping out of the USB connection on the PIWIS Tester.



Lock connecting lines on the vehicle communication module (VCI) using the bayonet lock.



Route the line between the vehicle communication module (VCI) and diagnostic socket on the vehicle
without tension and make sure that the connector is inserted fully into the diagnostic socket.



Check that the rechargeable battery for the PIWIS Tester is charged sufficiently. Connect the PIWIS Tester
to the mains power supply if necessary.

Information
Depending on the control unit to be programmed, there is a possibility that the battery management
system will open the high-voltage contactors for safety reasons, thereby disconnecting the high-voltage
battery from the vehicle electrically.
If this happens, the low-voltage vehicle electrical system will no longer be backed up by the high-voltage
battery or the high-voltage charger.
•

During control unit programming, connect the low-voltage vehicle electrical system to an external
backup system with 13.8 V (charging current limit: 70 A).

Information
The required work must only be carried out by high voltage technicians (HVT) with relevant qualifications for working on the 918 Spyder.
Employees without the corresponding qualifications must not carry out these tasks.
The high-voltage vehicle electrical system does not have to be isolated from the power supply in
order to carry out control unit programming and software updates.
Observe general warning notes for working on the high-voltage vehicle electrical system  Workshop
Manual '2X00IN General warning notes for working on the high-voltage electrical system'.
Important:

Fault entry in the fault memory and control unit programming aborted due to low voltage.
> Increased current draw during diagnosis or control unit programming can cause a drop in voltage,
which can result in one or more fault entries and the abnormal termination of the programming process.
> Before starting control unit programming, connect a battery charger or power supply, suitable for
Lithium Ion type batteries, recommended current rating of 70A fixed voltage 13.8V.

Work Procedure: 1

Connect the Shumacher INC-700A to the jump-start terminals in the luggage compartment, set the
charger to "Flash Reprogram" and adjust the charging voltage to 13.8 V.

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For further details, see  Workshop Manual '9X00IN
Battery trickle charging'.
2