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2791
Symptom in Vehicle Interior - Red or Yellow Hybrid Warning Message Appears in the
Instrument Cluster: Re-programming control unit for high-voltage power electronics (SY
66/19)
ENU

Vehicle Type:

918 Spyder

Model Year:

As of 2012 up to 2018

Subject:

High-voltage power electronics on front axle/High-voltage power electronics on rear axle

Symptom:

•
•

The red warning message "Hybrid system failure" or the yellow warning message "Hybrid system
fault" appears in the instrument cluster.  Hybrid system warning messages
The vehicle no longer starts the engine from Start Stop mode; it can only start driving after the
ignition has been switched off and on again.

Hybrid system warning messages
Cause:

•

•

Due to a software error in the high-voltage power electronics, a fault memory entry (P0A1B00 High-voltage power electronics – function restriction) can be set at times in the control units for
high-voltage power electronics on front axle or high-voltage power electronics on rear axle, resulting
in the symptoms described here. The fault memory entry is deleted by switching the ignition off and
on again.
A highly discharged high-voltage battery increases the probability that the fault memory entry will be
set.

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Remedial
Action:

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Technical Information

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In the event of a customer complaint and if a software version lower than "F640" is installed in the control
unit for high-voltage power electronics on the front axle or lower than "R640" is installed in the control unit
for high-voltage power electronics on the rear axle, re-program the control units for high-voltage power
electronics on front axle and high-voltage power electronics on rear axle.
Information

Tools:

•

The total time required for control unit programming is approx. 10 minutes.

•
•

9900 - PIWIS Tester 3 with installed PIWIS Tester test software version 38.600.000 (or higher)
Battery charger with a current rating of at least 90 A.

Preparatory work
NOTICE
Caution! Battery will be permanently damaged if unapproved battery charging equipment is connected.
Battery charger voltage must NOT exceed 13.8 Volts or battery damage will result!
NOTICE
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 commencing work, connect a suitable battery charger with a charging current of at least 90 A to
the jump-start terminals in the front storage compartment.
NOTICE

Control unit programming will be aborted if the WLAN connection is unstable.
•

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



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

Control unit programming will be aborted if the driver's key is not recognized
•

If the driver's key is not recognized in vehicles with Porsche Entry & Drive, programming cannot be started
or will be interrupted.



Switch on the ignition using the original driver’s key. To do this, replace the control unit in the ignition lock
with the original driver’s key if necessary.

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Carry out general preliminary work for control unit programming as described in  Workshop
Manual '9X00IN Basic instructions and procedure for control unit programming using the PIWIS
Tester - section on "Preliminary work"'.

Carrying out control unit programming
Work Procedure: 1

Re-program control unit for high-voltage power electronics on the front axle using the
PIWIS Tester.
The basic procedure for programming a control unit is described in the Workshop Manual 
Workshop Manual '9X00IN Basic instructions and procedure for control unit programming using the
PIWIS Tester - section on "Programming"'.
Specific information on control unit programming in the context of this Technical Information:

Required PIWIS Tester software version:

38.600.000 (or higher)

Type of control unit programming:

Control unit programming using the 'Automatic
programming' function for the control unit for
high-voltage power electronics on the front axle.

Programming sequence:

Read and follow the information and instructions
on the PIWIS Tester during the guided programming
sequence.
The control unit for high-voltage power electronics
on the front axle is re-programmed during the
programming sequence.
Do not interrupt programming.

Programming time (approx.):

5 minutes

Software version programmed during this
campaign:

F640
Following control unit programming, the software
version can be read out of the control unit for
high-voltage power electronics on the front axle in the
 'Extended identifications' menu using the PIWIS
Tester.

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 Workshop Manual '9X00IN Basic instructions and

Procedure in the event of error messages
appearing during the programming
sequence:

procedure for control unit programming using the
PIWIS Tester - section on "Fault finding"'.

Procedure in the event of abnormal termination of control unit programming:

Repeat control unit programming by restarting
programming.

2

Re-program control unit for high-voltage power electronics on the rear axle using the
PIWIS Tester.
The basic procedure for programming a control unit is described in the Workshop Manual 
Workshop Manual '9X00IN Basic instructions and procedure for control unit programming using the
PIWIS Tester - section on "Programming"'.
Specific information on control unit programming in the context of this Technical Information:

Required PIWIS Tester software version:

38.600.000 (or higher)

Type of control unit programming:

Control unit programming using the 'Automatic
programming' function for the control unit for
high-voltage power electronics on the rear axle.

Programming sequence:

Read and follow the information and instructions
on the PIWIS Tester during the guided programming
sequence.
The control unit for high-voltage power electronics
on the rear axle is re-programmed during the
programming sequence.
Do not interrupt programming.

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Programming time (approx.):

5 minutes

Software version programmed during this
campaign:

F640
Following control unit programming, the software
version can be read out of the control unit for
high-voltage power electronics on the rear axle in the
 'Extended identifications' menu using the PIWIS
Tester.

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ENU

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2

 Workshop Manual '9X00IN Basic instructions and

Procedure in the event of error messages
appearing during the programming
sequence:

procedure for control unit programming using the
PIWIS Tester - section on "Fault finding"'.

Procedure in the event of abnormal termination of control unit programming:

Repeat control unit programming by restarting
programming.

Concluding work
Work Procedure: 1

Carry out general subsequent work for control unit programming as described in  Workshop
Manual '9X00IN Basic instructions and procedure for control unit programming using the PIWIS
Tester - section on "Subsequent work"'.

Invoicing
Invoicing:

The work involved is invoiced under the labor operation:

APOS

Labor operation

27912530

Programming power electronics

I No.

For invoicing and documentation using PQIS, enter the following coding:
Location (FES5)

27910

High-voltage power electronics

Damage type (SA4)

4022

No signal

References:

 Workshop Manual '9X00IN Basic instructions and procedure for control unit programming using the
PIWIS Tester'

Important Notice: Technical Bulletins issued by Porsche Cars North America, Inc. are intended only for use by professional automotive technicians who have attended Porsche service training
courses. They are written to inform those technicians of conditions that may occur on some Porsche vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper servicing of a vehicle. Porsche special
tools may be necessary in order to perform certain operations identified in these bulletins. Use of tools and procedures other than those Porsche recommends in these bulletins may be detrimental to the
safe operation of your vehicle, and may endanger the people working on it. Properly trained Porsche technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do the job properly and
safely. Part numbers listed in these bulletins are for reference only. The work procedures updated electronically in the Porsche PIWIS diagnostic and testing device take precedence and, in the event of a
discrepancy, the work procedures in the PIWIS Tester are the ones that must be followed.

© 2019 Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

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