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WF59 - Replacing Porsche Vehicle Tracking System (PVTS) Control Unit (Workshop
Campaign)
Vehicle Type:

918 Spyder

Model Year:

2015

Country/Market:

•
•

Concerns:

Porsche Vehicle Tracking System (PVTS) control unit

Situation:

In the markets USA and Canada, the 2G telephone network will be phased out and changed
over to the 3G telephone network by the end of 2016.

USA (C02)
Canada (C36)

Since communication between the current PVTS control unit and the telephone network provider will then
no longer be possible via the 3G telephone network, drivers will not be able to retrieve any information
about the vehicle using their app after the network is changed.
If a vehicle is stolen, no message will be sent to the service provider's control centre and as a result, it will
no longer be possible to track the vehicle.
Action
Required:

Replace the existing PVTS control unit with a new 3G-compatible control unit.

Service Level:

This campaign must be carried out by a Service Level 2 Porsche Dealer.
Service Level 0 Porsche Dealers are not authorised to carry out this campaign.
In accordance with the service concept for the 918 Spyder, the vehicle must be transferred to the nearest
Service Level 2 Porsche Dealer in order to carry out this campaign.
In this case, please contact the nearest Service Level 2 Porsche Dealer and arrange for the transfer of
the vehicle and implementation of the measure.
Information on invoicing for the transfer of the vehicle can be found under  Technical Information
'WF5900 Invoicing' at the end of this document.

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Information
Please note the following points before carrying out the campaign:
•

During vehicle acceptance, find out the current usage and contract status of PCC/PVTS by entering
the vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle in the 'Porsche Car Connect – Online
Support' portal.

•

If the customer has not yet started using PCC/PVTS, ask whether he/she no longer wants to use
PCC/PVTS or whether PCC/PVTS should be activated when replacing the control unit.

•

If vehicle acceptance takes place in a Service Level 0 Porsche Centre, this information must be
passed on to the relevant Service Level 1 or 2 Porsche Centre that will ultimately carry out the work.

•

The campaign must always be carried out – irrespective of whether or not the customer uses
PCC/PVTS.

•

Before starting the work required for replacing the PVTS control unit, the replacement procedure
must first be started in the ‘Porsche Car Connect – Online Support’ portal. If PCC/PVTS is
activated, you will then get the installation code required for commissioning and activating the new
control unit. You will find further information about this under  Technical Information 'WF5900
Starting replacement procedure for the PVTS control unit and getting installation code'.

Information
The vehicle must be checked for defects and damage (damage to paintwork, missing parts, etc.) each
time it is handed over, transferred or delivered. Confirmation that the vehicle is in good condition or
details of any damage to the vehicle must be documented and archived for feedback purposes.
Overview:

To replace the PVTS control unit, the following steps must be completed:
•
•
•
•
•
•

Start the replacement procedure via Porsche Car Connect – Online Support and get the installation
code (the installation code is always required if PCC/PVTS was activated)
Create Vehicle Analysis Log (before starting repairs)
Replace PVTS control unit
Start the PVTS control unit and run a function test
Read out and erase fault memories
Create Vehicle Analysis Log (after carrying out repairs)

Affected
Vehicles:

Only the vehicles assigned to the campaign (see also PIWIS Vehicle Information). This campaign affects
289 vehicles in North America.

Parts Info:

NOTE: PARTS WILL NOT BE AUTOMATICALLY ALLOCATED TO YOUR DEALERSHIP. ALL PARTS
MUST BE ORDERED VIA A PTEC/PAV.

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Part No.

Designation
– Use

Qty.

000 043 303 66

 PVTS control unit

1 ea.

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Tools:

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N 989 260 01

 Fastening screw
– Seat belt mount

1 ea.

999 073 312 09

 Screw, M10 x 30.6
– Seat rail

2 ea.

900 817 003 02

 M10 nut
– Seat rail

2 ea.

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

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Suitable battery charger, e.g. VAS 5908 - Battery charger 90A (charging current limit of max. 60
A required)
9818 - PIWIS Tester II with PIWIS Tester test software version 16.000 (or higher) installed.
Torque wrench, 6–50 Nm (4.5–37 ftlb.), e.g. V.A.G 1331 - Torque wrench, 6-50 Nm (4.5-37
ftlb.)
Torque wrench, 20–100 Nm (15–74 ftlb.), e.g. VAS 5820 - Torque wrench, 20-100 Nm (15-74
ftlb.)
9002 - Lifting platform holders
9453 - Access ramps
9027 - Release pin
T40262 - Locking cap
VAS 6558/9-6 - High-voltage test adapter HVA 280

Starting replacement procedure for the PVTS control unit and getting installation code
Information
Before starting the work required for replacing the PVTS control unit, the replacement procedure
must first be started in the ‘Porsche Car Connect – Online Support’ portal in accordance with
the description below. If PCC/PVTS is activated, you will then get the installation code required for
commissioning and activating the new control unit.
Without the installation code, the PVTS control unit cannot be replaced and subsequent
commissioning of the new control unit is not possible for an activated PCC/PVTS.
Procedure:

1

Select Porsche Partner Network (PPN).

2

Select the 'Porsche Car Connect - Online Support' application in the PPN menu.

3

Select the menu  ‘Device Replacement’  Requesting PVTS control unit replacement -1-.

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Requesting PVTS control unit replacement
4

Click in the ‘Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)’ field  Requesting PVTS control unit
replacement -2- and enter the complete VIN (17 characters) of the vehicle and then press the
‘Search’ button  Requesting PVTS control unit replacement -3-.

The entered VIN is then checked and the vehicle data and contract status are displayed.

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Information
After you have entered the VIN and pressed the 'Search' button, if an error message appears informing
you that the VIN was not found or that there is no contract information available Error message
- wrong VIN or no contract information available -1- for the entered VIN, no contract information will be
displayed.

Error message - wrong VIN or no contract information available
Proceed as follows in this case:
•

Check the VIN you entered

•

If the VIN is correct, contact the customer if necessary and ask whether he/she uses
PCC/PVTS

If PCC/PVTS is not activated and as a result, there is no contract information available, the PVTS control
unit can be replaced without first starting the replacement procedure in the 'Porsche Car Connect
– Online Support' portal. In this case, skip Steps 5 to 10 and continue with  Technical Information
'WF5900 Preliminary work'.
5

Press the button ‘Initiate a Vehicle Device Replacement procedure’  Requesting PVTS control
unit replacement -4- to start the PVTS control unit replacement procedure.

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Requesting PVTS control unit replacement
6

In the contract status display  PVTS contract status -1- in the selection window  PVTS contract
status -2-, select the symptom ‘No communication when activating’.

PVTS contract status
7

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Click in the text box  PVTS contract status -3- and enter ‘Changeover from 2G to 3G network
(USA/Canada) – campaign WF59’ as the reason for replacement.

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8

Press the button ‘Start device replacement’  PVTS contract status -4- to continue the
replacement procedure.

9

Click ‘•Next“’ in the window that appears then until the existing installation code is displayed.

9

10 Write down the installation code.

Preliminary work
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.
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 vehicle electrical system'.
Procedure:

1

Raise the vehicle on a lifting platform  Workshop Manual '4X00IN Lifting the vehicle'.
1.1

Position the vehicle between the arms of the lifting platform and push it onto the 9453 access ramps.

1.2

Remove underbody covers and fit mounting plates 9002 - Lifting platform holders, 
Workshop Manual '518119 Removing and installing jacking points'.

1.3

Jack the vehicle at the mounting plates.

NOTICE
Fault entry in the fault memory and abnormal termination of PVTS control unit activation in the event of undervoltage.
•

Increased current draw during diagnosis or control unit commissioning can cause a drop in voltage, which
can result in one or more fault entries and the abnormal termination of the commissioning process.



Before starting any work for which the PIWIS Tester is required, connect a suitable battery charger to the
vehicle.
NOTICE

Use of non-insulated terminal clamps
•

Risk of short circuit

•

Risk of damage to carbon parts



Only use battery chargers with insulated terminal clamps.



Position terminal clamps in such a way that they are not touching any carbon parts.

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Connect a battery charger, e.g. VAS 5908 - Battery charger 90A (charging current limit of max.
60 A required), to the jump-start terminals in the luggage compartment and switch it on  Installation position of external power connection.
For instructions and details of the required battery
charger settings, see  Workshop Manual '9X00IN
Battery trickle charging'.

Installation position of external
power connection
3

Check the position of the terminal clamps and line
routing  Position of charging clamps and then start
charging the battery.

4

9818 - PIWIS Tester II must be connected to the
vehicle communication module (VCI) via the USB
cable. Then connect the communication module
to the vehicle and switch on the PIWIS Tester.

5

Switch on ignition.

Position of charging clamps

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Creating Vehicle Analysis Log (VAL) before starting repairs
Procedure:

1

On the PIWIS Tester start screen, call up the menu  'Diagnostics'  'Other model lines' and
select the vehicle type  '918 Spyder'.
The diagnostic application is then started and the control unit selection screen is populated.