Help Pls: Dealer can't turn off alarm message after IPOD Kit Install
 

Since installation of my Ipod/Bluetooth kit from Mobridge, I have had this alarm/warning message about car not recognizing the 6 disc CD changer in the trunk of the car (not with car now, will post exact message later on).

Brought car to Pacific Porsche in Torrance and the tech could not turn it off. (The service person also tried to charge me the full cost of $180 or whatever after the unsuccessful attempt :confused:, but that's another story.)

Pacific Porsche is the same service department that thought the volumnious leak from my clutch accumulator is from my Bilstein coilover :eek: (totally inexcusable now that I think about it - unfortunately they are closest to my house), so needless to say, I don't have much confidence. Anyway my questions:
1. Is it "normal" to not being able to turn off the warning message?
2. Is there some trick that the tech doesn't know? If so what is it? Or is this a simple case of the guy now knowing what he's doing?

I had the same deal. They ended having to disconnect the PCM long enough for it reset and then start over. My mistake was I forgot to put the loop in place of the 6 cd changer. Then when it started up, the pcm permanently thought there were 2 cd changers and the tool couldn't reset it correctly. All is well now. I had mine reset at Nashua Porsche.

They have to use the PWIS to disable the 6cd changer, or the ipod player has to be rerouted in the loop. The same thing happened with my dennison unit.

That is why my TT stays stock, no aftermarket anything!

Thanks guys. Winnilaker, so that I understand this process better: what exactly do you mean by "forgot to put the loop in place of the changer"? What is "the loop"?
Also, did you have to change something (with the "loop"), or just "disconnect the PCM longer" solve the problem?

I guess the questions also are what exactly are they supposed to do with PIWIS:
1. Are they turning off the CD Changer so that it no longer "exists"?
2. Or... are they telling the Car's Brain/ECU that there is no CD Changer, don't look for it?

The unit came with a little loop that fits the MOST connectors. You disconnect the CD changer and use the loop to bypass the CD changer.

The tech had to power down the PCM for it to reset to clear things up and start over. I wasn't there the whole time, so unfortunately I don't have all the steps he did.

He was initially trying to use the PIWIS to turn the CD changer off. I'm sure after he reset the PCM, he had to use to it to look for the CD changer to see the Mobridge unit. I'm not sure if the PCM automatically looks for it.

The typical setup for any aftermarket MOST iPOD unit is to replace the CD changer with the iPod unit. I am not aware of any setup that lows both a CD changer and iPod unit to coexist simultaneously.

The loop that is referred to above is used to close the fiberoptic circuit if you decide to plug the iPod unit somewhere else in the fiberoptic loop. As a changer and iPOD can not co-exist, a loop is used to close the fiberoptic circuit after you unplug it from the CD changer so there is no interruption.

http://www.discountcarstereo.com/images/P/foa2db2_m.jpg

PCM expects that the fiberoptic signal flow from one device to another in a certain sequence. Typically, the place to install the iPod unit is where the CD changer is located. The iPod unit essentially replaces the CD changer. Most installers (and DIYers like me) take the fiber optic wires (in and out) out of the CD changer, and plugged it into the iPod unit. The only time PIWIS typically is needed is to tell the car to activate the CD changer in cars that arrived without one from the factory. As the iPod unit is serving as a pseudo "changer," the car needs to know one is there.

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...5&d=1339538168

Again, PIWIS is typically needed to tell the car to recognize a iPOD unit as a CD Changer in cars that arrived from the factory WITHOUT ONE. It shouldn't be needed to tell a car that already has PCM 2.1 to turn off recognition to the changer.

The only thing I can think of is that during the installation, PCM was turned on when the fiber optics were disconnected, creating a fault. You should be able to use PIWIS to wipe the PCM 2.1 gateway fault.

I am not sure if this can be done with the current version of Durametric. But PIWIS can run all the fault memories - if the error is there, then clearing it with PIWIS will probably get rid of the fault.

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...1&d=1339536500

Bob thanks for the detailed reply - very helpful.

1. Did I understand you correctly that because we plug the Ipod Adapter into the CD Changer outlet (I mean, where else in the circuit could you plug the Ipod Adapter? There is no other outlet opening right?), that little Orange Loop you pictured above is NOT needed in all installations? Fuzzy memory but I don't remember ever seeing this loop at all.

2. The exact message I have is:
"System Error: CD Changer not available"
and this would seem consistent with your explanation. That my car's PCM is "looking" for the CD Changer that used to be there, and the Ipod is not recognized as one?

3. What is the 2.1 in "PCM 2.1" please? Are there different versions and 2.1 is the one in the Turbo?

I keep thinking that there is something *very* simple that the tech is not doing. :o I will bring it to a different dealer armed with a little more information now.

Hi Can.

My guess is that a fault is stored in PCM's memory. The fault may have occurred during installation if the installer turned on the unit while the CD changer was disconnected.

With regards to #1, if you installed the iPod unit in place of the CD changer, you shouldn't need anything else. Some people install the iPod unit in a different place int he fiberoptic chain - and activate a bypass when they want to use the CD changer.

#3 - PCM 2.1 is the last version of PCM before the 3.0 version (voice activated, bluetooth, etc starting in 2009) came out.

bob

On another note, the advice I'm giving you is based on the Dension GW500 device. Chris may be right - with your device, the CDC may need to be turned off with PIWIS. I'm not sure how different your unit is.

Dension is a dual optic port device (has been for years) allowing retention of the changer in cars so equipped. If you have a cdc and want to keep it, adding the Dension will work just fine, no such errors.

And it can be placed anywhere in the optic loop (at PCM, at CDR if you have that head unit, at Changer, etc).

Cannga, if you need anything on the Dension side, let me know.

Hi Eric this is precisely what I am debating at this point, to replace my Mobridge with Dension, not because of the alarm signal, but because of the constant beeping noise with the Mobridge Ipod adapter (it's a piece of junk). I've grown so dependent on the Ipod/Bluetooth phone add-on that I don't mind spending more to make it right, especially as this Turbo is a long term keeper. My questions for you please:

1. You've not heard of complaints of beeping noise (on quiet passage between songs with volume control set loud) with Dension Ipod adapter?

2. The MoBridge automatically mutes radio/ipod when a phone call is started or received. Dension does the same?

3. My 2008 Turbo does have the 6 disc CD changer. Did I understand you correctly that with the Dension I will see BOTH my CD changer and Dension Ipod, and both useable? I won't need to bring to dealer to reset?

4. I used Audio 2000 in West LA to install my Mobridge kit. They seem very competent and are nice/helpful. Do you suggest I switch to someone who is more familiar with Dension?
Thanks Eric.

With great help and instruction from Super Moderator Extraordinaire Bob (bbywu) I have been able to solve this puzzle. But don't ask us to explain why I was able to - we are left scratching our heads. The bottom line is that these after-market products could be temperamental and sometimes there is no logic or pattern to follow.

After failures from 2 dealers and Durametric, I finally decided with Bob's help, to pull off the plastic cover of the CD Changer to look. Once I pulled off the plastic cover, much to my surprise, there is already an after-market fiber-optic loop in there. This is that yellow little loop. The installer had pulled off the OEM cable from CD Changer and plug it into this loop. In effect removing the CD Changer from the system.

Instinctively I took off the loop and replugged the factory cable back to the CD changer, just like the way it came originally and that did it. :):):) It seems the Mobridge works without any manipulation of hardware (fiber loop) or software (Durametric). Why the loop was installed I have no idea; I believe it came with the kit so installer just put it there thinking it was necessary. In Mobridge case, that actually causes the alarm as PCM now cannot find the CD changer, hence "CD Changer not available," I think.

This is what I found when I pulled off the cover: OEM cable had been disconnected from CD changer and plugged into an after market loop. Basically installer had removed CD changer from the system - he should not have done this.

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...ine=1369680297

Loop was disconnected and the OEM fiberoptic cable was re-plugged into CD changer.

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...ine=1369680297

Can, I have to tell you, I still don't know why it worked.

Typically, Dension requires you to activate (not deactivate) a CDC setting. Also, Dension gets very unhappy with both the CDC and Dension unit connected simultaneously in the loop. It would seem that your installed did what most of us would do - program the CDC to "installed," plug in your MoBridge unit, and then close the CDC out of the loop.

Still scratching my head, but glad it worked out.

I have over $25k worth of aftermarket upgrades without a single CEL or problems. I don't understand your comment.