Hello Everyone!

Its been a rough two weeks down here. I just had my neutral safety replaced two days ago. The technician told me they had to program the switch into the computer so it would recognize the new switch. When I picked up my car, It was shifting different! Once I got on the highway, I noticed my performance wasnt like before. My 997S would literally make me sick when I drove aggressively due to speed and that didnt happen. I was told the car had to relearn my driving habits. Could my car have had an ECU flash by the previous owner. My mechanic told me he has no way of knowing if it were tuned before. I can tell you I ran with a friend that also has a 997S. Our cars werent even close. I definitely had more torque and speed after riding in his car.

Questions:

1. Could the switch repair delete an ECU tune?
2. Does my car look familiar to anyone? I've had the car less than two months.
3. How can I found out who did the tune? VIN?

 

I have two ideas that may help you narrow your variables.

Did they put 93 octane fuel or anything different? Have you completely depleted the gas tank (near depleted at least) then refille with 93 to make sure? This will DEFINITELY cause big feel differences.

Did it just get very very hot where you live? It did here and I can feel the heatsoak to a degree keeping my car a bit sluggish compared to the perfect weather I had before.

3. Unless it has had ALOT of work done, I don't understand how a tune reverting to stock could have that much effect. Can you post pics of inside your engine bay with good lighting and resolution? Might help people spot things that could be effected by a tune MAYBE but not likely (X51 kit, ipd plenum, stuff like that).

Also, is it a manual?

 

You need to ask the tech that did work if he re flashed the ecu? If they did then you know your car had a tune on it before.
I have tunned these cars in the past, and basically these ecu tunes are altering the timming and fuel parameters, that do make the engine perform different than stock.
It would be very hard to trace who tuned the ecu, maybe get ahold of the owner before you got the car.

 

If you lost a ecu mod what you would miss most is an aggressive throttle tip in. This throttle reprogram is probably 75% of what makes a reflashed car seem quicker. If you have sport mode be sure to engage it and see if that perks car back up. If not you will need to use a heavier foot on the throttle to get increased responsiveness. Try full throttle runs. Short of contacting previous owner you can't trace previous ecu mods.

 

I will definitely take a picture shortly and post. My car is Tiptronic. I just called my mechanic and he stated they do not have the capabilities to reflash an ECU. It has been getting hot. Heat index yesterday was north of 95!! I drive in sport mode most of the time, and I just havent felt the torque. I filled up my car last night with 93 octane. Well, I always use 93 octane. Should I not??

 

Here is a picture. Hopefully you can see what I can't.

 

I've noticed heat soak for sure, both in Houston and Central texas. Also, yes only use 93 octane. If its possible your friends/girlfriend/sister/brother/wife/etc. have driven the car and filled it up, a different, lower octane gas describes exactly what you are saying. The computer takes a while to re-learn its air/fuel ratio and is sluggish/off. I haven't done it in this car but I have done that to another poor sports car (I was 16 back in those days...)

As for tiptronic shifting slower, hmm that one leaves me kind of lost. I'm not sure why. May need to bring it back to your tech.

 

Your engine looks like it's in the right place What could we possibly see that you haven't been able to see? I think heat could be part of the issue for you. As others suggested if you can check with previous owner about a possible tune that would help narrow down the problem too. Good luck.

 

I see the problem...you are missing the turbos

That is interesting, the heat/humdity has been up in these parts as of late (as is expected) but we've had pretty cool mornings lately, so I'd be surprised if it's weather related.

 

Just drive it for a while. Both you and your car may need to readjust to each other.

 

Turbos are on back order!!!! Lol. I will drive it more and report back. Will hear affect it that much? I don't know who the previous owner is. The dealer however does, but I doubt they will give me the info. I bought the car from a non-Porsche dealer. Heck, they apologized for the YELLOW calipers and offered to paint them.

 

if you have a tip tronic and a ecu tune was on the car prior, that is where I believe you would feel the LOSS you are talking about.... As stated the tech should be able to tell you what parameters he went into during your service.

 

Just FYI, I see no way that changing the switch would require them to "program the switch" into the computer. That sounds like a bunch of hooey to me. It is also very unlikely they reflashed the car since they probably don't have the factory firmware to flash it with.

However, it is reasonably likely that they disconnected the battery which will put the ECU back into a "safe" learning mode that is typically less aggressive. If you keep driving in your normal style (sounds like it must be aggressive) the ECU will relearn all of the car's tuning parameters that it tweaks (ignition timing, fuel trim, etc) and it will drive like it used to in a couple of hundred miles.

 

Ok that's great. The mechanic said he didn't tinker with the ECU. He did how ever he did disconnect the battery as you stated. He said the car would need to relearn my driving habits. So you are saying my car will regain its pep after a couple hundred miles?

 

I would say that is reasonably likely.