Porsche Repair: PCM & NAV Code Problem, pcm system, jon hahn

Question
Hi Dave,

The battery on my 2000 911 (Millenium Edition) died recently that put PCM into the lock-out mode.  I took the car to a local Porsche dealer to get PCM reset as I did not get the PCM code from the previous owner.  The dealer got the code by looking up the PCM serial number.  However, the codes (PCM and NAV) that they got back from Porsche didn't work.  Now, they're telling me that I need to replace the whole PCM, but it worked just fine until the battery died.  A new PCM costs $3,500, and I really don't believe that it is broken.  I think I just have the wrong code, and need to get the right code or find a way to have a new code assigned to the PCM.  An additional piece of information that might be helpful is that the dealer believes PCM currently in the car is a warranty replacement.  Any help or suggestion would be greately appreciated.

Jon Hahn
jonjhahn@yahoo.com  

Answer
Hi Jon,

Sorry you're having "electrical" problems not of your doing.

I'm sure youve realized the dealer has got to be your newest bestest friend until this is resolved.  Without them on your side, you are stuck!

I'd suggest, at the right time, pushing very hard on the aspect that the "correct" code recently obtained by the dealer would not be accepted by your PCM system, obviously meaning the PCM is dead.  And if the PCM died because the battery died, that's a huge "design flaw" that Porsche really needs to acknowledge and straigthen out to our satisfaction.  And they should be thankful you brought this to their attention!

I'm not sure why there is a question at all about the warranty issue.  They either know it's covered or they know it's not covered, right?  And if it is covered, why haven't they ordered it and installed it for you?  I can only assume the dealer has some sort of disincentive to do the warranty thing, which would be the right thing.  If so, and they continue to drag their feet, then you must be willing to "discuss" this issue with Porsche's regional customer service guru, and keep going higher until you get what you need.

I hope everything works out quickly and simply.

Dave