PCM issues and the utter garbage that is support from Porsche

[kerryburn]

Hi guys


I thought I would post to glean a consensus from other drivers around an issues with my Taycan PCM

The issue is simple, on a regular basis (approx 2 to 3 times per week) I will get into the car and the on board SIM will not connect. This has the effect of preventing any connection to my IPhone rendering the bluetooth, car play, and any phone related function unavailable.

Related to this is the equally shite on board apple apps that constantly log out, do not sync properly, are generally slow and un responsive meaning that I have given up using them at all.

I run an IT company so I have a decent knowledge of software and despite the car being in the dealership twice, nothing has fixed it and the latest 'plan' is to replace the entire PCM system, something I am not keen on doing for any number of reasons.

Things I have already done :-

1. Two finger reset on a regular basis, no effect
2. Delete all connections on the phone and re pair, no effect
3. Leave the car outside at night! on the basis that the signal (vodafone I believe) is constant, no effect

The problem resolves itself if I leave the car, let it shut down (approx 15 mins) and then go back, but it is utterly impractical and I am absolutely fed up of having to drive with AirPods on a regular basis, never mind the more recent laws that will ensure I catch a fine at some time.

Its utter shite, totally unacceptable on a car costing £160,000 and I wondered if I am alone with these issues.

For full disclosure I have been offered a refund / new car, which I certainly appreciate but I cannot see any point in changing unless there is proof positive the 2022 model does not have these issues. It is highly unlikely the 2022 PCM is that radically different that these issues (which I am convinced is piss poor software creation) will be any different. To align so many systems to the onboard SIM activating properly is just bad coding!

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[W1NGE]

Hi guys


I thought I would post to glean a consensus from other drivers around an issues with my Taycan PCM

The issue is simple, on a regular basis (approx 2 to 3 times per week) I will get into the car and the on board SIM will not connect. This has the effect of preventing any connection to my IPhone rendering the bluetooth, car play, and any phone related function unavailable.

Related to this is the equally shite on board apple apps that constantly log out, do not sync properly, are generally slow and un responsive meaning that I have given up using them at all.

I run an IT company so I have a decent knowledge of software and despite the car being in the dealership twice, nothing has fixed it and the latest 'plan' is to replace the entire PCM system, something I am not keen on doing for any number of reasons.

Things I have already done :-

1. Two finger reset on a regular basis, no effect
2. Delete all connections on the phone and re pair, no effect
3. Leave the car outside at night! on the basis that the signal (vodafone I believe) is constant, no effect

The problem resolves itself if I leave the car, let it shut down (approx 15 mins) and then go back, but it is utterly impractical and I am absolutely fed up of having to drive with AirPods on a regular basis, never mind the more recent laws that will ensure I catch a fine at some time.

Its utter shite, totally unacceptable on a car costing £160,000 and I wondered if I am alone with these issues.

For full disclosure I have been offered a refund / new car, which I certainly appreciate but I cannot see any point in changing unless there is proof positive the 2022 model does not have these issues. It is highly unlikely the 2022 PCM is that radically different that these issues (which I am convinced is piss poor software creation) will be any different. To align so many systems to the onboard SIM activating properly is just bad coding!

It looks like your comms module / OTA module has an issue - this can be replaced. Without a reliable connection your Porsche Connect services won’t function reliably.

Connecting your phone to the PCM is not dependent on the internal SIM (this is reserved for Porsche Connect etc).


If you have paid extra (I hope not) for the monthly data package to use the internal WiFi Hotspot then connectivity for this could be impaired also.

I can see from the icons on the first photo that you had no cell connection which explains why some of your services aren’t working - weather icon is greyed out for example.

Either you have a pending hardware failure with the above module or something else is up with the PCM.

I always suggest to try your second key to unlock the car (assuming a secondary Porsche Connect ID has been created and assigned) and see what if anything improves in respect of connectivity (rules out back office issues with your Connect ID - have your tried this (it worked for me on more than 1 occasion)?

 

[tigerbalm]

A common experience for many of us with no consistent resolution yet. Some have had hardware replaced and have seen improvements – others report no improvements.

Like you, I suspect its a software timing bug on PCM awake-from-sleep.

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/communications-issues-pcm-app-porsche-tracking.9899/

 

[kerryburn]

It looks like your comms module / OTA module has an issue - this can be replaced. Without a reliable connection your Porsche Connect services won’t function reliably.

Connecting your phone to the PCM is not dependent on the internal SIM (this is reserved for Porsche Connect etc).


If you have paid extra (I hope not) for the monthly data package to use the internal WiFi Hotspot then connectivity for this could be impaired also.

I can see from the icons on the first photo that you had no cell connection which explains why some of your services aren’t working - weather icon is greyed out for example.

Either you have a pending hardware failure with the above module or something else is up with the PCM.

I always suggest to try your second key to unlock the car (assuming a secondary Porsche Connect ID has been created and assigned) and see what if anything improves in respect of connectivity (rules out back office issues with your Connect ID - have your tried this (it worked for me on more than 1 occasion)?

Hey good morning and many thanks for taking the time to reply, the car play connection is dependent on the connection as per the original post, if that is not the case I would welcome advice on how to achieve that, when the SIM does not connect, I cannot connect my Iphone and the fault has been replicated over and over.

Secondary ID is an interesting idea, I had enormous issues that were eventually identified by my own technicians when I was attempting to use a custom email domain as my Porsche ID, as soon as I used Google it was fine

The reason why the PCM module has not been replaced or related systems is that they pass diagnostic every single time. I may be wrong but I am very skeptical that changing modules will help, I will of course let them do it but to say i have no faith would be an understatement

I have not paid for the data package! what sane person would buy an OTA service from Porsche!

 

[kerryburn]

A common experience for many of us with no consistent resolution yet. Some have had hardware replaced and have seen improvements – others report no improvements.

Like you, I suspect its a software timing bug on PCM awake-from-sleep.

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/communications-issues-pcm-app-porsche-tracking.9899/

At least I am not alone!!

 

[W1NGE]

At least I am not alone!!

2 out of 60K+ cars doesn’t make a summer!

But yes - many folk on the forum at least have had PCM issues either the same or similar and have had PCMs replaced with mixed outcomes.

 

[tigerbalm]

When the fault as you described happens – you cannot connect your phone. This is because the PCM boots in such a way that it effectively doesn't know it has the following hardware:

• GSM gateway
• USB interface
• Wifi
• Bluetooth

All these interfaces are contained in one piece of hardware – often called CONBOX or Communications Box (a VW term).

The only workaround you have is to try and get it to boot again with the hardware being available. Its a bit of a crap shoot – but this works 50% of the time for me:

• Sit in your car, but turn it completely off.
• Untick the box to turn off internal surveillance (so u don't activate alarm)
• Lock the car – while sitting in it – with your key. Car will be completely off.
• On the drivers screen ahead of you – the "P" icon for the parking will still be showing.
• Wait for that to disappear – indicating car has totally gone into sleep. This usually takes around 4 to 5minutes.
• Click unlock on your key. Doors will unlock.
• Press the start button on the car to fully wake it up.
• Hope the PCM gods are on your side and the CONBOX boots alongside the PCM in a more healthy way – and all the interfaces are back on-line.

It's a load of old rubbish – don't shoot the messenger!

 

[W1NGE]

Hey good morning and many thanks for taking the time to reply, the car play connection is dependent on the connection as per the original post, if that is not the case I would welcome advice on how to achieve that, when the SIM does not connect, I cannot connect my Iphone and the fault has been replicated over and over.

Secondary ID is an interesting idea, I had enormous issues that were eventually identified by my own technicians when I was attempting to use a custom email domain as my Porsche ID, as soon as I used Google it was fine

The reason why the PCM module has not been replaced or related systems is that they pass diagnostic every single time. I may be wrong but I am very skeptical that changing modules will help, I will of course let them do it but to say i have no faith would be an understatement

I have not paid for the data package! what sane person would buy an OTA service from Porsche!

Ok so I don’t have CarPlay but use the inbuilt Apple Music (works great). I would have thought that CarPlay would use your phone’s data service given the inbuilt SIM is reserved for Porsche services. Perhaps I’m not understanding fully your scenario however.

Email and fancy passwords are not a good mix - perhaps change both (another wild guess).

@Dee has been through this torture and I think is on his 3rd OTA and I assume ‘happy’ with the outcome.

 

[tigerbalm]

I would have thought that CarPlay would use your phone’s data service given the inbuilt SIM is reserved for Porsche services. Perhaps I’m not understanding fully your scenario however.

When this level of issue occurs – there are no interfaces available to the PCM – so alongside the lack of GSM – its not a coverage issue – its that the car doesn't realise it even has a GSM interface. You also lose USB/Wifi/Bluetooth – its all network interfaces – and therefore the car can't "see" your phone (no USB interface) so can't use its data, or show CarPlay, etc.

 

[kerryburn]

When the fault as you described happens – you cannot connect your phone. This is because the PCM boots in such a way that it effectively doesn't know it has the following hardware:

• GSM gateway
• USB interface
• Wifi
• Bluetooth

All these interfaces are contained in one piece of hardware – often called CONBOX or Communications Box (a VW term).

The only workaround you have is to try and get it to boot again with the hardware being available. Its a bit of a crap shoot – but this works 50% of the time for me:

• Sit in your car, but turn it completely off.
• Untick the box to turn off internal surveillance (so u don't activate alarm)
• Lock the car – while sitting in it – with your key. Car will be completely off.
• On the drivers screen ahead of you – the "P" icon for the parking will still be showing.
• Wait for that to disappear – indicating car has totally gone into sleep. This usually takes around 4 to 5minutes.
• Click unlock on your key. Doors will unlock.
• Press the start button on the car to fully wake it up.
• Hope the PCM gods are on your side and the CONBOX boots alongside the PCM in a more healthy way – and all the interfaces are back on-line.

It's a load of old rubbish – don't shoot the messenger!

Hey good morning, I absolutely wont shoot the messenger! Its worth a try, utter garbage on such an expensive car

 

[tigerbalm]

Either way @kerryburn – you should start talking to your Porsche Centre about it.

 

[W1NGE]

Hey good morning, I absolutely wont shoot the messenger! Its worth a try, utter garbage on such an expensive car

It is the same potential issue on the entry level model too (and other Porsche models with PCM 6.0 (and other brands within VAG) - either way not sure what Samsung was thinking about when they came up with this.

 

[kerryburn]

Either way @kerryburn – you should start talking to your Porsche Centre about it.

Already booked in, for the 3rd time and the first time to replace the PCM

 

[ciaranob]

Great assistance and advice here - just to throw in another observation in that it may well be specific to certain hardware issues as suggested above I.e. not just the weird reliance (read bad coding) on software recognition of said hardware - I say this as my 2022 CT and many, many others on this forum have absolutely no issues as have been reported by others. Could it be specific hardware batches, quality control, version related? - no idea - TBH, probably a unique combination of both hw & sw. So the idea of a swap to a 2022 might leapfrog a hardware issue but of course a major assumption that that element has been sorted out!

 

[nikc]

The 2022 model *does have these issues*. Here's a video of my MY22 CT refusing to acknowledge that it has Bluetooth.



This happened *while I was at the dealership for an unrelated problem*. They took it away to take a look, and came back about 25 minutes later saying it had started working again.

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