Multiple "optional available" software updates

[gtm]

I had schedule my car for the ARB6 update, for the PCM freezing on "PORSCHE", the WRW1 campaign for the external communications unit, and to have a very small A/C refrigerant leak looked at. ARB6 came OTA subsequent to making the appointment.

ARB6 was confirmed as having installed successfully. WRW1 was done even though OTA worked for ARB6. The software was updated to version 3885 to address the freezing screen. Then my SA tells me that there are "8 optional available updates" for my car. Quite a few systems were apparently in need of attention. The relevant section of the work order is below. It's concerning that installing version 3885 failed initially as did #8 for the navigation update. If updates are failing in the dealership service department with the PIWIS no wonder OTA updates are rare. There were several "quirks" when I got my car back that were all resolved with the 2 finger reset (comfort entry would retract and not return to the preset position, radiator fans were running after shutting down the car and locking it, CarPlay did not connect, the brake feel was worse). The PCM seems to be noticeably quicker but other than that I haven't noticed any changes. The SA was clueless as to what exactly the updated did. Would have been nice to know these were available but it is somewhat reassuring to know that Porsche is actively working on our cars behind the scenes.

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[chun]

You forgot to attach the workorder picture

Curious what those optional updates were

Updates failing is a very known issues with Porsche, so much so, that each update TSB comes with update failing debug instructions and ordering replacement parts formulars for bricked components

I also got the 3885 update, but no optional updates were mentioned. But to be perfectly honest, porsche is not very transparent in switzerland

 

[gtm]

You forgot to attach the workorder picture

Curious what those optional updates were

Updates failing is a very known issues with Porsche, so much so, that each update TSB comes with update failing debug instructions and ordering replacement parts formulars for bricked components

I also got the 3885 update, but no optional updates were mentioned. But to be perfectly honest, porsche is not very transparent in switzerland

Posted the work order.

 

[chun]

Posted the work order.

So they updated quite a few ECUs also.

I didn't get that, looks like your dealer is better than mine.

Do you have or have had the navigation turn by turn freezing issue? Do you still have it? As I see your navigation module also got updated

 

[gtm]

So they updated quite a few ECUs also.

I didn't get that, looks like your dealer is better than mine.

Do you have or have had the navigation turn by turn freezing issue? Do you still have it? As I see your navigation module also got updated

Never had the turn by turn freeze but I would intermittently (but rarely) just lose a navigation route. System remembered the destination but I would have to select it again to get nav back. Haven't used nav enough since the update to know if there is any improvement. It was a relatively rare fault.

 

[GreenHornet]

I got the 3885 update also, I know they did other updates also. But they don't release work orders when done on warranty.

 

[gtm]

I got the 3885 update also, I know they did other updates also. But they don't release work orders when done on warranty.

I know the systems/modules that got updates but since the service advisor didn't know what the updates accomplished I'm no better informed that you are really. No service campaigns referenced. No notation of what the updates were addressing. Porsche disclosures at their finest.

 

[Solid]

The TSB for the latest PCM version (which is definitely not 3885) is very clear about the order in which things need to be done for it to work properly, and that the parts will not be warrantable if the technician does not do it in the right order. It very much reads like there is impatience at the mothership with techs not reading through things and doing them strictly in order. There are updates for a very large number of separate onboard modules listed in the TSB not just the PCM. For each it lists some minor details on what the updates do - granted some of them are along the lines of the "stability and performance improvements" useless release notes you see for phone apps and whatnot.

It's pretty obvious that some very poor decisions were made about how these systems work at a low level, with no tooling and recovery firmware for OS/software recovery and a very poorly architected update process. That the thing can be bricked at all implies they did not think through recovery from failed updates early in the design phase, and there is no reason that the load from the USB should take up to 5 hours unless it is doing something monumentally stupid as part of this process. Cisco's idiotic self-unpacking shell scripts for updates - I'm looking at you.

 

[jeffb]

I had schedule my car for the ARB6 update, for the PCM freezing on "PORSCHE", the WRW1 campaign for the external communications unit, and to have a very small A/C refrigerant leak looked at. ARB6 came OTA subsequent to making the appointment.

ARB6 was confirmed as having installed successfully. WRW1 was done even though OTA worked for ARB6. The software was updated to version 3885 to address the freezing screen. Then my SA tells me that there are "8 optional available updates" for my car. Quite a few systems were apparently in need of attention. The relevant section of the work order is below. It's concerning that installing version 3885 failed initially as did #8 for the navigation update. If updates are failing in the dealership service department with the PIWIS no wonder OTA updates are rare. There were several "quirks" when I got my car back that were all resolved with the 2 finger reset (comfort entry would retract and not return to the preset position, radiator fans were running after shutting down the car and locking it, CarPlay did not connect, the brake feel was worse). The PCM seems to be noticeably quicker but other than that I haven't noticed any changes. The SA was clueless as to what exactly the updated did. Would have been nice to know these were available but it is somewhat reassuring to know that Porsche is actively working on our cars behind the scenes.

Excuse the ignorance, but what is the "two finger reset"?

 

[gtm]

The TSB for the latest PCM version (which is definitely not 3885)

For the J1.1 cars version 3885 is the newest that Porsche will install. There are other newer/higher numbered versions released but so far those will not be installed by Porsche on a J1.1 car. There is some thought that the newer versions will work on a J1.1 but to date I don't believer there is any proof that a version higher than 3885 has actually been installed on a J1.1.

 

[gtm]

Excuse the ignorance, but what is the "two finger reset"?

Two fingers on the upper right corner of the upper central display gets you into an engineering screen that allows you to force a reboot. The exact positioning is a little tricky but it will work on a J1.1 car. Handy for times when something glitches and frequently solves minor problems.

 

[jeffb]

Two fingers on the upper right corner of the upper central display gets you into an engineering screen that allows you to force a reboot. The exact positioning is a little tricky but it will work on a J1.1 car. Handy for times when something glitches and frequently solves minor problems.

Thanks. Good to know.

 

[chun]

The TSB for the latest PCM version (which is definitely not 3885) is very clear about the order in which things need to be done for it to work properly, and that the parts will not be warrantable if the technician does not do it in the right order. It very much reads like there is impatience at the mothership with techs not reading through things and doing them strictly in order. There are updates for a very large number of separate onboard modules listed in the TSB not just the PCM. For each it lists some minor details on what the updates do - granted some of them are along the lines of the "stability and performance improvements" useless release notes you see for phone apps and whatnot.

It's pretty obvious that some very poor decisions were made about how these systems work at a low level, with no tooling and recovery firmware for OS/software recovery and a very poorly architected update process. That the thing can be bricked at all implies they did not think through recovery from failed updates early in the design phase, and there is no reason that the load from the USB should take up to 5 hours unless it is doing something monumentally stupid as part of this process. Cisco's idiotic self-unpacking shell scripts for updates - I'm looking at you.

Here's the list he mentions, but I will mention that @gtm didn't get all of these ECU updates, just some of them:

 

[chun]

Here's the list he mentions, but I will mention that @gtm didn't get all of these ECU updates, just some of them:

But it explains why some people with 3885 update mention "faster" PCM, while others, like me, don't.

It's because some got some ECU updates, while some, like me, didn't get any ECU update, just the PCM version... time to change dealer.

 

[Solid]

I have two 2020 Taycans at different homes in the US - both CPO's. Both show the same version numbers on the displays (3885) and both have clearly different behavior, sometimes just little things but enough that you notice because your muscle memory is wrong between cars. One example: on one of them the follow distance for ACC defaults to the middle after the car has been sitting. On the other the setting stays where it was last used. My plan is to ask the dealers to ensure that every module is updated so that my two cars actually behave the same. I plan to point specifically to the TSB above and the newer PCM firmware available in the PIWIS to try to drive this to be both consistent and fully up to date. Then I'll repeat at the dealer near where the other car is garaged.

I imagine they'll never change the hilarious Bronx-accented "Map update was installed" but that is ok since I hit the button to hear it on purpose for a giggle.

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