Changing '95 993 Motor to OBD2 brain? Doable? Options

[SirAndy]

My '95 993 Motor is a pre-varioram OBD1 Motor and i have been toying with the idea of updating it to OBD2.

There was, for a short time, a OBD2 brain available for the (still aircooled) 993 starting in '96 with the varioram version of the motor.

It is my understanding that besides the tubes inside the intake, the two motors are pretty much identical.

I wonder if i could get a later brain and harness and make it work with my engine.
Is there anyone out there who has tried this?
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) Andy

[Cap'n Krusty]

From what OBD2 stuff I deal with, I have a couple of thoughts. If the system you're controlling is missing components, you may have insurmountable issues. If you're expecting full OBD2 performance out of a 1996 unit, you're NOT gonna get it. It was only slightly more sophisticated than the OBD1 unit it replaced, and lacks a LOT of functions. If you were to change the entire induction/exhaust system to go with the ECU, and you had all the other monitoring components in your car, you might have SOME of the functions you seek, but they might also be pretty basic. Later OBD2, which is pretty well developed after 12-13 years, has hundreds, probably even thousands, of functions, and would be ideal for your use. Remember, however, that there's no such thing as a free puppy, and this puppy could end up costing you a TON.

The Cap'n

[ghuff]

From what OBD2 stuff I deal with, I have a couple of thoughts. If the system you're controlling is missing components, you may have insurmountable issues. If you're expecting full OBD2 performance out of a 1996 unit, you're NOT gonna get it. It was only slightly more sophisticated than the OBD1 unit it replaced, and lacks a LOT of functions. If you were to change the entire induction/exhaust system to go with the ECU, and you had all the other monitoring components in your car, you might have SOME of the functions you seek, but they might also be pretty basic. Later OBD2, which is pretty well developed after 12-13 years, has hundreds, probably even thousands, of functions, and would be ideal for your use. Remember, however, that there's no such thing as a free puppy, and this puppy could end up costing you a TON.

The Cap'n

Yes.

Most OBDII units that allow you to monitor what is going on do not support anything that the OP mentioned.

you might be able to see O2, coolant temp, throttle position, generic OBDII stuff. Like one of the scan tools that you can plug in and monitor your mileage etc.


I had explored the most that a Snap-ON Modis unit would do with plain jane OBDII and was left very unimpressed.

What you are looking for, you need standalone. Forget error codes, take control of the car and know what it is all doing 100% of the time.