Hello,

I bought my car 2011 4s used about a year ago and it was recently being serviced by my local porsche shop. When they were resetting some codes for my PDK due to Emergency mode, i was told that I had some wires connected to my O2 sensors. I assume that its O2 simulators, but I am not sure why they are there, any ideas? Can I tell if my car has an ECU mod?

Thanks,

 

O2 "simulators" are normally used whenever the catalytic converters are removed from the exhaust system. They are designed to "simulate" the actual O2 sensors so not to trip a fault code. Most of the ones I've seen are nothing more than spacers that move the actual O2 sensor out of the exhaust stream so it gives a false "everything's OK" reading. Since your O2 sensors are still plugged in, that would explain why there are wires leading to your sensors. I am surprised that the tech working on your car would find that unusual. It is possible that your ECU was re-flashed with a different program to account for the exhaust changes (assuming there were any). Any Porsche shop with the correct diagnostic software should be able to tell if your programming has been modified.

 

"Any Porsche shop" to me should be your dealership for a 2011 since it's under warranty. Are you taking it to the dealership or someone else? Your dealership can tell you if your ECU is stock or modified. I'm curious as to how you came about a used 2011 in 2011 and don't know if it's completely stock or not.

 

I bought it used from a BMW dealer that took it in as a trade, it had a built in K40 radar detector and I added sharkwerks bypass to it, but did not see any other exhaust mods when I was under the car. I took it to the dealership and will call them, hopefully they will tell me if ECU is stock or modified.