Porsche 991.2 Carrera and Turbo ECU Removal

Owned by Brandyn Mowat
Last updated: Apr 11, 2018 by Former user (Deleted)



These instructions will explain the process for removal of the ECU on the Porsche 991.2 Carrera and Turbo models. 
COBB Tuning would like to give a special thanks to BBi Autosport for assistance creating this document. 






Tools Needed

  • Flathead screwdriver

  • 3/8" ratchet

  • 3/8" 10mm socket

  • 3/8" T30 Torx Bit

  • 3/8" T25 Torx Bit
  • 3/8" T45 Torx Bit
  • Masking Tape


Estimated Removal Time: 1 to 2 hours

Instructions for Removal

Battery Disconnect and hood/deck/spoiler open

  1. Make sure the car's coolant is cool and parked in a location where you can be comfortable leaving it undriven while the ECU is sent out for bench flashing. If the car needs to be moved or pushed while the ECU is not in the car, leave the car in the "N" Neutral position so you can push it. Failure to put the car in "N" Neutral before you remove the ECU will keep the car stuck in the "P" Park until the ECU is installed again. 
  2. RAISE THE SPOILER ON THE CAR TO FULL UPRIGHT POSITION. The button for this is located by the shift lever on the car. 
  3. With your car in a flat level place, pop the hood AND DECKLID and remove the car's cowl piece covering the brake master cylinder and battery.  Once done, go ahead and unhook the negative terminal of the battery using a 10mm socket.  Make sure to pop the decklid prior to removing the battery terminal, or you won't be able to get the decklid open. This goes the same for the spoiler, as mentioned in the step above. 

    Failure to disconnect the battery before removing the ECU can cause significant damage to their delicate circuitry.
    Failure to raise the spoiler before you disconnect the battery will require reassembly of the car so you can raise it again.
    This procedure of removing the ECU does require removal of the coolant cap. If the coolant is still hot and pressurized, personal injury could occur. Please proceed with caution. 




    Fan and Shroud Removal

  4. Next, with the rear trunk open, remove the fan shroud. This step requires no tools. Simply "pop" some of the corners and center connection pieces out and it'll lift out. 



  5. Now remove the two fans. The fans also require no tools. "Pop" them out of place and disconnect the connector piece from the rear of the fan. 



    Air Duct Removal

  6. With the fans out, remove the air duct. You will also "pop" this piece out of place. You may have to move some of the fan wiring out of the way to wiggle it out. 



    Cowl Removal

  7. The cowls on the left and right side of the engine bay will now need to come out. The right side "pops" out of place, while the left side requires using your 10mm socket to remove a single bolt. Once the bolt is out, you will also need to unscrew the coolant cap to get the cowl off. With the cowl off the car, reinstall the coolant cap. Make sure the coolant in the car is not hot and pressurized!!



    Spoiler Assembly Removal

  8. It's now time to work on taking the spoiler off of the car. The first step is to "pinch" the painted inserts and pull them downward. There are a total of two of these inserts. 

    NOTE: Carrera models do not have this extra spoiler "insert" piece, you can skip ahead a few steps (Step 12) to remove the entire assembly. 





  9. With the inserts now pulled down, you can access the T25 torx bolt on each side. There are a total of two bolts, one on each side of the spoiler. 




  10. CAREFULLY, remove the top portion of the spoiler by lifting and pulling away. This is a delicate painted piece, so set it down somewhere safe. 




  11. Remember the spoiler inserts you "pinched" and pulled down on? You can now carefully slide these up and away. 






  12. Next, we are going to remove the main spoiler assembly. Start by disconnecting the lower electrical connection that plugs into the spoiler itself. Once unplugged, find the two T30 Torx bolts holding the spoiler assembly in place. Once these bolts are out, you can carefully, but firmly push the spoiler assembly forward (towards the front of the car) to knock it out of place and then carefully pull it out from the spoiler uprights. 



    Tail Light Removal

  13. It's taillight removal time. Each light is held on by two T25 Torx Bolts. Located these two bolts and remove them. We strongly advise the use of masking tape under the seam of the tail lights. When you remove the tail lights from the body of the car, you will need to press down before you can pull outward. It will become apparent why tape is needed so that you don't scratch any paint! With the tail light out from the body, you can now unplug it from the connector. Set the tail lights aside in a safe place. 




    Deck Lid Assembly Removal

  14. With the tail lights out, find the 4 screws held on by T30 torx bolts that connect the bumper cover and remove them. At this time you will also want to disconnect the electrical connectors found in the top-right of the engine bay on the decklid assembly.  





  15. You are now going to remove the deck lid mechanism and assembly. To do this, we'll want to start by taping off the side of the engine bay and car so you don't scratch any paint. You will then remove the four T45 torx bolts holding the mechanism in place. ProTip: After the deck lid mechanism assembly has been removed, check to make sure that the cords that allow the decklid to pop are in place. If these get bumped out, you will not be able to pop open the deck again!!



    Removal of ECU


  16. The ECU should now be partially visible. Remove the weather guard covering the ECU. There are some small tabs that need to be pried outward and it'll come right out. It's a tight fit, so smaller hands may work better here.




  17. Rotate and pull the two ECU connection harnesses out. Tuck the harnesses out of the way once you have unplugged them. 







  18. Remove the two 10mm bolts holding on the ECU to the car. 





  19. The ECU will now be able to drop out of place, but it's still be held on by one last tab that's connecting to a large wiring loom. You can get a screwdriver of any kind and "pop" it out of place. Once you get this tab out, the ECU can be pulled out of the car. 





  20. With the ECU now out of the car, remove the six T30 torx bolts from the ECU brace. Now that the ECU is all by itself, send it on over to COBB Tuning and we'll get the ECU unlocked and ready to be tuned with an Accessport!