Replacing PCM3.1 with Erisin Android head unit DIY

11017 Views 224 Replies 21 Participants Last post by Cayman Ed, 2 d ago

T-Design

Discussion Starter · 3 mo ago (Edited)

(EDIT: basic installation instructions and short review: Outstanding Tech Contribution! - Replacing PCM3.1 with... )

I have an absolutely useless PCM3.1 in my 981S, and it was depressing from the get go. Every winter during my Boxster's hibernation I wanted to throw that pathetic POS PCM into the trash and replace with something nice, but every time I checked there were no units that would tick every box in my virtual checklist for ideal unit.

Well, when I checked this year - it looks like there is finally a unit, that on paper does absolutely everything I wanted. The biggest requirements

Navigation and music library without phone
wireless Android auto
wifi internet + movies
mechanical knobs
perfect fit with matching bezel

So no matter how busy I am, I decided it's time to stop being lazy, and bring my otherwise perfect Boxster into modern times.
Here's the link in case somebody want to follow... or to lead

www.erisin.com

Erisin ES8559C 7" IPS Android 11.0 Car Multimedia Wireless CarPlay Android Auto Radio For Porsche Cayman/Boxster/718/911/981/997 GPS DSP 4G SIM Card

Octa Core, 2*A75+6*A55 64-bit 1820MHz CPU, 4G+64G, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, TDA7851L with DSP Amplifier, IPS, 4G Module for Internet, Split Screen

www.erisin.com

I did not see manual, and have absolutely no idea how hard it will be to install, but how hard can it be, right?
DIY to follow

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Zoomby_U

· #181 · 28 d ago

Got it ... I'm strongly suspecting that the CANBUS dash relay click issue is causing the interference ... or at least the additional noise over and above what the SPP has by default.

anekdotos said:
Unfortunately it did not. Waiting for my connector adaptor to come in to try a few different things.

Cayman Ed

· #182 · 28 d ago

2

I reviewed my chat with Erisin and they stated to cut green wire (Canbus L) and connect to the Black wire (Harness A, #7) ground. They cut the wrong wire (intended for Rear Left Speaker -) in the new adapter they sent me! Waiting for their verification if they made a mistake.
See photos they sent me through chat message:

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anekdotos

· #183 · 28 d ago

Oh yeah looks like they got the orientation all wrong.

Hm… so they’re saying to short CAN low to ground? This is definitely starting to get over my head, but is it okay to even short CAN low to ground? My googling is saying no, and that while it’s unlikely to cause damage, it may cause faults.

Cayman Ed

· #184 · 28 d ago

2

anekdotos said:
Oh yeah looks like they got the orientation all wrong.

Hm… so they’re saying to short CAN low to ground? This is definitely starting to get over my head, but is it okay to even short CAN low to ground? My googling is saying no, and that while it’s unlikely to cause damage, it may cause faults.

TBH, I am not an electronic & software expert but here is another shot of my Erisin chat message last month:

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Cayman Ed

· #185 · 28 d ago

Zoomby_U said:
Thanks for the updates gents ... it looks like I had the Canbus issue as well ie. relay click and parking brake light going on and off.

@anekdotos,Yes splicing in the RCA's did fix the volume issue and I thought about getting the attenuators but it's more trouble than it's worth TBH. I actually just soldered the wires back on the harness to put it back to OEM.

@Cayman Ed, how have you been getting a hold of Erisin? I've used their website to leave messages and sent emails to [email protected] but haven't heard back in 2 days. For some reason mine did not come with a harness ... so I guess if they sent me one, it would fix the Canbus issue at least. Then I could splice that harness and add 12db attenuators which should fix the problems.

I missed your question Zoomby_U. I chat with them through Aliexpress' Erisin Official Store. We also have communicated through email: [email protected]. The new quad lock wire harness adapter was sent later after I complained about relay switch tick noise & brake pilot light flashing. I have not installed yet and waiting for their response as it looks like they cut the wrong wire (speaker wire) instead of the Canbus L.

Zoomby_U

· #186 · 27 d ago

Thanks Ed ... Erisin told me I had to pay $12 USD for the "special harness" ... lol. I told them they could send me it for free or issue me a refund.

One other theory is could it be the powered radio antenna causing the interference? @anekdotos did you try unplugging the fakra connector to see if that helps? Or possible might have to cut the powered antenna cable ... just trying to figure out what is powering on during startup as the static only starts after I here the dash click when the speakers aren't plugged in.

Cheers,
Zoomby_U

Cayman Ed said:
I missed your question Zoomby_U. I chat with them through Aliexpress' Erisin Official Store. We also have communicated through email: [email protected]. The new quad lock wire harness adapter was sent later after I complained about relay switch tick noise & brake pilot light flashing. I have not installed yet and waiting for their response as it looks like they cut the wrong wire (speaker wire) instead of the Canbus L.

anekdotos

· #187 · 27 d ago (Edited)

Zoomby_U said:
did you try unplugging the fakra connector to see if that helps

Yeah - no go. The only connector that when removed completely stopped the noise (and any sound for that matter) was the blue connector in the quadlock. If you look at the pinout in my previous post, that has the "Amp On" pin. So, turning the ASK amp off stops the noise and all audio for me (not surprising).

My guess is that on bootup it takes a bit to turn the Amp On. Ive been decompiling some stuff and trying to work out exactly whats happening, but thats slow moving.

Edit: Thats also what makes me think that its just noise that the unit is creating on the power lines (that the amp is picking up), which may be addressed by that DC filter that @Cayman Ed has on the new harness. Cause if you hear it without the speaker lines plugged in, then the noise isn't coming from there.

I seem to have two "phases" of noise. During boot I hear some low level noise, then it seems like there's another level of noise that gets added to that. Im guessing first level is amp getting turned on, next level is when the built in amplifier gets turned on and sets the speaker out to speaker level.

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Cayman Ed

· #188 · 27 d ago (Edited)

First of all, the new adapter quad harness was sent to me free of charge.
Last night, they acknowledge that they cut the wrong wire for me

instead of the Can L green wire. No need to put the missing fuse in the noise filter box.
The instruction remains the same: try the new harness with the cut wire first and if ticking persists, connect cut green wire from radio's end to the black wire #7 of harness A.

anekdotos

· #189 · 27 d ago

FWIW, I tried disconnecting CANLow but the clicking as well as the noise was still there for me

In other news, I managed to get ADB access via USB as well as figured out how to access Recovery.

Unfortunately in an effort to install Magisk I flashed a modified boot.img file and now I'm bootlooping... and for whatever reason I can't get into recovery anymore (wont read USB Drive). Oh well, I'll keep poking and try to recover.

But if anyone knows how to get into recovery with some hotkey combination I'm all ears

Cayman Ed

· #190 · 27 d ago (Edited)

I experienced app looping after it has boot up when I tried the first solution/instruction of Erisin to turn off Canbus in Factory Setting and turn it on all in the effort to solve the relay clicking noise/brake pilot lamp flashing. Boot up was good except for app looping & radio station randomly changing. They sent me a Bootup file that I uploaded via USB port and solved it. I still have the FW files but you can reach out to Erisin too if they have other solutions.

anekdotos

· #191 · 27 d ago

Cayman Ed said:
I experienced app looping after it has boot up when I tried the first solution/instruction of Erisin to turn off Canbus in Factory Setting and turn it on all in the effort to solve the relay clicking noise/brake pilot lamp flashing. Boot up was good except for app looping & radio station randomly changing. They sent me a firmware that I uploaded via USB port and solved the app looping. I still have the FW files but you can reach out to Erisin too if they have other solutions.

If you could send me the FW files that'd be much appreciated!

Cayman Ed

· #192 · 27 d ago

send me DM

anekdotos

· #193 · 22 d ago

Wow, I somehow just managed to fix my unit even after Erisin said it was unrecoverable. I'm not sure exactly what I did, but there's someway to get into Android Recovery by booting up with the volume knob pushed in, pressing a bunch of reset / knobs, then unplugging and plugging it back in where it'll proceed to enter recovery, no USB drive needed. At which point I flashed my backed up boot.img (or you could pull it from an update file) and all was good. If I figure out the sequence of events Ill make sure to document it.

My quadlock adapter just arrived in the states too, so I should be receiving it soon to try to figure out the ASK amplifier noise issue. I'm also receiving another Erisin unit that was meant to replace mine, so I'll probably put that up for sale or keep it as a backup lol.

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Cayman Ed

· #194 · 22 d ago

Erisin after market support has also been a good experience for me too. Have not tried the new quad lock harness yet but let us know how yours will fix the relay switch clicking noise.

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Zoomby_U

· #195 · 19 d ago

@anekdotos have you tried cutting both CANBUS cables by chance? My extension harness should be here on Monday, so that's probably the last thing we can try from a wiring perspective.

anekdotos

· #196 · 19 d ago

Yeah I tried. The canbus high is required to turn the unit on / off. I tried to apply 12V to the wake pin as well on my bench supply and that wouldn’t turn it on either. So it seems it’s tied to the canbus high.

ELCID86

· #197 · 19 d ago

What about cannabis high?!

(sorry, couldn’t resist).

Shawn in VA (USA)

Reactions: 4

Zoomby_U

· #198 · 18 d ago

Thanks ... I tried the same on the bench and couldn't get it to fire up ... so I figured it needed the CANBUS to power on

So frustrating as it's the perfect unit but don't think I can live with the static

anekdotos said:
Yeah I tried. The canbus high is required to turn the unit on / off. I tried to apply 12V to the wake pin as well on my bench supply and that wouldn’t turn it on either. So it seems it’s tied to the canbus high.

anekdotos

· #199 · 18 d ago

Zoomby_U said:
Thanks ... I tried the same on the bench and couldn't get it to fire up ... so I figured it needed the CANBUS to power on So frustrating as it's the perfect unit but don't think I can live with the static

Yeah it's a bit annoying. I actually ordered a USBtin (USB <-> CANBUS) debugger to try to power it up on the bench and maybe add custom CAN commands etc. The static is annoying to me too - I'm receiving my harness adapter tomorrow and have a cheap DC power filter that I'll try... I'm committed to figuring this out.

In other news, I got my hands on the original PCM31 software and managed to pull out the original bootscreens (i.e. Porsche Crest and Vehicle Silhouettes). You can get the originals and upscaled images here: PCM3_BOOTSCREENS - Google Drive

deilenberger

· #200 · 18 d ago (Edited)

anekdotos said:
In other news, I got my hands on the original PCM31 software and managed to pull out the original bootscreens (i.e. Porsche Crest and Vehicle Silhouettes). You can get the originals and upscaled images here: PCM3_BOOTSCREENS - Google Drive

These are REALLY outstanding.. I'll have to post a picture of the Boxster one on the inexpensive Chinese Android for the 987/997 series cars. VERY nice!

Congratulations on a Technical Excellence Award!

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