Andy Gaunt
Melborne, Australia
Model 964 C4
Year 1990
Acquired MAY 2017
So, as I write this piece, 2022 is rapidly coming to a close. As always, the back end of the year feels like the end of a marathon. Thankfully, driving season is upon us and my 964 has undergone a recent change that has me eager to get into the hills. It also has me marvelling at the global community of independent specialists helping us get the most out of these cars. Allow me to explain…
Mid-2021, after much investigation, I decided to install a MoTeC conversion. Multiple conversations with Colin at Ninemeister in the UK had me feeling positive about the gains I might achieve in terms of performance and drivability. With the help of my Porsche specialist, NINEAUTO, the kit – including custom intake, larger fuel injectors, wiring loom and MoTeC unit – was purchased and duly fitted.
Before and after dyno runs suggested a solid increase in horsepower and torque, and my early impressions were positive. However, the car developed some significant drivability issues. My local tuning shop – recommended by MoTeC in Australia – tried many times to overcome these issues, but the deeper we went, the worse it became.
The car’s troubles didn’t end there. As some issues were improved, new issues would present themselves. The engine would sometimes cut out unexpectedly when I pressed the clutch while driving; the engine would hunt at idle; the car would start bucking when driving at low RPM and low speed around local streets or car parks; and engine responsiveness also seemed to suffer.
We were determined to solve the problem and NINEAUTO went over the car with a fine-toothed comb to ensure there wasn’t a mechanical gremlin causing the drivability problems. It suggested we have Ninemeister look at the car’s ECU map and see if its technicians could spot any obvious problems with the tune, or tell-tale signs of a mechanical issue for which the tune was trying to compensate.
My tuning shop – which had been fully committed to resolving the issues from day one – sent me the map and it was passed on to Ninemeister for assessment, along with detailed notes on the symptoms, compiled by NINEAUTO.
Overnight I received a revised map, which was then loaded into the car’s brain and tested. The result? Car transformed! No more engine hunting, no shunting at low speed and no cutouts. Additionally, responsiveness was restored, making the car feel agile, eager, torquey and ready for anything! It’s brought
