Counterfeit Durametric Cables

[Mark_T]

I had no idea there was such a thing and now, here I am, the "proud" owner of one.

I saw an ad on Kijiji for a durametric cable for $100, which seemed like a pretty good deal, especially after I emailed the seller and was told it was the pro version.
I sent the money and a few days later it shows up. I was trying to figure out if it was a 1st or 2nd gen cable but there were no stickers on it. I sent pics of it to Duramtric to see if they could help id the cable, and they promptly told me it was a fake, and that it would likely only work with very old versions of the software.

It came with a cd with version 3.0.15, and it does work with that version, so I guess it wasn't a total rip-off, but it sure wasn't what I expected. At least now I know there are no stored error codes and that my engine has never been over-revved.

Live and learn, eh?

[pk2]

Originally Posted by Mark_T

I had no idea there was such a thing and now, here I am, the "proud" owner of one.

I saw an ad on Kijiji for a durametric cable for $100,
It came with a cd with version 3.0.15, and it does work with that version, so I guess it wasn't a total rip-off, but it sure wasn't what I expected. At least now I know there are no stored error codes and that my engine has never been over-revved.

Live and learn, eh?

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Was it a total fake or just an older model legit but model misrepresented? Is 3.0.15 hobbled or just an earlier version of current software? Is there much of significance it cant' do?

Regards, PK

[Mark_T]

According to the guy at Durametric, it's a fake, manufactured outside the US. The software is legit, but an early version from Jan 2007. It's not a huge problem for someone like me with an older car, but someone with a newer car would be pretty much hooped. I can read and reset error codes, reset the check engine and airbag light - most of the main stuff that I would need the tool for.

Here's the version history from Durametric if you wanted a more detailed answer.

http://www.durametric.com/versionhistory.aspx

It was kind of embarrasing going to Durametric tech support for help and being told that they couldn't help me because it was a counterfeit cable, but I apologized for the trouble and they agreed not to send their jack-booted thugs to kick in my door at 3 am.

[Paul]

So are you going to destroy it or support criminals?

[Mark_T]

That's a really good question, and I have wrestled with it. I guess where I've ended up is that the criminals already have my cash and so I've already supported them and there's nothing I can do about it. If I destroy the cable, the only loser is me. What I will not do is turn around and sell it to someone else. I'll use it until I am able to buy a new Durametric kit, and then I'll hang it on my Wall of Shame with some of my other misadventures.

[Paul]

Any chance of returning it for a refund?

[vipola]

Originally Posted by Mark_T

That's a really good question, and I have wrestled with it. I guess where I've ended up is that the criminals already have my cash and so I've already supported them and there's nothing I can do about it. If I destroy the cable, the only loser is me. What I will not do is turn around and sell it to someone else. I'll use it until I am able to buy a new Durametric kit, and then I'll hang it on my Wall of Shame with some of my other misadventures.

+1

[Lobo1186]

wait... this is one of them foreign car websites? well i'll be...

[skisol]

So aftermarket brakes, rims, lights, radio's, maintenance parts etc etc etc are no problem?

Since it does the job on older models, where can I buy this cable?

[Jaxonalden]

And with that I have to say...Touché !

[eightsandaces]

I wonder if Paul bought a $50,000 Monet painting whether he would then destroy it if it was discovered to be a forgery.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by eightsandaces

I wonder if Paul bought a $50,000 Monet painting whether he would then destroy it if it was discovered to be a forgery.

I would collect the money from the company that guaranteed it to be an original.

[vipola]

Originally Posted by skisol

So aftermarket brakes, rims, lights, radio's, maintenance parts etc etc etc are no problem?

Since it does the job on older models, where can I buy this cable?

Seriously, for the price of the real durametric cable, and specially of a Used one..
I would highly suggest you to go with the Real Durametric cable.. they where tested in every situation.. the last thing you want is to damage your car electronic with that clone.. It may work, but It may be instable in some situation..
Save yourself a bunch of trouble and buy the peace of mind for 200$..
Also You want to Encourage Durametric so they continue their research enabling new feature.. Because Even if OBD2 Protocole is public, I'm pretty sure the custom features from porsche have no documentation about them and is a lot of work to implement. And Durametric give a very nice Support service if you have any question about the functionnality

[mikefocke]

Originally Posted by skisol

So aftermarket brakes, rims, lights, radio's, maintenance parts etc etc etc are no problem?

Since it does the job on older models, where can I buy this cable?

It isn't the older models it works on but a limited set of functions it works with and being restricted by the copy-cat cable will limit you to. There are other cables and free s/w with license that are available too if you look but they too are limited in functionality compared to Durametric's latest. I swear I've seen those cables mentioned for $50 or less.

There are lots of things that the Durametric new cables allow to work with later versions of their software. What later versions implement can be understood by their version history on their web site.

Durametric s/w started out as little better than a code reader and gradually got better and better as more people bought the s/w and funded their development.