Recommended Alternative Scan Tool/Code Reader to Durametric

[Hamstuh]

Originally Posted by Danimal

Used Duramterics come up for sale pretty often. I bought mine used on this site for $100. Still has two VINs and did not log mine after using it. There is a 986/996 for sale facebook group that tends to have them too.

I vote used durametric and if you need the unlimited version, worry about it later. The real challenge is finding an old windows laptop that can run it....at least it was for me.

the compatibility specs on their website says basically any windows laptop can run it. are there strict limitations that i should know about ? buying a laptop isnt an issue

[Danimal]

Yes, there is a section saying that it needs to have an older version of .NET protocol enabled. I could not enable it on a relative’s newer windows laptop (there are many posts about people having similar issues on Reddit, YouTube etc. trying to enable it for other reasons). But I was able to enable it on my mom’s old laptop.

I am a Mac user and didn’t want to buy a used laptop and hope it is compatible….so I had to beg and borrow what was available.

Originally Posted by Hamstuh

the compatibility specs on their website says basically any windows laptop can run it. are there strict limitations that i should know about ? buying a laptop isnt an issue

[Hamstuh]

Originally Posted by Danimal

Yes, there is a section saying that it needs to have an older version of .NET protocol enabled. I could not enable it on a relative’s newer windows laptop (there are many posts about people having similar issues on Reddit, YouTube etc. trying to enable it for other reasons). But I was able to enable it on my mom’s old laptop.

I am a Mac user and didn’t want to buy a used laptop and hope it is compatible….so I had to beg and borrow what was available.

Correct me if im wrong, I do work with computers quite a bit. My first thought would be to install an older version of windows and then install the proper .net for it ? I read a bit online and saw win 10 can cause some issues though a 32 bit windows 7 has worked. With that said, a fresh media creation tool install of windows should allow that protocol to install properly and therefore work ?

[tcoradeschi]

Durametric works fine on win10 home edition with a freebie HP that I sourced from freecycle. That PC won’t run win11 (at least not without some trickery), so can’t personally comment on the .NET situation there.

[Danimal]

That is my understanding as well. But the computers I was using weren’t mine and I didn’t want to try some of the work arounds I came across. Fortunately one of them worked.

Originally Posted by Hamstuh

Correct me if im wrong, I do work with computers quite a bit. My first thought would be to install an older version of windows and then install the proper .net for it ? I read a bit online and saw win 10 can cause some issues though a 32 bit windows 7 has worked. With that said, a fresh media creation tool install of windows should allow that protocol to install properly and therefore work ?

[theiceman]

Well i just borrowed the Icarsoft por 2.0 from my buddy

When i tell it i have a boxster and go to live data it only has deviation for one cam . Also the number it displays is non sensicle 1017 or something .



A bit disappointing , i find for a 2001 with no can bus icarsoft does very little.

Hopefully it is just something i am doing wrong and someone can correct me .

( 2001 S )

[PLP]

You can always rent one from eBay.

They rent Durametric Pro and actually from time to time PIWIS as well.

https://www.ebay.com/usr/midwest.vw?ul_noapp=true

I used them and they are very good.

[elav]

Originally Posted by PLP

You can always rent one from eBay.

They rent Durametric Pro and actually from time to time PIWIS as well.

https://www.ebay.com/usr/midwest.vw?ul_noapp=true

I used them and they are very good.

Or buy an Enthusiast version with remaining VINs (as they lock it to 3). That is how I got mine at a reasonable price.

[PLP]

Originally Posted by elav

Or buy an Enthusiast version with remaining VINs (as they lock it to 3). That is how I got mine at a reasonable price.

Yes, you could, but depending what you need to do, Enthusiast version has limitations.
For example, I had to use Prof version to activate cruise control.

[997_986]

Originally Posted by theiceman

Well i just borrowed the Icarsoft por 2.0 from my buddy

When i tell it i have a boxster and go to live data it only has deviation for one cam . Also the number it displays is non sensicle 1017 or something . [...]

European (and canadian??) cars only display one bank, i had to learn that and was just as pi.... off as you, but this is a feature and not a bug. I used a durametric.

[theiceman]

Originally Posted by 997_986

European (and canadian??) cars only display one bank, i had to learn that and was just as pi.... off as you, but this is a feature and not a bug. I used a durametric.

Thanks for the info

i did notice the encode wheel on each cam, but never even thought to check if there was a cam sensor there.

That might make sense as the second cam sensor was added for ' quick start" , this boxster cranks a couple of times before firing up .. now i have to double check .. i do have a good buddy with a durametric but he lives on the other side of the city, will have to connect with him.

Thanks

[theiceman]

quick update

Although the icarsoft ver 2.0 did not work . I just pulled the trigger on the Topdon 500 on a prime day special ( 183.00 CAD) . . I will report back on what I find. whether this car has 2 cam Sensors and what it reports.

[theiceman]

Well i dont know who said TOPDON 500 gave cam deviation, but it didnt,, so that was a bust. \id be happy if someone told me i was wrong but so far no luck.

it does kick out data for both vcam sensors, but in deg.kw...
bank one 1016.83 Deg.kw
Bank two 1023.27 Deg.kw

we want Deg.crk ( degrees of crank. )

if someone knows how to get the data we are looking for from this id be happy to learn. But so far TOPDON is a total bust.

oh well

[theiceman]

Originally Posted by dkh

Does the TOPDON AD600D report camshaft deviation in percent deviation? The TOPDON AD500 (2024 new version) reports it but not in percent.

i think he means in degrees of crank , now i have it i see it, the data presented is not useful

[theiceman]

@dkh

can you show us what you are seeing ?

[78F350]

I don't know about the AD500. This is how my AD600S showed cam deviation on one of my 2001s:

[theiceman]

Originally Posted by 78F350

I don't know about the AD500. This is how my AD600S showed cam deviation on one of my 2001s:

Thanks for this pic.

yup this is exactly what i would have expected .... below is what the 500 shows.



so looks like the 500 is an epic fail.

[theiceman]

So as luck would have it .....

i decided to return my TOPDON ad500 as it seemed pointless paying 206 dollars CAD for something that didn't do what i wanted it to do. Although i did like the unit .

i checked for the AD600s it it showed as not available on AMAZON.CA only the 500. But i do have an Amazon.com account also as i live close to the border and we often get ripped off on amazon.ca and i have a US address i get stuff shipped to.

They showed the 600 and also it was under a lightning deal so i grabbed it. ( i hope it was the right one) . I just have to nip over the border to pick it up so no big deal.

It turned out to be just 50 bucks more expensive than the 500 I had so well worth it .

I will report back when i have it in hand.

[theiceman]

Well i just picked up my TOPDON AD600S .. jury is still out whether it can read cam deviation as my car is stored for the winter. But i do have a buddy with a 996 still on the road so im going to go see him and se if it will read. ihis is a 99 so if it reads his i think im fine..
stay tuned.

edit ..Well I have an update and its not good ....

Got the TOPDON600S and wanted to see if it could show the data I am looking for . Problem is the Boxster is in Storage as it is winter here and snow is here. But i do have a buddy with a 996 ( 1999) that still has his on the road. He said i could use his car to test. based on screen shots from the TOPDON600S above I was fully expecting to see the results from cam sensors on his 996

Well im not sure how different the DME software is on his 1999 996 vs my 2001 986 , but there was no TAGS for Cam at all, The software has been updated since the above screenshots and it is prettier .. but going down the list there was nothing that referred at all . I was able to take a couple of screen caps of what data was being shown on his car and nothing about the cam which is surprising given it is the same engine.

Im going to go ask on the 996 forum to see if there is any info over there.





I can only hope that the DME software is more advanced onmy 2001 and i can report results in the spring.

[theiceman]

Just bumping this to the top in case anyone has any opinions on this .. I edited the above post on what i recently found.