Durametric vs. ?
 

I'm new to the Boxster S will be picking up a 2002 in February. I see mention of a Durametric code scanner on various posts. Is there something unique about the Porsche OBDII that other code scanners won't work ? I have a generic code scanner and was wondering if it will work with the S ?

A standard code reader is fine for most novice to experienced mechanics. Get the error codes, search for diagnosis on the net and trace down your problem. For more detailed info like actual fuel trims, cam deviation, and O2 sensor voltages a Durametric is the choice for most independent Porsche shops and enthusiasts who want to get very intimately involved with their car. In 8 yrs of ownership I have never wanted for a Durametric but some here couldn't live without them. Different horses for different courses...

the Durametric will let you scan the codes, clear the codes, and monitor real-time information when you are running the car.

I love my durametric.m never used anything else though...

I have had my 2001 Box base 2.5 years and have never had the codes read. 10k miles and no problems. Does that mean I am living in ignorance if nothing is wrong?

Maybe. You may have some stored codes that didn't trigger aCEL that could be a hint of coming problems. But I wouldn't sweat it.

You can read/clear codes and monitor most data realtime with a bluetooth OBDII device and your smart phone.

But the way I understand it, the Durametric can actually reprogram things like passenger side airbags, temperature display, etc. (Correct me, Durametric users, if I have misunderstood this.)

How deep do you need to go? The generic OBDII tool might well be enough.

Because Porsche choose to use an unusual diagnostics system, most aftermarket scanners either cannot read many codes, or totally misread them, and cannot clear common MIL's like the air bags, PSM and ABS system codes on Porsche's. It is not unusual for a customer to come into the shop say I have this or that code that I got off my iphone; and when we scan the car, we get something else entirely.

Based upon what people have paid dealers to scan or clear codes, the Durametric system pays for itself the first time the car codes.........

So is the Durametric the go to scanning tool ? Or are there others ? And I thought I read somewhere that the Durametric can only be used on two different VIN numbers ? Any recommended places to purchase ? I'm not needing one right now as I don't even have the car yet but would like to purchase in the future.

The Durametric can access codes that are Porsche proprietary in the areas of security and transmission that code readers can't. But maybe you'll never need to access those areas. Durametric has comparison charts on their web site to show the added capabilities. But buying one at the time you need it is possible.

My 2 cents - (sorry for the long post)...

A generic scan tool will allow you to talk to the engine computer, and that's about it.

The Durametric diagnostic tool will let you talk to ALL the computers on your Boxster S...

Besides the engine computer there are computers (or at least control modules that can store codes) for the transmission, ABS, Airbag/Seatbelt, A/C, and even one for your headlights if you have the Litronix headlights. The Durametic tool will let you talk to all of them. It will also let you clear the codes.

There are two version of the tool - pro and enthusiast. The pro version will let you do most of the things a dealer can do - real-time monitoring of just about everything that has a computer or sensor, read/clear codes, and enable/disable some subsystems. The enthusiast version will let you real-time monitor and read/clear codes but according to Durametric, it won't let you enable or disable any subsystems. The Pro version can be used with an unlimited number of VINs, the enthusiast version limits you to 3 VINs. The Pro version costs about twice that of the enthusiast version.

I bought my 2001 Boxster S back in October. Due to a dead battery, the airbag light was lit, and I used my Durametric cable to clear that code (it was actually the driver seat belt ground), and I discovered that it also had an A/C code set. I cleared that one as well. Both were false codes set as a result of the dead battery.

They're not cheap, but if you want to really dig into what's going on in your Boxster I'd definitely recommend getting an enthusiast cable.

A few words of caution...

1. According to Durametric, the cables are reported to not work with some USB-3 computers. I can verify that when I attempted to install mine on my laptops USB-3 port it crashed my computer. I restored my hard drive (I always shoot a full backup before installing any new hardware or software) and it installed just fine using one of the other USB-2 ports. If your computer ONLY has USB-3 ports, it probably wont work.

2. If buying a used cable off ebay, make sure it's the newer cable (check Durametrics website to determine how to tell), and if it's an enthusiast cable, get an assurance from the seller that it hasn't been used on 3 cars. The VINs are stored in the cable... so a fresh software install on your laptop isn't going to clear them. Older style cables can be upgraded to newer style ones, but there's a cost associated with that and you'll have to send the old one back to Durametric.

Hope this helps...

Bill

Bird dog good feedback that helps clear up some questions I had. I see you are in Atlanta we'll have to get together sometime.

Definitely!