Does Porsche use a proprietary OBDII connector!?!
 

Borrowed my buddies OBDII unit and it does not fit into the recepticle on my 2001 Box-S.

Actron Scanner
 

As far as I know, no it is not proprietary. I picked up an Actron reader from Amazon.com not too long ago. For my base '98 986 it connects to the purple port on the left under side of the drivers side foot well with no problems or adapters.

I reviewed the page below before getting my scanner.

http://mike.focke.googlepages.com/acheckenginelight%28cel%29

Hope this helps point you in the right direction.

:cheers:

Peter

My Bad!!
 

I did not try to put the connector into the OBDII slot with enough pressure. Snapped right into place. AND...no codes. So I guess it is just a fried altenator.

The OBDII system is not an all-inclusive diagnostic for the car, mostly engine management, Fuel and emissions. You cannot diagnose a bad alternator tyhrough the OBDII software, it's not designed to do so.

:cheers:

Understood, was just looking to see if any codes fired, even though I knew the altenator was fried, I was looking to see if there was anything else.....

standard
 

Both of my standard ODBII worked...
No problems, and I used a standard code book combined with the bentley manual to t/s my bad o2 sensor.

The OBDII system is standardized. By law, only 1 universal connector can be used, and there must be universal codes. There is a provision in the law for manufacturers to have their own proprietary codes in addition to the standard ones. The reason for this was so as to not shut out DIYs or independent mechanics from performing work on the cars due to limited access to mfg. proprietary codes.

:cheers: