Durametric
 

Debating in buying one. Was wondering if it makes you more nervous about the car or less nervous. My fear is I plug it in and find some codes I can't do anything about but know will need fixed. Then I will have to worry about getting it fixed, blah blah blah.

Anyone feel that way or is it a really good to have item...

I bought a Durametric tool to reset my oil service for my 997. If there's a CEL or service light, then using the tool will help you identify the problem and to reset it. It does have alot of other diagnostic information if you want to see it. Its alot more info than a regular OBD-II can tell you. Don't over analyze everything, use it as a tool to make your life easier, not worry more about everything.

Cheers

With a Durametric system, you are getting the real codes so you know what is going on. Non Porsche specific scanners often read codes that are not real or totally misleading, which is why owning one of these systems is critical to both saving money and getting the car fixed correctly the first time.

^can you give an example of a "real code"?

I recently answered a post on another forum where I am a moderator concerning a poorly running 996 getting a CEL and codes indicating that it was running both overly rich and overly lean at the same time, which is obviously impossible, when scanned with a generic OBD II unit. When scanned with the Durametric it had a single missing cylinder and a bad coil pack. We also recently had a 986 in the shop that another shop had diagnosed as having a bad DME with a non Porsche specific, but quite expensive scanner; we found a aging O2 sensor.

Porsche uses a peculiar diagnostics software system that can often confuse other scan tools.

What would be a good price for a used one and can I just plug it into my car or is it car specific? (I used to have Ross Tech software for a VW and it was registered to one car.)

Durametric software comes in two forms; Enthusiast, which is limited to no more than three VIN's, and Pro which has no limitations. The Pro also has some features that the Enthusiast version lacks. As these systems are very much in demand, they do not resell at much of a discount off their "first owner" prices of around $300 and $800.

You will also find that the VW software does not do an adequate job on a Porsche, and the suppliers also say on their site it is not useful for this purpose, recommending the Durametric system instead.

I think Durametric is great for an indy shop or a very experienced mechanic. I think it is less useful for average Joe Porsche driver because it does require a significant level of understanding when using it. DIY mechanics with less experience often get confused and misinterpret the data. For them (and me) a simple pocket OBDII reader works great. If I need deeper diagnosis, I take it to a trusted shop.