Porsche Diagnostic Tool

Support

zaro — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 10:20:01 +0000

You will find answers to most common questions in our reference material:

*Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. Get it free here. Here are tips for common car-related problems:

For general questions not answered in the material above, please write: .

System Requirements

zaro — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 10:19:34 +0000

Version 6

Version 6 system requirements differ from version 5…

Microsoft® Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Win7 (all varieties, 32- or 64-bit architectures)
1.8 GHz Pentium-class, dual-core processor or faster
1 GB Memory (RAM)
1 GB available disk space
Available USB 2.0 port
Internet Explorer 6.0 or later (required for installation and updates)
Available Internet connection (required for installation and updates)
Screen resolution of 800×600 or greater
Microsoft® .NET Framework 2.0 or later (free download)
Adobe® Acrobat Reader (for viewing and printing documentation)
Durametric 2nd-generation cable (view details)

Version 5

The Durametric diagnostic tool for Porsche is a hardware / software based tool. The kit includes the cables necessary to connect your computer to your car and the software to make it all work.
The computer that runs the Durametric program should meet the following minimum requirements:

Microsoft® Windows XP, Vista, or Win7 (all varieties, and 32- or 64-bit architectures)
1.2 GHz Pentium-class processor or faster (2.0 GHz or faster strongly recommended for late-model cars)
512 MB Memory (RAM)
500 MB available disc space
Available USB 2.0 port
Internet Explorer 6.0 or later
Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 or later (free download from Microsoft)
Adobe® Acrobat Reader (for viewing and printing documentation)

Version 6 Installation Help

lusso — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 10:18:29 +0000

Durametric version 6 uses Microsoft’s ClickOnce technology. This installation process differs from the standard executable or Microsoft installer most users are familiar with.

If you experience difficulty with the installation of Durametric version 6, check the following:

Install the Durametric cable drivers before installing the program.
Be sure to use the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser version 6 or higher to install the software. (Other browsers are not supported.)
Do not attempt to install the program from within a company network. (Corporate firewall restrictions typically prevent successful installation.)
Do not attempt to install the program when using a mobile wireless service. (Data compression settings disrupt proper installation.)
Within Internet Explorer under Tools | Internet Options | Security, select Internet, and click Custom Level. Under the Miscellaneous section, confirm the “Open programs based on content, not file extension” is enabled.
Check any anti-virus or malware settings to ensure these do not prevent installation.

Differences

zaro — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 10:07:57 +0000

Professional Kit

This kit was designed for professionals that need to work on every type of Porsche and includes everything you need to work on every car we support.
Unlike our Enthusiast kit, there is no limit to the number of cars this kit supports.

Durametric Diagnostic cable that plugs into your computer’s USB port at one end
standard Adapter Cable for the following cars
1997-2004 Porsche Boxster(986)
2005-2006 Porsche Boxster(987)
1999-2004 Porsche 911 (996)
2005-2006 Porsche 911 (997)
2003-2006 Porsche Cayenne(955)
2006 Porsche Cayman (987)
993 Adapter Cable for use on
1996-1998 Porsche 993
964 Adapter Cable for use on
1990-1994 Porsche 964
1994-1995 Porsche 993
Software CD
Installation instructions
Molded plastic storage case
Future software updates

There is no limit to the number of cars on which the Professional kit can be used.
Customers who purchased Durametric before October 23, 2006, have been upgraded to the Professional kit.

Enthusiast Package

This package is designed for the Porsche enthusiast that works on there own car. It offers all* of the great features as our professional kit but will only work on up to 3 cars.

Durametric Diagnostic cable that plugs into your computer’s USB port at one end
Adapter Cable
Includes only the cable for a single vehicle type, though additional cables may be purchased separately.
Software CD
Installation instructions
Future software updates

The Enthusiast cable stores the vehicle identification number (VIN) of the car it is attached to into the hardware. This limits the tool’s use to three (3) cars only.
Enthusiast cables cannot be upgraded to Professional cables. To upgrade your Enthusiast kit to a Professional kit, contact Durametric.

* Beginning with Durametric version 6, differences between the Enthusiast and Professional kits include:

Number of supported cars (Enthusiast kit limited to 3 cars based on VIN, no limit on Pro kit)
Control unit Coding feature (not included in Enthusiast kit)
Control unit Command Console feature (not included in Enthusiast kit)

Read and Clear Codes

zaro — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 09:11:23 +0000

The Durametric Diagnostic software is capable of displaying and clearing engine trouble codes on most Porsche control modules. Most Porsches made since 1990 have multiple computers built into different parts of the car that are capable of self-diagnosis. In other words, the car knows what is wrong and illuminates a general indicator light on the instrument panel to notify you.

Learning about the cause of the trouble typically results in relying on a Porsche dealer to read the information and report to you the corrective options. The Durametric tool allows you to easily see and interpret any trouble codes to better understand your Porsche’s repair and maintenance needs.

Below is a snapshot of the Durametric program showing the codes of a Porsche 911 engine. For each trouble code triggered on the car’s computer, Durametric provides user-friendly descriptions, P-codes, factory fault codes, and even repair information when available. Here you can also see the button “Erase fault memory” that allows you to clear out the code that triggers the indicator light.

Actual Values

zaro — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 09:10:22 +0000

Durametric software is now capable of displaying actual values of some modules. Look at this screen shot:

This feature reads values directly from the computer and displays them on the screen as fast as the computer will respond.
The samples can be recorded in excel or csv format. See data logging
Actual values should never be used in a moving vehicle.
All actual values are approximate.

ECU Information

zaro — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 09:09:01 +0000

Some control units are capable of displaying information about the car that is not fault related. Sometimes this information is nothing more than the part number or firmware number, but in some cases it displays a lot of interesting information about the vehicle. To access this information click on “ECU ID / Information” tab (where available).

Motronic 7.2 Vehicle Information:

Motronic 7.8.1 2006 Vehicle Information. Notice the 6 ignition ranges.

The 6 ranges can be broken down as:

Range 1: 7300-7500 RPM

Range 2: 7500-7700 RPM

Range 3: 7700-7900 RPM

Range 4: 7900-8400 RPM

Range 5: 8400-9500 RPM

Range 6: 9500-11000 RPM

The number is the number of ignitions in each of these ranges. The factory PIWIS tool does not display the hours for each of these ranges but the informaiton is available so we display it here. The hour indicates the last operating hour that this range occured in.

Data Logging

zaro — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 09:07:32 +0000

Every time you use Durametric, it keeps a log of each fault code displayed.

A new log is stored for each day that you use the program. This means that you can go back and look at previous logs. Logs are stored in “Program Files\Durametric Software\Durametric Diagnostic Tool\”. Each log name starts with “VehicleLog” and ends with the Month, Day, and Year the file was created.

When logging actual values, you can create the output file in Excel or CSV. Each sample starts with a time reference in milliseconds. This gives a point-in-time reference from sample to sample.

Note: Sampling speed is limited to the design of the control module being sampled. Some modules are faster than others.

USB Interface Adapter

zaro — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 09:06:49 +0000

Hardware

Our hardware solution consists of an adapter cable which has one end that plugs into the USB port of a laptop or desktop computer and another end that plugs into the diagnostic port of your car. Since our hardware supports USB it is compatible with most computers.

Cables

Currently we offer one cable that is used on all 1996 and newer cars. We also offer an adapter cable for connections to cars made before 1996 that have a round diagnostic connector.

Free Updates

If you purchase an interface adapter, you are entitled to free software updates for as long as you own the hardware.
You can see all of the changes we have made to the product by looking at our version history.

Protocols Supported

ISO 9141-1
ISO 9141-2
Keyword 2000, KWP2000
CAN-BUS

System Requirements

Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and Windows 7 (all versions, 32- and 64-bit architectures)
512 MB Memory
1.2Ghz or faster processor (2.0Ghz or faster for 2005 or newer cars)
40 MB available disk space
Available USB 2.0 Port
Screen resolution of 800×600 or greater
Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 or later (free download)
Adobe Acrobat Reader (for reading and printing documentation)

Check the system requirements for Durametric version 6 here.

Warranty

Hardware purchased from Durametric is warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of six (6) months from receipt by the end-user. All defective hardware must be returned to us at the customer’s expense. Durametric will ship repaired or replacement goods to the customer at our expense using a comparable method of shipment. This warranty does not cover any damage caused by neglect or misuse.

Comparе with OBD2

zaro — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 09:05:08 +0000

Our product is often compared to OBD2 products, though it is much different. Our tool uses the same communications protocol that the dealership’s tool does to access all of the computers in the car.
But OBD2 was developed to meet emissions compliance rules in the United States, and can only read diagnostic information pertaining to an emissions problem on Porsche cars. Our tool can read both emissions and non-emissions related information in the car’s engine computer (DME) plus all other systems on the car like Airbag, ABS, etc…
Additionally OBD2 only displays “P-Codes”; our tool displays both “P-codes” and Porsche specific fault code information that matches the car’s service manual.

Standard OBD2 Tool

Reads only basic P-codes
Little or no repair information
Only applies to emission related engine problems

Here we will try out an off-the-shelf OBD2 scan tool on a 1998 Porsche Boxster with several known problems.

Note that this common tool shows 0 “Zero” codes for this car.

Software Based OBD2 Tool

Reads only basic P-codes
Little or no repair information
Only applies to emission related engine problems

Now we will try this generic scan tool on the same 1998 Porsche Boxster with several known problems.

And once again, the generic scan tool returned no codes for this car.

Durametric Diagnostic Tool

Reads P-Codes as well as manufacturer specific codes
Repair information for each code
Works with other systems in the car
- DME
- Airbag
- ABS
- Alarm
- Heating / AC
- Seat Memory
Access to community based repair information
USB hardware compatible with most computers

Now we will try our tool on the same 1998 Porsche Boxster above and see what problems show up.

First the DME returns a fault code that the generic scan tool did not see.

Our tool also displays why the Airbag light is on – the car was started without the driver’s seat installed.

Our tool also displays alarm fault information.

Our tool also displays seat memory fault information.