Spanner -announcement (electronic diagnostic unit)
02-06-2006, 01:54 AM
#16
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Nicole,
That was my experience. Worked OK on an 88 and an 89 5spd but not on my 89GT or my 93GTS. Same on another Rennlisters 90 and 91 GT's.
John had mentioned that there were some programming changes on the GT and up cars. I've been waiting for news for some time.
That was my experience. Worked OK on an 88 and an 89 5spd but not on my 89GT or my 93GTS. Same on another Rennlisters 90 and 91 GT's.
John had mentioned that there were some programming changes on the GT and up cars. I've been waiting for news for some time.
02-06-2006, 06:03 AM
#18
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Thread Starter
Hi
Lots of points to answer.... some spurious codes registered may be nothing more than that. False codes can be stored by the various ECUs.
It appears that Bosch/Porsche recognised this, and in fact the LH (for example) does delete all stored fault codes every 50 or so ignition on/off cycles. (they changed the number at one point)
Some garages apparently always do a battery disconnect, then reconnect and make a test drive with the car. Then they are sure that the codes recorded are "true".
For some reason, GT's appear to have more problems using the Spanner than other models, but I am not sure if this is just some co-incidence.
But other GT's are OK. Also, Scott mentions problems with his GTS. Whereas Schocki has a GTS which worlks perfectly with the Spanner.
It is obviously very frustrating for everyone that people have problems, but logically there have to be differences between the successful and not successful cars that cause the issues.
I have recently paid out more money to have a complete review of the software in the Spanner, especially as regards it robustness when other spurious pulses might be present on the data/power lines.
This study concluded that it was a sound design, and also I have retested the unit. trying to replicate fault conditions.
There has been an update to the software, to Ver. 33 which incorporates coding which will stop the Spanner "locking up" on "working" if it cannot decode a sequence, or does not receive the response is requires.
Schocki has kindly been beta testing this for me, and reports all is well. Others have tested it as well.
The software is now available for general release. It can be loaded into the Spanner using a laptop and the Bootloader program which is on the CD provided with the Spanner. If you would like to try a copy, please mail me at my web site email address.
Your feedback would be appreciated.
Lots of points to answer.... some spurious codes registered may be nothing more than that. False codes can be stored by the various ECUs.
It appears that Bosch/Porsche recognised this, and in fact the LH (for example) does delete all stored fault codes every 50 or so ignition on/off cycles. (they changed the number at one point)
Some garages apparently always do a battery disconnect, then reconnect and make a test drive with the car. Then they are sure that the codes recorded are "true".
For some reason, GT's appear to have more problems using the Spanner than other models, but I am not sure if this is just some co-incidence.
But other GT's are OK. Also, Scott mentions problems with his GTS. Whereas Schocki has a GTS which worlks perfectly with the Spanner.
It is obviously very frustrating for everyone that people have problems, but logically there have to be differences between the successful and not successful cars that cause the issues.
I have recently paid out more money to have a complete review of the software in the Spanner, especially as regards it robustness when other spurious pulses might be present on the data/power lines.
This study concluded that it was a sound design, and also I have retested the unit. trying to replicate fault conditions.
There has been an update to the software, to Ver. 33 which incorporates coding which will stop the Spanner "locking up" on "working" if it cannot decode a sequence, or does not receive the response is requires.
Schocki has kindly been beta testing this for me, and reports all is well. Others have tested it as well.
The software is now available for general release. It can be loaded into the Spanner using a laptop and the Bootloader program which is on the CD provided with the Spanner. If you would like to try a copy, please mail me at my web site email address.
Your feedback would be appreciated.
02-06-2006, 10:09 AM
#19
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The use of my spanner has been very succesfull. 89 S4 & GT, 90 S4 & GT, 92 GTS, 93 GTS.
The only problem is with a 91GT that will not run the tests just hangs.
Looking forward to getting the upgraded software.
Will that help me make a decent cup of tea over here
The only problem is with a 91GT that will not run the tests just hangs.
Looking forward to getting the upgraded software.
Will that help me make a decent cup of tea over here
__________________
Does it have the "Do It Yourself" manual transmission, or the superior "Fully Equipped by Porsche" Automatic Transmission?
George Layton March 2014
928 Owners are ".....a secret sect of quietly assured Porsche pragmatists who in near anonymity appreciate the prodigious, easy going prowess of the 928."
Does it have the "Do It Yourself" manual transmission, or the superior "Fully Equipped by Porsche" Automatic Transmission?
George Layton March 2014928 Owners are ".....a secret sect of quietly assured Porsche pragmatists who in near anonymity appreciate the prodigious, easy going prowess of the 928."
02-06-2006, 10:53 AM
#20
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OK Roger,
Just drop me a mail and I'll send you the Ver 33 as attachment. Eventually I will get it available on my website.
I'll also send you instructions on how to make a proper cup of tea :-) But I think you get far too much sun in TX to deserve a good cup....bloody cold miserable day here again
Just drop me a mail and I'll send you the Ver 33 as attachment. Eventually I will get it available on my website.
I'll also send you instructions on how to make a proper cup of tea :-) But I think you get far too much sun in TX to deserve a good cup....bloody cold miserable day here again
02-06-2006, 11:35 AM
#21
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Hi John,
just sent you a mail requesting the latest software version.
Must point out that I have had no problems on my 1990GT using the spanner.
Cheers/Peter
just sent you a mail requesting the latest software version.
Must point out that I have had no problems on my 1990GT using the spanner.
Cheers/Peter
02-06-2006, 02:34 PM
#23
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Excellent. With previous software I had no problems on 88, 89S4, 89GT, but Nicole's 91S4 gave a load of spurious error codes and hung. Looking forward to trying the new release.
Last edited by Bill Ball; 02-06-2006 at 04:25 PM.
02-06-2006, 02:47 PM
#24
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Hi Bill,
There's no reason that it should misbehave, unless there is a issue with the car. Try a battery disconnect/reconnect, test drive the car, and then try again with the Spanner.
You can also try switching off interior lights. On Schocki's car he found a poor fuse connection there, so the volts onto the Spanner were quite low. Most of the circuits in the Spanner are well regulated from the battery volts, but one input line could be compromised with low volts.
Let us know how you get on.
There's no reason that it should misbehave, unless there is a issue with the car. Try a battery disconnect/reconnect, test drive the car, and then try again with the Spanner.
You can also try switching off interior lights. On Schocki's car he found a poor fuse connection there, so the volts onto the Spanner were quite low. Most of the circuits in the Spanner are well regulated from the battery volts, but one input line could be compromised with low volts.
Let us know how you get on.
02-06-2006, 04:27 PM
#26
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John:
Right, I saw the comments earlier about disconnecting the battery to clear the spurious codes. We'll try that and turning off lights.
Right, I saw the comments earlier about disconnecting the battery to clear the spurious codes. We'll try that and turning off lights.
02-06-2006, 04:53 PM
#27
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Thread Starter
Hi Scott,
I've just mailed the updates to your mail address given in your post.....
Hi Bill,
Even a car that appears to be running OK can have issues that mess up the tester operation. This next bit is snipped (with permission) from a mail that Schocki sent me this morning...
QUOTE
Yes, my GTS does all the tests now as advertised. But remember that in the
beginning the actuator test got stuck at ISV activation. As we found later
the previous owner played with the tank venting valve and fried a track
in my OEM ECU. We overcame the problem by taping the ISV PIN at the ECU and
the test ran flawless. (JDS later repaired the damaged LH ECU)
Remember my car ran perfect with my fried ECU and I would have never known
without the Spanner.
END QUOTE.
It took many hours to get Schocki's car working correctly with the Spanner, and by definition, running as it should. He would never have known the tank venting wasn't working, or that he had an intermittant closed throttle switch (earth point on top of engine) , or a dodgy fuse connection.....
I've just mailed the updates to your mail address given in your post.....
Hi Bill,
Even a car that appears to be running OK can have issues that mess up the tester operation. This next bit is snipped (with permission) from a mail that Schocki sent me this morning...
QUOTE
Yes, my GTS does all the tests now as advertised. But remember that in the
beginning the actuator test got stuck at ISV activation. As we found later
the previous owner played with the tank venting valve and fried a track
in my OEM ECU. We overcame the problem by taping the ISV PIN at the ECU and
the test ran flawless. (JDS later repaired the damaged LH ECU)
Remember my car ran perfect with my fried ECU and I would have never known
without the Spanner.
END QUOTE.
It took many hours to get Schocki's car working correctly with the Spanner, and by definition, running as it should. He would never have known the tank venting wasn't working, or that he had an intermittant closed throttle switch (earth point on top of engine) , or a dodgy fuse connection.....
02-06-2006, 05:11 PM
#28
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john,
i would love the software updates as well. can be sent to shaaark89@hotmail.com. i also had some variability in its functioning. worked on my '89 s4, not on the '90 gt or '91 gt.
thanks,
i would love the software updates as well. can be sent to shaaark89@hotmail.com. i also had some variability in its functioning. worked on my '89 s4, not on the '90 gt or '91 gt.
thanks,
02-06-2006, 05:20 PM
#29
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Originally Posted by Hughett
I can't get WWW.928GT.COM to load on my computer to find out more about the Spanner (Microsoft Exploder just keeps churning). Would the Spanner be of benefit to the '85S 32V? In a few words, what does it do?
Harvey
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02-06-2006, 05:49 PM
#30
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John: Sure, it could be somehting odd about Nicole's car. We'll try it again and note where it hangs, if it does. Maybe that will give us a clue, as in the example you quoted.