cobalt

Has anyone tried these units. It sounds very much like the early version of the hammer. Simple to use runs all the tests and allows you to reset fault codes.

It appears to work on all OBD I cars and I could have used a hammer numerous times on my Turbo. I also believe this should work on 95 993's which used OBD I then switched to OBD II in 96.

If anyone has one would be curious of your opinions on how it works and is it worth the money.

ROG100

I have one and it has already paid for itself.
Easy to use and the customer support offered by John Speak is oustanding.

Scott M.

I have used mine and it is great. Only item that I could benefit from that it doesn't have is the PSD function for GTS's.

Scott

cobalt

It sounds like a good investment. So it will read the PSD fault codes but can't be used to bleed the system? That would be a nice feature to have but still appears to be a vlauable tool.

deliriousga

A few questions about the tester if I may:

When you say it's already paid for itself, has it made it much easier to diagnose any problems? If so, what problems did you have and how did it help in making things easier?

Is it pretty easy to use/understand? I have an OBDII tester for the other cars but had to do a good bit of studying to understand how it works. Didn't know if the JDS Porsche one would be the same.

Thanks for the info!

worf928

I have one. I haven't used it yet.

There is an OC procedure for bleeding the PSD system without the hammer.

cobalt

I apreciate the info. Although for $700 it would be nice if it helped out there also. Still sounds like an important tool to own, especially if it works on both cars.

cobalt

Dave,

I like the cast hole rotors. Where did you get those?

worf928

AFAIK, those are Zimmerman cast holed rotors. I dunno for sure as I have yet to need to remove them. Certainly 928 Specialists can get them - as I have a set on the '89 - I would expect all of the Big Three to be able to source them.

docmirror

The JDS tool correctly and accurately diagnosed, verified, and reset my airbag fault on a 1990 MY. I think it will not work on 1992 and up cars. It will perform all the other diagnostics on the GTS, except the PSD job. As mentioned, there is a Hammer-less procedure for the PSD fluid exchange online somewhere(Nichols? Pritle?).

A local shop quoted me 2 hours min, and one time tool charge to just diagnose my airbag fault. To then fix it would be an additional charge. Probably would have got home under $500, but the JDS only cost me some hours under Roger's hood. Which, I promptly took out in beer consumed. I like the JDS tool. Read and follow all label instructions closely. I give it a "buy" recommedation.

John Speake

Cobalt,
My tester "Spanner" is only released with 928 software at present. Software for other Porches, 944, 968, 964 is written and being evaluated. It will not test 993.

Its functionality is described on my website -
http://www.jdsporsche.com/jdsdiagtool.htm
l
The Hammer will work on all 993, the later ones with an OBD2 cable that I can supply.

Thanks everyone for your endorsements !

Regards

cobalt

John, I downloaded the instructions and I assumed it covered the 964 also as stated. I tried the link to your site and it says forbidden.

Do you have a projected completion date for the 964 software and will it work on the turbos? I was assuming it was simply OBD I compliant but apparently software is needed for each model. I guess for only one year of being OBD I the 993 is not worth writing for.

Will the units be upgradeable for the 964 turbo in the future?

Sounds like a great product.

Flott Leben

John S., For those of us that have already purchased the spanner, will we receive the software for other models? What will be the cost? Thanks.

Tails

There is a procedure to change the fluid and to bleed the PSD slave cylinder on the Porsche Owner Club site and on Jim's Technical reference CD'd.

Used method on Jim's CD twice annd no problems.

Tails 1990 928 S4 auto

User 41221

John, if you are interested in having someone test your unit on 951's and 968's, I'd be happy to buy a unit from you when you are ready to start "real world" testing it. I am doing something with a 951 or 968 pretty much every weekend, so I can give you some pretty good feedback. Let me know if you are interested.

Regards,