borland

Mine arrive in the mail today, so I thought I'd share.

This is a new diagnostic product announced recently for later 928s (1988-1995). Cost is $299 Euros, plus shipping. That's about $440USD with shipping using PayPal payment system and the current currency exchange rate.

It's a PC software implementation of the Bosch 9288 Diagnostic Tester (Bosch Hammer) for Porsche 928. It appears to provide a complete set of 9288 functions. Also included in the package, is all necessary connectors, interface module, cable, and user's manual. The software is for MS Windows.

I briefly tested the unit on my 90' S4. There are many functions, so it may take some time to explore its functionality.

The interface module requires a RS-232 serial port, but I'm using a USB com port adapter with FTDI chipset (about $23 with shipping on eBay). Too bad they didn't make this product with a USB port instead, since newer laptops don't come with the older RS-232 com port.

Simple, just connect the diagnostic plug to the diagnostic port on the passenger side, and run the software. When you turn on the car's ignition switch, the digital cluster display turns red and briefly displays "Diagnostic Plug".

The software is quite easy to use, just click on buttons to use the features. Read about this product and learn how to order one here (site may be down temporarily):

http://jenniskens.livedsl.nl/

Nicole

I've heard about this product a few times now, and one of the locals here has ordered one as well. For me, the interesting thing will be whether it works on my 91 model. The JDS tester was never able to complete the whole cycle on mine.

Also, my understanding is that this system can reset the airbag light. That alone almost makes it worth buying. I paid $150 minus 10% PCA discount at the dealer to get this done. If I have three airbag warnings to reset, I have paid for this nifty tool.

Can't wait to hook it up to my car and see what happens...

TheoJ

Hi,
sorry to admit: my website is down for a moment. My ISP seems to be improving things. It will be online in a few hours I think. Yes: The tool does all what the manual says.

Nicole: the shipment to your local contact should be there any time now. Maybe invite yourself for a coffee and biscuit? BTW: I changed the music on my site entry page.... and will consider making a button for silence

regards,
Theo

Bill Ball

I have been negligent in reporting that I received mine as well, actually about 5 days ago, but I haven't had a chance to plug it in yet. I have no real good excuse other than I don't have a laptop and I've been busier than H despite being laid-off from work.

I do want to run it on Nicole's car and a few other than have not been able to complete tests on the other tester.

Nicole, I'm headed down your way on Thursday. I could bring the kit along and we could install the software on your laptop and give it the inagural test run.

IcemanG17

Bill
I got a laptop.....wanna mess with it this weekend......did you ever find the fuel pressure guage?

Bill Ball

Brian:

Saturday afternoon or Sunday are open. I have the garage almost completely cleaned up. I didn't go looking for the FP gauge, but at least now I know where it should be. I'll look for it tomorrow.

IcemanG17

Bill
Sat afternoon is good for me...typically I wake up around noon, since I get off work at 7am.......

Giovanni

Any plans of expanding the software to "tune" the 928?

TheoJ

Gio,
nope. This is more JDS' area I think. For the moment no plans I'm afraid.

We would very much like to add a performance tab to our tool and make Hp and Torque estimations in 1/4 mile test runs.... but regretfully the RDK is not cooperating ... Maybe we crack this nut too some time.

regards,
Theo

H2

Theo,

I was just looking at your web site and I can describe it in one word...WONDERFUL!!!!

Thank you,

Harvey

TheoJ

you're welcome !! I appreciate that.
Theo

Bill Ball

Well, I finally dragged one of my desktop PCs out to the garage. I don't have a laptop. I had to put the monitor and mouse on the passenger seat so I could control the program and see the results. Once I got set up, Theo's program is a piece of cake and works perfectly. It moves through the tests a LOT faster than the alternatives and allows you to do them in any order, skipping any actuator test you care to, etc. VERY NICE.

It quickly identified that my WOT position sensor on the throttle was not working. Since the throttle switch unit is almost brand new and had passed before, I was suspicious that Theo's program might have a bug. However, when I hooked up John Speake's Spanner, I got the same fault. So, removed the airbox to fiddle with the wiring, thinking perhaps the plug was not seated or there might be some corrosion on one of the pins. That plug is next to impossible to get to even with small hands. However, I noticed I had a fair amount of slack in the throttle cable section going from the firewall to the quadrant. Since the WOT sensor trips at about 2/3rds throttle anyway, I thought that could not be the problem. However, there was quite a bit of slack. I must not have set it properly when I removed the supercharger for smog testing (it's still off). So, I adjusted out the slack, and the WOT position sensor began working again.

Thanks to Theo for creating this new tool. The Spanner is free-standing and requires no PC, so it is much more portable and and perhaps cost-effective, but Theo's tool offers advantages in terms of speed and test flexibility. They are both great resources that will be needed at some point by everyone with an 88+ 928 (or 87 with updated eprom).

I still need to try Theo's tool on Nicole's car which would not run the Spanner.

anonymousagain

Bill - what PC system req'ts? I have a few older laptops that might suit your efforts, so you don't have to pull out the desktop

TheoJ

@Anonymousagain: Nothing fancy. We have it running on an old Dell at 266Mhz. It is too slow really but still runs reasonably well. We recommend a 1Ghz cpu, Xp, and a com port.

@Bill: thanks for the great comment. Glad you like it.

Regards,
Theo

Bill Ball

Kirt:

Anything would probably work just fine if I can install XP on it.

Theo:

Am I correct that the alarm test section only supports 1990+ factory alarms? It would not connect to my 89 stock alarm.