guitarguy56

Has anyone run up against this? I purchased the Durametic cable/software in order to clear the air bag light on my 1999 996. Although it read and communicated with the engine module, it kept giving me a communication message that said basically that I might not have the module available (on all the other modules). I attempted running the software on multiple occasions. After contacting Durametric Tech Support, I received the following:

Thank you for writing. The 996 models use two separate diagnostic busses, called "Kline 1" and "Kline 2".

The engine and tiptronic transmission (if installed) are on Kline 1. All other units reside on Kline 2. If you are unable to access the airbag unit or any other units beyond the engine it is likely that bus is in some way compromised. If the bus is faulty neither Durametric nor the Porsche factory tool will be able to communicate with associated modules.

The diagnostic bus can be compromised in one of several ways: shorted to ground, shorted to battery +, open circuit, or a faulty control module (such as the airbag unit). After market electronics such as a stereo may also have this effect.

You will need to check the Kline 2 bus in your car to determine the cause of the trouble.

Does anyone know how to go about checking this bus? Any help would be appreciated!

frisbee91

I'm not familiar with that problem, but I have had issues with the Durametric on my USB 3.0 ports.

My laptop has both USB 2.0 ports and USB 3.0 (high speed) ports. The Durametric works fine on the USB2.0, but not so much on the 3.0.

Just a thought.

Ahsai

From memory I've seen 4 to 5 similar cases posted but unfortunaely there was never a resolution or OP never came back to update the thread. A couple of cases the dealers/shops were able to read the 2nd K-line withouth issues with their factory scanners.

m3driver

I had the exact same problem with the durametric cable, several emails and data logs later durametric insisted the problem was with my car (99cab). However the dealer insisted otherwise. A trip to the dealer, $75 and 5 mins later, they insisted everything is fine with my k2 communication line and my air bag light was shut off. Short answer is the problem is with the durametric cable not your car. FYI I tried two separate professional cables, still no luck.

Ahsai

Also, all the threads I saw were '99 996 so I suspect Durametric doesn't work on a small population of those.

m3driver

This seems to be right, there are more people that have had success with the durametric cable than not, although I believe it's complete BS durametric won't admit its product won't work on all the vehicles it says it does. The problem falls 100% on their programming or lack there of. I did get them to admit it might be their fault, but they won't come out and directly state as such.

5CHN3LL

For what it's worth - I know single data points aren't that helpful - I can communicate with all of the units on my 996 except litronic.

masterofpuppets

I had the same problem on my brand new durametric. I even was asked by tech support to send it back for checking to which they replied that it worked perfectly. I am an auto electrician and the k line on my car is not compromised in any way. The durametric seems to be the problem. It works perfect on the engine but as soon as you try for another module it dies and has to be closed and reopened. I tried two different laptops also. My car is a very early 98 996 model here in Australia.

jdudjak

My email to Durametric...

Hello,

I have purchased my durametric cable used from a prior porsche 911 owner. The cable is a second generation and I am using durametric version 6.5.1.7. My car is a 1999 911 996 VIN 622773. I am trying to get the cable to read the problems with the airbag module but it fails to initialize. The only modules the durametric cable will read is the engine DME and the tiptronic module. No other module will initialize. I have checked the firmware on the cable and it is up to date. I am using a 1 year old Toshiba laptop running windows 10 and I had it plugged in while running the durametric software. While checking the firmware, the cable did not have any VINs registered on it. Please help me read the airbag module.
Any assistance you can give me will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,

Durametric's response...

Thank you for contacting Durametric. If the tool is unable to communicate with anything other than the engine and tiptronic units, it is likely the trouble is either with the car or the Durametric cable. In your car, the engine, tiptronic and alarm units all run on the K1 communication bus. All other units reside on the K2 bus.



A faulty control module such as the airbag unit or another bad unit on the K2 bus is capable of bringing the entire bus down. Also, any after-market electronics may have the same affect, such as a radio, GPS, phone, etc... The bus itself may be shorted to ground or the battery positive, or there may be an open circuit preventing communications between the Durametric tool and the bus in your car.



If possible, you will want to check a few things there. If you know anyone else with a Durametric tool, you might try their tool on your car. If you know anyone else with a 986 or 996 Porsche, you might try using your Durametric on their car.



You can also check your K2 bus for trouble. The K2 bus is found on pin 3 of the OBDII connector in your car. Ground pins on that connector are pins 4 & 5. Check pin 3 for any voltage; it should not have battery supply voltage. Also check for continuity to ground; there should be no continuity.



If you have no access to another Durametric tool nor to another 986 / 996 Porsche - and the checks of the K2 bus in your car appear normal - we can provide a return authorization ("RMA") number to have the cable tested here. There is no charge for this except for cost of shipping.
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I have not done anything because I have seen on these forums repeatedly the same problem with Durametric and the 1999 996. Durametric does not work on these cars! I will probably sell my durametric cable. Come summer time, I will take my 996 to my Indy mechanic who has PIWIS and have him fix the airbag light.

evifenocvt

i had a similar problem but it was never resolved. only worked on 1 of 5 porsches i tested. i returned the unit. not up to snuff. searching for PIWIS.

Daviebrown

Select 993 as your car and your car will communicate, please report back

jdudjak

On my 996, I tried 993 and all other vehicle settings for the Durametric. It never worked.

Macster

That seems backwards to me. "K2" is the Keyword 2000 protocol which is an OBD2 protocol and used in a number of vehicles, quite a few are European. Those European (and some USA) vehicles that don't use the KWP2000 use ISO-9141-2. This ignores other vehicles that use PWM or VPW and CAN. (At some point newer vehicles -- probably -- all use CAN.)

As an aside, my 2002 Boxster uses ISO-9141-2, as does my 2003 Turbo, but my 2008 Cayman S used KWP2000.

"K1" I believe refers to the Keyword 1281 protocol, which is an older pre-ODB2 protocol and is used in some vehicles (VW and Audi to name two brands but apprently Porsche too, at least in some model years) for communication with systems other than the engine controller.

I have never written any KWP1281 communication firmware so I can't tell you how it works. (I have a KWP1281 simulator though.)

I do not know if I even have any documentation on it at the office. There appears to be some "good" online documentation but it is in German and what German language skills I possessed years ago have gone away with lack of use.

masterofpuppets

That response from Durametric is word for word same as what they said to me. They obviously know the product doesn't work. Shame on them.

Trimsarctic996

I've tried the 993 also and no luck on my '99 996, only DME shows up like the others.