OBD-2 scanner on my shopping list. The "dealer" is an indie...same place I bought the car and they are working on everything from old SC models up through the 2013 991s...which may or may not be a good thing. Its going to be on the warranty's nickel so they'll have a say in whether it is repair or replace. But you're absolutely right about it being time for me to learn code reading.

 

The good news is that "learning" code reading requires no learning at all - it's a piece of cake; the hard part used to be deciphering the codes, but now we have the Google and even that is a piece of cake.

 

You may need a durametric to read transmission codes. I don't believe ordinary ODBII readers will do the job.

 

OBDII scanner are not for transmission codes.

 

Good point - assuming the codes being thrown are transmission codes. Maybe John can find someone nearby with a Durametric pro (or an enthusiast with a couple of free VINs...).

 

Why not take it to an honest transmission shop that has the scanner? This way they can tell him what the codes mean too.

 

JI, buy the scanner below. I have the i980 for Mercedes, and it works great. It reads faults with every module and gives you ability to erase them (trans, seats, airbag...all modules I can find on my Mercedes).

http://www.icarsoft.com/web/icarsoft...32y40p9_1.html

 

Looks very interesting but they don't list any prices on their site. Kind of strange.

Edit: I see it on Ebay for about $100. Do you know the difference between the i960 and the more expensive POR II?

 

This would be a good alternative to the Duramteric if it can do all these things on a Porsche too. Even better if it can read cam deviations. I know some just buy the Durametric to do simple things like reset airbag warning so it would even be good just for that for some peeps.

 

Wyo, I bought my Mercedes version off Amazon for about $110. So ebay price is about right. Version II seem to be just bigger units with larger screen, software seems to be the same as far as I could tell.

Alpine, I am not sure about the cam deviation. I can check if my i980 unit can read live data and what it can pull. I know for a fact that on Mercedes it resets the SRS/Airbag light and lets you reset codes for every other electronic component. There is a PDF file on their site that gives you what tool can do for each model as well.

Edit: searched for live data for the i960 on youtube. There are quite a few videos available.

 

This looks really good. I paid $70 for a generic reader that does a small fraction of what this does. It would be worth it just for activating the ABS system while doing brake fluid changes. The site isn't that great in terms of comparing the two devices. I would love to know if the higher-end model does more or if it just has a bigger screen. I'll ask that question their website.

 

I have a 2000 Cab tip. At 100k miles I had to replace the transmission. Porsche did nothing for me, of course.

input shaft bearing in the tranny was the reported issue.

 

I have to humbly disagree with the iCarsoft i960. I bought one, and it wouldn't communicate with the car. Kept returning communication errors. I returned it and then purchased an Autel MD702 and it has worked wonders on both my Porsche and Volvos.

http://www.auteltech.com/autelcms/Pr...ools/390.jhtml

 

Update: iCarssoft Unit does NOT work with 996's, only Turbos

 

Was that recently? I think I read that there were problems with earlier version of the software.

Edit: iCarsoft has confirmed that there units do NOT work with NA 996's, only with Turbos.