Originally Posted by IraceRN

I have a PIWIS 3 VAS 6154 clone, and I got it to work. My main reason for getting it was to clear an airbag light and reprogram a few things, but I'm a little lost. I thought I read I need to do everything offline in developer mode. Is that true? I ask because I also read that despite changing the language to US English, everything in developer mode is in German. I don't have reception in my garage, so I can't really do the Google Translate trick on my phone. Do I have to be in developer mode to clear the airbag and change the in-headlights signals from incandescent to LEDs?

I bought a 982 steering wheel that I am using with a new airbag and GPSadapter on my 981. All the functions are working except the double pull on the paddles to get neutral and the joker/program button. Again, everything else works. The airbag light is on, and I tried to buy the iCarSoft scan tool to clear the airbags, but that didn't work. I tried to clear the fault codes on PIWIS 3, but it gave me an error (see pic). I don't know if the 982 airbag needs to be coded/programed to my car, since it is a different style or different airbag all together. I don't know if my airbag is just a bad airbag or how to tell. I weld, have done engine swaps, built turbo kits, flashed ECUTEKs, installed Haltech units, etc, DIYer type, but wiring and wiring diagnostic stuff is bit over my head most of the time unless someone gives me a tutorial.

The other thing I want to do is reprogram the headlight turn signals to be LED instead of incandescent. I read that you can do that (Reddit confirmed), but there was no tutorial. I don't know if programming them just clears the warning lights, or if it also stops the hyper-blinking.

Thanks in advance.

Originally Posted by edsonreds

Hi. Just my opinion here. I currently use the software and it is a continous learning experience, perfect for a DIYer.

If I understood correctly you ask if you need to be connected to the internet to use the developer mode? Not really. You dont need to have wiifi or network enabled to use the software. The reason is that more than likely you are using a hacked software which there is no way it would get connected to the Porsche Network. If on other case, you mean been offline as in "not connected to the car", then whenever you are not connected to your vehicle, you will be in simulation mode, and you ECUs would not be charged correctly, just a general template for the trim you select in the main menu.

As far as I know, developed mode will be always in German, there is no way to change it. It implies that you can make unintentional mistakes and mess up very easy with you car if you are not careful. So, whenever I go into develper mode, I make sure I made previously my research on what to change.

You can clear airbag lights and even SRS control module reset with common scanners such as the Autel MX808, for that you do no need Piwis. But if you want to program the modules and warnings, then you do need that software. I use a 6 point harness in my track car so I have uninstalled the airbag and place some resistors in the main wiring so that I do not get any warning. It should have been cleaner to program the SRS module for not checking airbag existence, but since I dont know German, I chose a safer option.

It might be the case that using another airbag type is triggering the warning. Different Porsche models use different Ohms resistance in the circuitry... that is why part numbers are important when purchasing airbags. Nonetheless, you can defeat that feature using resistors or programming with Piwis.

Good Luck!

Originally Posted by djdonte

There is no way to change it from German. You do not need to be in Engineering mode to clear airbag codes, but you likely will need it to code lights. That error message you're getting is not an error message at all. This means the fault is active and cant be cleared. Does the description in the cut off column to the right say anything useful? What about googling the fault code? I had an airbag fault for intermittent open or short from pulling some fuses I shouldn't have, and I don't remember it being German. Maybe try going back into V mode to see if things get any clearer?

Is there anyone else that has done this swap? Perhaps the airbag PNs are different and its not possible to be coded? Can you get hold of wiring diagrams to test the continuity of the clock spring?

Originally Posted by edsonreds

Good insight here. Given there is a fault code, no need to be in Engineering mode. Diagnostics can be done in english, if I am not mistaken, after each fault, Piwis gives you the background of the fault... at least some info on what to test.

iCarsoft even the POR version is very, very basic, that is why I changed to the Autel MX808, and later upgraded to my Getac Piwis 3 Tester. Be careful on testing the airbag alone, even for resistance. PNs are very tricky. I have heard cases in which some 991.1 guys tried to upgrade the steering wheel to the 991.2 and given they did not put 9P1 airbag but a 95B one (that comes from a Macan), there were some differences in Ohms tolerance in the SRS module. Difficult to say for sure, the experience seems to be user specific.

Regards.

Originally Posted by djdonte

There is no way to change it from German. You do not need to be in Engineering mode to clear airbag codes, but you likely will need it to code lights. That error message you're getting is not an error message at all. This means the fault is active and cant be cleared. Does the description in the cut off column to the right say anything useful? What about googling the fault code? I had an airbag fault for intermittent open or short from pulling some fuses I shouldn't have, and I don't remember it being German. Maybe try going back into V mode to see if things get any clearer?

Is there anyone else that has done this swap? Perhaps the airbag PNs are different and it's not possible to be coded? Can you get hold of wiring diagrams to test the continuity of the clock spring?

Originally Posted by rbrunelle

I just received my new tester and I figured I would share my thoughts since I have used both the 2 and the 3 now. I should be more precise as I did not purchase an actual PIWIS III, but remarkably they are for sale on sites like this PIWIS.NET On that site is the actual factory tool and currently sells for $5,900 which was way too rich for my blood. It is in the factory carrying case with all the cables and WLAN cap for the VCI that plugs into the usb mini port and allows for wireless connection to the car, along with the multimeter and oscilloscope cable. What I bought, which sells for around $2,000 and what is for sale in most places, is a Lenovo laptop with Windows 8.1 installed and the Porsche PIWIS III software installed and includes a USB wired VCI the same one the factory tester uses. I both cases the VCI and software have been modified to disable factory authentication and naturally there is no automatic updates. If you did have a PPN account, this tool would update normally. Most offer one year of updates and then charge for subsequent years. It should be known that the updates are really for adding new model years, not software changes. On to the review.

It is a nice laptop with a touch screen and a screen pen included. The Porsche software starts automatically, but the Microsoft button functions and you can do other things at the same time such as TeamViewer or open an internet page. The VCI ( the part that connects to the diagnostic port) is smaller and the cable connecting is shorter, but it is a standard USB to miniUSB cable so you can purchase an longer one anywhere. The tester can be changed from after sales mode to developer mode which allows for a lot of special features ( looking at you who want to disable start stop permanently). The software is faster, and easier to use than the previous version. For example on the diagnostic program, the tester auto detects the car model. Just plug it in, turn the key on and it does its thing. For me, I'm not sure if it is a function of the unit I have or not but the guided fault finding works well. Click on any fault and press the fault finding button and the unit tries to provide you a diagnostic plan. The plan is better and the English description is better. I haven't tried the wiring diagram software but I imagine it works as well as the previous version. There is a new ODBC program on the unit that reads standard ODBC codes, I am wondering if this unit can be used for other cars for simple code reading. I will try it on a buddy's car next week and let you know. There is a oscilloscope function and a multimeter function but the laptop clones don't come with these cables. If you check out the link I added you can see a factory tool and what that kit contains as compared to a laptop clone with VCI. All in all it is a better tool but really can't do more than the 2 can do, only faster and on cars from model year 2018 to current which the 2 can't do. Later I will clone the hard disk then see if I can upgrade the OS to Windows 10. I am certain it will work but cloning the SSD makes sense given my investment.

Originally Posted by mknet

Hi Guys, some time ago I buyed VAS6154 with 1.6.6.0 firmware from mr. chinessman, and I download nhanas vmware ver. 41.500+38.250.
But after some test I have little issue with stability connection of vas6154 with piwis/vxmanager.
When I plug usb into my pc I can reach connection for 15s, I can read license in vxmanager, and also make deveice test, after this time connection is lost, and all function are freeze.

Do you have any advice ?

Originally Posted by PCar SBA

Update on my own fool's errand of getting a PIWIS 3 VMWare up and running with a Chinese VAS6154a clone: I now have mastered getting the imprint done with the keygen so I can destroy it and recreate an imprint for the PIWIS3. I got a link for a V1.6 version of the Vx Manager. Unfortunately the installer also brings a little virus along but who cares as long as it only goes onto a siloed VM.

With that version installed I do now see the three standard licenses on the head valid until 2030 and its firmware reported as 1.6.6.0. I can also run the ACTIA D-PDU API Tester and at least now it sees a module. Am I correct in assuming the tests PDUModuleConnect and onwards would only complete with the head connected to an actual car or are they all are supposed to pass with the VAS6154a connected to the PC only:

Originally Posted by xcess

Apparently I'm stuck on this as well. Seems to be common with those chinese VAS clones. Can anyone share some knowledge. My laptop obviously sees the interface, the VX manager recognizes it, but ACTIA won't pass the tests.