Handheld Scan Tool for Porsche

[Richard_Hamilton]

Early this year I bought a handheld scan tool by iCarsoft for my daughters' BMWs. I was really impressed with it, and it diagnosed a faulty seat pad sensor on the airbag system, and has since diagnosed a faulty glow plug on the engine.

I was just checking their support site for software updates, and noticed they now do a Porsche scan tool. It isn't shown on their main web site at www.icarsoft.com but I found several for sale in the US, and on eBay in the UK: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Porsche-Engine-Diagnostic-Scan-Reset-Tool-Fault-Code-Reader-iCarsoft-i960-/371066487425

Looking at the function list, it covers the modern range, right up to the 991. It won't do coding, but will read and reset fault codes, and show live values. I uploaded the features list to my web site: <CLICK HERE> to download.

No affiliation whatsoever, but thought it might be useful. I paid £70 for the BMW scanner on eBay, so they might come down a bit.

 

[Chris_in_the_UK]

Hi Richard - can service lights be reset with this?

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

If you mean the service reminder message in the instrument cluster, then probably not. It will reset things like airbag fault lights though. That happens when you clear the fault code from the fault register.

 

[Chris_in_the_UK]

Thanks Richard - found them for £90 delivered outside Ebay (no affiliation) so I have taken a punt and ordered one.

http://www.ukprodiagnostics.co.uk/pages/Porsche_i960_iCarsoft_Multi_System_Diagnostic_Tool_SRS_ABS_Engine_etc__225627-z=711019&p=94063.cfm

 

[seanrbaker]

Hi

I had one of these recommended to me, which I was going to try. Anybody used one?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-OBD2-ELM327-V1-5-Bluetooth-Car-Scanner-Android-Torque-Auto-Scan-Tool-OBD-II-/331146001214?pt=UK_Diagnostic_Tools_Equipment&hash=item4d19d6fb3e

Cheers Sean

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

I have a similar wi-fi version of that, which I can use with my iPhone. It works OK on all cars which are OBD2 compliant (the early 996 C2's aren't), but bear in mind that it will only do engine diagnostics - it won't read other control modules.

 

[Broggers]

ORIGINAL: seanrbaker

Hi

I had one of these recommended to me, which I was going to try. Anybody used one?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-OBD2-ELM327-V1-5-Bluetooth-Car-Scanner-Android-Torque-Auto-Scan-Tool-OBD-II-/331146001214?pt=UK_Diagnostic_Tools_Equipment&hash=item4d19d6fb3e

Cheers Sean

Yep. I've got exactly the same one. Great with the Android apps I'm using. No probs so far.

 

[Chris_in_the_UK]

Cannot get one to work with my iPad after several attempts today - glad I ordered the one you posted about at the beginning of the thread!

ORIGINAL: Richard Hamilton

I have a similar wi-fi version of that, which I can use with my iPhone. It works OK on all cars which are OBD2 compliant (the early 996 C2's aren't), but bear in mind that it will only do engine diagnostics - it won't read other control modules.

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

ORIGINAL: Chris_in_the_UK

Cannot get one to work with my iPad after several attempts today - glad I ordered the one you posted about at the beginning of the thread!

ORIGINAL: Richard Hamilton

I have a similar wi-fi version of that, which I can use with my iPhone. It works OK on all cars which are OBD2 compliant (the early 996 C2's aren't), but bear in mind that it will only do engine diagnostics - it won't read other control modules.

You won't get a Bluetooth one to work with iPhone/iPad without it being Jailbroken. A wifi one should work if you get the IP settings right.

Let us know how it goes with the iCarsoft device. If it works as well as the BMW version I bought, I'm sure you will be pleased.

 

[uk_sub]

Anyone know if the iCarsoft one works with the pre-facelift (e.g. 1999) 996?
All i could get out of the supplier was "yes it's suitable for a 996" but i recall Richard posting some warnings about these devices with the early MY cars in the past....

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

ORIGINAL: uk_sub

Anyone know if the iCarsoft one works with the pre-facelift (e.g. 1999) 996?
All i could get out of the supplier was "yes it's suitable for a 996" but i recall Richard posting some warnings about these devices with the early MY cars in the past....

I think it should, because the software will have been written specifically for Porsches. It is the generic OBD2 scanners which don't fully work with early 996s, which weren't OBD2 compliant. They will read some data and codes, but not all the Porsche-specific values.

 

[devans]

Richard,

I think this may be what I am after. Just to confirm, if my ABS light is on and the car running a little sluggish on acceleration, I'm assuming this kit will highlight the possible faults. Do you think I'm correct in assuming this?
If so, I think I will order one as I've not had much luck with the cheap chinese copies!
Thanks

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

Yes David. If it does what it says on the tin, it will diagnose the ABS and reset the light when the faults are fixed and the codes are cleared. It will also read out the fault codes on the DME, and let you view the live data to help diagnose the problem. I used mine to reset the airbag light on my daughter's BMW118d, and reset the DME fault register on the other one's 325d.

Perhaps Chris will come back and report on his when he gets it.

 

[devans]

Thanks Richard. Will probably order one then as I can't wait. I'm worried that I have been driving the car with the ABS light on for some time now. I have heard that excessive driving with ABS light on could lead to damaging the catalytic converter or lambda sensor.....something like that anyway.
All the best.

 

[Chris_in_the_UK]

ORIGINAL: Richard Hamilton

Yes David. If it does what it says on the tin, it will diagnose the ABS and reset the light when the faults are fixed and the codes are cleared. It will also read out the fault codes on the DME, and let you view the live data to help diagnose the problem. I used mine to reset the airbag light on my daughter's BMW118d, and reset the DME fault register on the other one's 325d.

Perhaps Chris will come back and report on his when he gets it.

Indeed - as promised.

Had a spare hour today so I decided to plug in and see what if anything this can do. It's really simple to use and it works a treat!.

Whilst I had no dash errors showing there were couple in the system that I read and cleared (I suspect these are from the battery swap I did a while ago).

Great spot Richard which does what it says on the box.