What is the BEST Porsche diagnostic tool?

by Alex Carter Mechanic Assistant

Interested in purchasing a basic Porsche code reader/diagnostic tool to have on hand for DIY projects . I've come across products by Actron, Foxwell and the like. Any recommendation on which one to buy?

Reply 1: Depends upon where you are going; for Porsche only work, the Durametric system is you current best bet. For general purpose OBD II on multiple makes, Actron makes some great tools at very reasonable prices, but they cannot read or clear Porsche “protected code” areas (ABS, airbags, etc.), while the Durametric can, but cannot be used on non-Porsche vehicles…………

Reply 2: Bought Lonsdor K518ISE and satisfied! Now I gonna have a Lonsdor ST-P181 working as a code reader for 981 ’2012. The manufacture is trust-worthy and reliable. I think it would not upset me.

Reply 3: Purchased two of the cheap chinese code readers. First one on ebay for $20 never worked. Second onNewEgg for $39 worked once and thereafter would not recognize connection to vehicle, even with the connection light at the connector lite and the laptop recogizing the USB connection to Durametric cable. This one also turned out to be junk. Going to have to cough up the $285 and get the real thing.

Reply 4: I've got an Actron that I purchased back in 2005. It works great on my 00 986, but it doesn't work on my wife's 07 BMW X3.
I've seen OBD II apps for my iPhone, and I am intrigued.

I've also got the Durametric, and I am a bit disappointed (got it with my Softronic reflash). Yeah, it does all of the OBD II stuff, and I can reset an airbag light, but I was hoping for more. It allows you to test many systems by activating them with the engine off, but it does not permit permanent deactivation of anything. I need to disable the spoiler mechanism (I've got the Aerokit II, so all of the factory moveable spoiler is gone), remove the door airbags, and get rid of the secondary air injection. All of that is beyond the Durametric programming.

Reply 5: I bought Foxwell NT510 and works great.. on my Cayenne 2011, wife’s BMW X5... easy to use and not too expensive.. this tool good at basic diagnostic tests and special functions also

Reply 6: I purchased an Actron...does the job for me, though it is very basic. I use it more on the daily drivers than I do the Box, as it has never thrown a code.

Reply 7: I've had a Foxwell tool for a few years and it works for most issues. Neighbors and friends have borrowed it a few times too and they all give it a thumbs up. It's versatile and easy to use.

Reply 8: for the money, Durametric really isn't much more than a generic hand scanner. it doesn't even do coding like activate/deactivate airbags or turn on the OBC.

check out NT510 from Foxwell if you want special functions and coding and programming.
http://www.obdii365.com/wholesale/foxwell-nt510-multi-system-scanner.html

using Foxwell on a Porsche (actually, you can have it on VAG group vehicles, BMW, GM cars, etc.), you can do just about anything you can think of.
when Durametric is at the level of Foxwell or the factory scan tool, i'll think about it.

Reply 9: If you only need to clear the code and nothing else you could just disconnect the battery. In fact that might be a good idea anyway for a MAF sensor issue because you want the car to discard all its previous fuel trim adaptation values. Sometimes clearing the code with a scanner will do it but disconnecting the battery is guaranteed to force the car to relearn.

Reply 10: I would never recommend going that route; "dump" clearing of codes often leaves you knowing less than you did when you started. First, with out knowing what codes are involved, you are flying totally blind and trying to diagnose the car based upon guess work rather than facts. Often, there is more than one code, plus underlying "pending" codes that taken together will point you in a different diagnostic direction than you had planned.

We recently had a car in the shop who's owner had repeatedly replaced several different and expensive components in an attempt to end a persistent CEL; all without ever running a scan on the car. We scanned it, read two codes, did a $65 repair, and the CEl had not returned; and our bill was a small fraction of what he had already spent.

Reply 11: Get the durametric if you want to log real time...activate/deactivate certain things to rule out/diagnose etc etc....airbag light many many more functions

If you're not into more complicated/electrical DIY etc just by a OBD2 connector and download torque app(5 bucks) on your android and you can monitor basic functions and read/delete check engine codes. Not bad if your purpose if for basic stuff.
I have quite a few of these obd readers that are just sitting around as I use durametic more but they worked perfectly fine

Reply 12: With a LonsdorST-P181, i read VIN codes on a Porsche and open/close the function of memorizing the car start-stop state. Works good!

Reply 13: My only experience with the Durametric people was a very professional one.

The first time (and only one) I called them was to order their Professional unit, and they talked me out of it.., saying that most likely the Enthusiast unit was all that I would need, and if for some reason I decided to buy their Professional unit, I could return the one I bought and pay the difference for the Professional one.

It made me feel very comfortable with their attitude and so far I am happy the way the Enthusiast unit has help me out, IMHO if you a DYI is a must have tool