Q:I have an 08 GTS. Will Launch ICARSCAN work on my vehicle? How beneficial is it for me to have one other than resetting my “service now” light? I am new to this so please forgive my ignorance.
A:It will work on your vehicle. I can’t say how beneficial it would be for you – since I don’t know your DIY skill or desire level.
For a DIY owner – it’s very valuable since you can read error codes/faults/data from ALL the computer modules in the vehicle. Your ’08 probably has 10-12 computers in it.. (a 958 has more than 20..) It can be quite useful if you want other people to help troubleshoot a problem if you can give them a Porsche specific stored error code. MANY of the modules do not report problems via OBD-II codes – the stored errors reports can only be accessed with a tool that can read their memory, and to do this it must mimic the Porsche PWIS diagnostics tool the dealer uses ($15k/rental/year.)
So – your choice. If all you want to do is reset service reminders there are cheaper ways to do it. If you want to know what’s going on and what the car thinks is going on (more important IMHO) – you need something like this or a Durametric.
Q: How is this different from the icarsoft POR II i960?
I was hoping to do the hybrid clutch fluid replacement and clutch adaptation service myself, and was wondering if this is what’s needed, since the alldatadiy manual points to PIWIS for this service and doesn’t provide much of any info on how to perform it.
A: Since I don’t own an icarsoft POR II i960 I can’t answer that question. And since you’re doing it on a vehicle I have no experience with I’d be doubly baffled.
Q: So Launch X431 Scan Tool reader can read for example transmission fluid temperature during fluid change, right? (Cayenne 09)
If I search for ICarScan in Apple App store it doesn’t find anything. I wonder if the iOS version is available yet. There is a “X431 iDiag US_Euro”, but it sounds like the software for another reader they sell for $48.
A: I don’t own an ’09, but it can read the transmission fluid temps on my ’11 CTT.
Can’t say on the Apple App- maybe you should contact them and ask. I know the version that NAPA was selling had an Apple application (probably the one you found..)
Q: In the quickstart guide it says this:
“Attention: The purchasing agreement for the software is for ONE year subscription”
Does this mean the software expires at 1 year, and you have to repurchase it inorder to continue using the device? or that you no longer receive updates to the software package you purchased after 1 year? or other?
A: As far as I can tell – the updates end after a year. That mostly effects people who may buy a newer car than their software currently covers. So far mine hasn’t told me the software “expired”..
Q: I’ll just emphasise that ICarScan and ICarSoft are different items from different companies. I’m not certain – but ICarSoft may use software from Launch – who is the biggest Chinese maker of diagnostics equipment.
I know that ICarScan uses Launch software. It’s basically identical to the software Launch uses on their $$$$ tools.
So ICarScan =X= ICarScan
A: I’ll just emphasise that ICarScan and ICarSoft are different items from different companies. I’m not certain – but ICarSoft may use software from Launch – who is the biggest Chinese maker of diagnostics equipment.
I know that ICarScan uses Launch software. It’s basically identical to the software Launch uses on their $$$$ tools.
So ICarScan =X= ICarScan
I recommend that you buy icarscan on www.obd2tool.com. They are cheap, shipping is fast, and after-sales service is also very good. I have been using it for a year and there is no problem with the quality of the product.