this post was submitted on 08 Mar 2024
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Right to Repair

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Whether it be electronics, automobiles or medical equipment, the manufacturers should not be able to horde “oem” parts, render your stuff useless if you repair it with aftermarket parts, or hide schematics of their products.

I Fix It Repair Manifesto

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Detroit Diesel Diagnostic Link (Standard) fucked functionality. (lemmy.world)
submitted 8 months ago by LoraxEleven@lemmy.world to c/right2repair@discuss.tchncs.de
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Anyone else using the standard edition of DDDL having recent issues with the loss of Parameter access and other key features on Detroit / Freightliners?

First issue I ran into a while back was with replacing an ACM on one of our trucks. The ability to have the ACM programmed at FL, shipped to me and then resetting the Ash Accumulator at our shop was removed from the Standard DDDL software. After nearly a week of dealing with that shit, Detroit finally temporarily upgraded our software to the Professional version and still, the option to 'Replace ACM' is no longer available in the Standard edition.

Fast forward to now, I have a truck that I need to install fog lamps in. So, I need to turn on its Parameter options in the SAMCAB module. All of the parameters in the SAMCAB, SAMCHASSIS, MSF and ICU are no longer available in the Standard Edition software. This literally guts my ability to do many of my required duties at my job as a heavy truck mechanic. These were all modifiable parameters in Standard Edition in the fairly recent past. This really puts me at an unacceptable disadvantage for the work that I do. I'm turning a very significant amount of my outside labor time on work that requires me to have access to Parameters and Options. It's also killing the work I am able perform on our personal fleet trucks as well.

Are any of you mechanics facing this dilemma, as well? Or have any information that may be helpful in my situation? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

If this is posted in the wrong place, any idea where I might better post it? I haven't found any heavy truck threads on Lemmy, yet.

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[–] Aussiemandeus@aussie.zone 4 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I used to work for Detroit 10 years ago and even then we had all the software paywalled or subscription models.

I dont agree with it, but there's not much that can be done unfortunately.

I work for Liebherr now and its the same with all the machines now. Without the proprietary software the general mechanic cant fix anything to do with ecm or software issues.

Even replacing injectors now need to be programmed otherwise they dont fire.

Im sorry I don't have any help for you but best of luck with it.

[–] LoraxEleven@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Right, Detroit injectors have a trim code as well these days. They'll usually fire without it, but economy is shit. Friend of mind had a situation where a Volvo went into no start due to missing trim codes on an injectors and cups job. What a fuckin mess things are in. It's been heading this way for a long time. I remember seeing some Liebherr units in the coalfields but never got the opportunity to wrench on any, hate to hear they're taking the same road. As a non affiliated mechanic, my days may be numbered just like those old coalfields. Sad shit.

Looking like we're going to be forced into buying Professional version software from Detroit. I just don't see any other way.

[–] Aussiemandeus@aussie.zone 2 points 8 months ago

Yeah it is a shame, unfortunately it all makes business sense though fo the manufacturers.

Make something only you can fix and they have to come back for repeat business, although im pretty sure car manufacturers were getting in trouble for it, but providing subscription based access was the work around for them.

It really is anti competition though.

[–] seathru@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I feel you. I'm in powersports but the software situation is the same. And it sucks. Realistically, your immediate option is probably just pony up the extra $1500 or whatever for Professional. If you work for someone, you let them know you need that to do your job. If you're self employed, you figure how much extra you need to charge per job and pass it on to the customer.

I really wish the cracking scene was more active for this type of software.

[–] LoraxEleven@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

That's pretty much what I thought.. Company owner is in negotiations with our Freightliner guy at the moment looking at paying the even bigger bucks to you with the Pro version. What chaps my fuckin balls about it, though, is that up until recently Standard did all I needed it to do. It just fuckin pisses me off.

[–] seathru@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, every year they lock more features behind higher paywalls. A lot of 2020+ year models now I have to buy single use by VIN license on top of the $800/yr base. Another manufacturer has cut off independent shops completely, you can't legitimately buy a license for their software at all. So far I've been lucky every year and able to find a tech from the local dealer willing to take a bribe to come by and validate my software with their credentials, but I'm sure one day that will run out. I've seriously considered commissioning a crack for this program and releasing it into the wild.

[–] LoraxEleven@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago

Well, there most certainly Was a cracked version as of year before last.. Guy I kinda knew was doing aftertreatment deletes on the DD Platform engines, OneBox. You'd hear from him on the phone, get a laptop in the mail with all the software needed to get the job done, and that included the DDDL Professional.. CAT, Cummins Insite, JPRO and other shit on there. Even the operating system was cracked on the thing, I got to see one of the laptops. Everything was done remotely. Or so I've heard.. Fucker's probably still gone, he was pulling time last I heard.. Last time I was in a big pickle I did hit The Pirate Bay and a couple other torrent sites, but nothing found for DDDL, nothing I'd consider safe enough to fuck with, anyways. But, I'm beyond the limits of Standard already, so we're trying to cut a deal on the Professional. In the end dollars are the only way to fix trucks these days. If ever a motherfucker runs for office with the intent of ending this fucking nightmare, I'm hitting the fuckin booth. And I'm a damn apolitical fuckin combat vet. My Dad and some of his farming buddies fought with vigor against those John Deere motherfuckers, so it was nice to see they made a tiny chip in the green armor. But, this shit truly needs to change. Very soon only the massive corporations will have access to the tools necessary to do a mechanic's job. And that's fucking shameful to know that I'm pretty fucking castrated at the job I've spent my whole life learning and doing. Filthy motherfuckers.