I would try another main cable . I am using a  longer more flexible cable from my old Snap On MT2500 that works fine on my DS 708 , plus I have a  90 degree adapter cable that keeps the 16pin adapter and main cable out of harms way.
    When my year was up , my tool just said there are no updates available for this tool (or something to that extent) I would not trust any update you are not paying for.If it were not for the WIFI printing , I would turn it's WIFI access off ! I'm afraid that if things legally don't turn out well to Autel's favor if deemed by courts that specific functions and features  are stolen OE Intellectual property, then they might be turned off or disabled on literally  thousands of these tools with out our permission or knowledge of it even occurring. I was triing to exit out of a Ford Menu recently and almost formatted Ford by accident , but selected cancel. I have no idea how that page just popped up by accident either.

 I wonder why it would allow you to update the program but not the vehicles makes ? what if you take the card out of the DS and put it in the card reader and view the contents of your card on your DS708 software suite