GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: Exardious on 21 October 2014, 08:46
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Hey Guys
I was wondering if there was a good cheap VagCom reader, that i can use with my 1994 MK3 GTi 16v. I want to be able to read faul codes, and clear them. And would also like to be able to read the live data.
Thanks in advance.
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It should be OBD1 if it is pre 95. The way to check is where the connector is and what type of connector it is.
If it is next to the ash try and is quite a large single plug with a 15pin connection then it is OBD2. If it is two single connectors near the rear window defroster switch then it is OBD1.
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Hmm, its a 1994 built golf. But the connector behind the ashtray cover thingie, is a big one, not the one with 2 seperate connectors.
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yep then you have OBD 1.5 (old protocol but OBD2 socket).
If you have an old laptop with an rs232 port (9 pin male d-sub socket) go for a RS232 cable (like VDA100 from ELV in germany, they ship abroad)
http://www.elv.de/elv-diagnose-adapter-fuer-obd-2-komplettbausatz.html
otherwise there are some usb to kkl cables with usb on ebay, but i dont trust them (flaky comms).
for that reason i used a good usb to rs232 converter - Brainbox US-101, but this is pretty expensive (50€), you could try another usb to rs232 adapter with a genuine fdti chip.
one software is called vcds lite - the unregistered version will allow you to read fault codes but not much else (no live monitoring).
you may find some older vag com versions online but they are usually cracked and not stable (plus you're not paying someone who runs a small business - they are not a giant like microsoft)
licence for vcds lite costs 99 usd currently on ross-tech.com - which entitles you to discount if you end up buying a full vcds from them.
if you're planning on getting a newer VW at some point a hex+can from ross-tech (or their danish distributor) which supports all VWs from the mk3 to current models. It's a lot more costly though - all in about 3-400€
another software, that is free is wbh diag (the old version 0.86 anyway) but can do a little less than registered vcds (lite):
http://www.blafusel.de/obd/obd2_wbhdiag.html#6
they also sell an interface on the same webpage that will work with current wbh diag software (via bluetooth comms):
https://www.obd2-shop.eu/product_info.php/cPath/36_39/products_id/302
Personally I went for vcds lite option first (with the VLA100 adapter and brainbox) before I upgraded to full vcds.
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Get one of these.. I bought a Vag 12.12 ex Rosstech OE wire from a seller of eBay. It works a treat. Full access to the ecu. It's come in very handy already on two cars. Google VAG 12.12 or buy one from eBay. Mine only cost £50.. Worth every penny
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAS-VAG-COM-VCDS-Diagnostic-Cable-Tool-12-12-3-HEX-CAN-USB-Audi-Skoda-VW-Vagcom-/281501449171?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item418acb3bd3
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@Robracer.... the one you linked on Ebay is a fake VCDS clone.... with cracked software.
Don't support people who steal other people's ideas and products by buying from them.
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@Robracer.... the one you linked on Ebay is a fake VCDS clone.... with cracked software.
Don't support people who steal other people's ideas and products by buying from them.
I wasn't aware it was a cracked clone of the OEM one's! I assumed it was a batch of rosstech dongle's they get in from customers willing to upgrade etc? I'm certainly not endorsing fake stuff i can assure you.
I'm willing to remove my above post if need be? Admin let me know
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Difficult to tell sometimes which are fake and which genuine.
Fakes normally have no serial number or instead of having a RT label it says VCDS 12.12 or similar.
Would be surprised if RT resell trade ins, pretty certain they scrap them off (that's what my company does with trade ins unless they are to be used for spares or training).
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I did wonder myself how a supposed vag com dongle could be so cheap? It certainly works like the real thing. It allows full access to the software and ECU. the software gives you the whole serial number etc.. But sorry to say, i know what price i'd rather pay for the access to my golf's ecu when ever i choose?
It's like peeps who buy say 200 tunes of iTunes then download a thousand songs from other sites. I know many who do that
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But sorry to say, i know what price i'd rather pay for the access to my golf's ecu when ever i choose?
What do you do for a job? ;)
I like to get paid for what I deliver and for one would be pissed off if a chinese bugger (not that I don't like the chinese but they are the fake copy masters) cheaply copied my work and then sold it.
Ross-Tech aren't microsoft, they are a relatively small company - family owned if you will - so I lashed out for vcds lite at first (which is fairly priced) and then when I got a mk7 where it was no longer of use they gave me a discount of the vcds licence towards the full system which I thought was fair enough.
If I have problems I can ask them for support - who are you gonna ask after buying a cheap fake?
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Well paid :smiley: That's all i'm saying. At first i had the cheapo blue fake wire off ebay for a few year's till i needed more than just a simple connection to my ecu. A full engine rebuild caused my dizzy to throw up the usual ecu error. I was well aware of Ross tech, gendan & mi-uk's price's but i wasn't prepared to spend even more cash after my engine rebuild. So a quick trawl through eBay brought up the vag com 12.12 dongle. I honestly assumed it was an ex-Ross Tech wire to be fair.
But i'm in no need for software assistance. I only have a MK3 GTI. It does all i need it to do. It even work's on my other half's 09' Skoda fabia
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Well.... you could have kept your blue cable and just gotten VCDS lite licence which can do everything on a mk3.
That's 99 USD.... how could their better system (HEX+CAN) only cost half that even if second hand? ;)
Buying cheap knock offs just does people like you and me out of a job (and your kids will have to bow to the communist party in PRC). It's like buying a TV that "fell off a lorry"... just not right imho.
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I had the same idea at first. But the blue eBay wire wouldn't allow the software to create a serial number for me to supply for an upgrade. I followed all instructions for the process, but with no success. They stipulate that the serial is essential for a successful upgrade transaction.
The dongle i bought.. I still think it's an OE part?
(http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj24/robracer69/output_zpsfcoikaxv.jpg) (http://s268.photobucket.com/user/robracer69/media/output_zpsfcoikaxv.jpg.html)
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That's a fake mate,it should have a serial number on that sticker,the screws are wrong and when its plugged in I bet the led is on the underside,i know,ive had one,and got my money back ,if you use it and your laptop connects to the net it will get fried,look at some genuine plugs on google images
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Ah S**t. I hoped it wasn't a fake! I have a thing for OE parts. I work with OE parts all day long..
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Here is an image of the genuine item:
(http://www.a2oc.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=9690&d=1339966196)
I'm surprised that you could not get a code with blue lead to register vcds lite - the code is generated based on your computer and not the lead (I have used different leads, one of the blue ones and one 'home made').
Problem with your VCDS cable is that you can't update the software, i.e. you won't be able to do much on newer cars (12.12 is very limited on MQB which new VAGs are).
Other thing that makes you think is... it's very easy to find out how a genuine lead looks like. If they are not even bothered to make it look like the genuine item what is the quality of the electronics used, workmanship? Would not want to connect that to a car worth k£.
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I tried everything i could to get the blue wire and vcds to create a serial number. I tried & tried.. I trawled through forum's, blog's and Ross Tech's own FAQ but i had no success. Then my car threw up the dizzy error one afternoon i wanted to fix the problem pronto. So i genuinely thought what i bought was ex oe stock? Obviously not! I've only used it twice for two separate error's and it's been sat upstairs since. I'll tear the dongle plug apart soon and see how it's been built?
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Where did you get vcds lite s/w?
Was it on the cd that came with the cable? Then may have had a poorly coded "crack" applied.
All that is needed to get an activation code on the blue lead is that you connected it to car successfully once, save the configuration. then go back to main screen and click on about.... if that does not work you could move the *.vca file to another folder (or rename) with s/w closed, then restart the software.
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I bought the blue cable with the mini cd software included from eBay 4-6 years ago when i first got my golf. I was totally new to VW in those days! That software & blue cable at the time managed to clear an ABS light due to the previous owner bodging the two rear sensors and adding the wrong ABS pump! So two new rear sensors and a correct ABS pump installed, and code cleared by VCDS lite :) But as i soon found out, VCDS lite has it's limitations. Perhaps in the future i'll be more picky where i buy VW related stuff?