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Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Topic started by: linz on 01 April 2008, 17:14

Title: understanding vagcom
Post by: linz on 01 April 2008, 17:14
o.k well i no where the vagcom is now (after asking on here lol)

but i wanna no more but in simple form, not complecated links that will confuse me :grin:

so i no you connect the vagcom to a computer and it gives you codes ect

what comp do you attach it to? and if they come up in code format do you have a book that tells you what is what or is that on the computer too??
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: gtitdi on 01 April 2008, 19:30
hi linz

you can download vagcom from ross tech's website and put it on any laptop or pc
then you need a cable to plug into the socket in the car (ones from ross tech are expensive but you can get them from ebay for about £20)

once plugged in etc you can scan for fault codes. each one will give a brief fault description along with a code. to find out about the fault there is a site like wikipedia for the fault codes by rosstech or just stick it in google.

you can also use vagcom to enable automatic locking after 15mph, one press unlocking with the remote etc..

hope that helps
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: richw911 on 01 April 2008, 19:36
o.k well i no where the vagcom is now (after asking on here lol)

but i wanna no more but in simple form, not complecated links that will confuse me :grin:

so i no you connect the vagcom to a computer and it gives you codes ect

what comp do you attach it to? and if they come up in code format do you have a book that tells you what is what or is that on the computer too??

You can connect to a home laptop you can read fault codes and change things like:

 Turn off passenger airbags, make the car auto lock when you drive off, Make the alarm beep when you arm it etc etc...

You learn how to use it just buy using it TBH  :wink:

ha just beat me to it gtitdi lol
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: linz on 01 April 2008, 20:06
so how easy is it to use?

and can you do more harm than good?
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: Rhyso on 01 April 2008, 20:14
so how easy is it to use?

and can you do more harm than good?

very easy; its just trial and error.

you can f**k up your car but only if you can't follow instructions carefully  :smiley:
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: linz on 01 April 2008, 20:26
ah cool so how much am i looking to download?

may be a pefect excuse to get a new laptop for the car too :)
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: Rhyso on 01 April 2008, 20:40
ah cool so how much am i looking to download?

may be a pefect excuse to get a new laptop for the car too :)

nothing to download; the cost is for the lead itself as thats where the full license is built in.  there are other ways around it but that leaves you with older versions of the software which aren't as good as the newest version.

A new cable is at least £200 bought from a retailer in the UK.
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: linz on 01 April 2008, 20:45
can you not get them cheaper off ebay or summit?
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: THiNK on 01 April 2008, 20:49
So plug it it start the software - start the car - start the scan?

Is that the correct way of error checking?

CS
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: Rhyso on 01 April 2008, 21:02
can you not get them cheaper off ebay or summit?

read carefully what i said - there are cheap Ebay cables but they will only work with the free and LIMITED version of the software.

The real VAG COM cable has the license built in which activates the FULL version.

So plug it it start the software - start the car - start the scan?

Is that the correct way of error checking?

CS

turn the ignition on; plug in the cable, away you go. only need to start the car if you want to do data logging.  For fault codes only ignition on will suffice  :smiley:
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: linz on 01 April 2008, 21:05
ah right k k well deffo be summit i will have to add to my want list lol
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: richw911 on 01 April 2008, 21:12
ah right k k well deffo be summit i will have to add to my want list lol

If you only want vag com to fault code read you could get a fault code reader - NOT a patch on vag com i know but very handy when on a budget .

You can get them for a bout £40 and no need for a laptop.


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=150231341614&Category=30921&_trksid=p3907.m29
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: leeroy20vt on 01 April 2008, 21:12
this will do then
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ross-tech-Vag-com-vehicle-diagnostic-lead_W0QQitemZ280212189917QQihZ018QQcategoryZ30921QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: Rhyso on 01 April 2008, 21:14
this will do then
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ross-tech-Vag-com-vehicle-diagnostic-lead_W0QQitemZ280212189917QQihZ018QQcategoryZ30921QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


that will do the job. Its a older version of a cable (its serial port connection) but should do the job nicely  :smiley:
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: leeroy20vt on 01 April 2008, 21:18
which version do u downlaod ??
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: Rhyso on 01 April 2008, 21:19
which version do u downlaod ??

latest one which is 704 i believe
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: leeroy20vt on 01 April 2008, 21:22
not very helpfull fella as when u click download it gives u bout 5 diff options for all sorts
lol
i think im just thick lol
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: Rhyso on 01 April 2008, 21:24
i think im just thick lol

 :lipsrsealed:

if we base it on the ebay link then you need the version for KEY COM  :wink:

The key is in the picture.........
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: leeroy20vt on 01 April 2008, 21:26
cheers rhyso what about the cheapy cables u can get
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: Rhyso on 01 April 2008, 21:29
cheers rhyso what about the cheapy cables u can get

50 50 chance of them working tbh.

I got a cheap lead and it seemed to work ok but then you can only use it with the older versions and you can't do any cool things like enable auto locking etc etc.

Got lucky in that a bloke on UKMKIV's organised possibly the most complicated group buy for all different VAG COM leads and did a deal direct with Ross Tech and got over 100 people to part with their cash.

My genuine cable cost me £170 instead of the £240 which most UK retailers want to charge......no wonder its rip off britain  :angry:
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: leeroy20vt on 01 April 2008, 21:32
furry muff so what ur sayin is dont bother unlles u can afford the real deal
and totaly agree with th rip of britain poxy place lol
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: Rhyso on 01 April 2008, 21:37
furry muff so what ur sayin is dont bother unlles u can afford the real deal
and totaly agree with th rip of britain poxy place lol

yeah basically IMO. Others have different views  :smiley:

if you want it purely to scan fault codes etc i'd get one of those hand held scanners :afro: probably more reliable
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: leeroy20vt on 01 April 2008, 21:42
very tru did only want it for fault finding tbh my dad has a hand held 1 was bout 300 quid but i plugged it into my m8s audi said was all ok then it went to a local garage got pluged in there and had quite a few faults weird a
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: bobbarley on 01 April 2008, 21:42
OR, go to someones house that has vagcom :)
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: richw911 on 01 April 2008, 21:45
very tru did only want it for fault finding tbh my dad has a hand held 1 was bout 300 quid but i plugged it into my m8s audi said was all ok then it went to a local garage got pluged in there and had quite a few faults weird a

Strange that. My cheap hand held is very helpful TBH
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: leeroy20vt on 01 April 2008, 21:49
very tru did only want it for fault finding tbh my dad has a hand held 1 was bout 300 quid but i plugged it into my m8s audi said was all ok then it went to a local garage got pluged in there and had quite a few faults weird a

Strange that. My cheap hand held is very helpful TBH
he uses it in the garage on other cars and finds allsorts mine was clear to thats y i just wanted to check mine on vagcom altho i think its fine as have no issues but u never know
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: richw911 on 01 April 2008, 21:51
very tru did only want it for fault finding tbh my dad has a hand held 1 was bout 300 quid but i plugged it into my m8s audi said was all ok then it went to a local garage got pluged in there and had quite a few faults weird a

Strange that. My cheap hand held is very helpful TBH
he uses it in the garage on other cars and finds allsorts mine was clear to thats y i just wanted to check mine on vagcom altho i think its fine as have no issues but u never know

I see. Yeah the £300 one do all cars, The cheap one i have only does vw from 96 to currant.
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: linz on 02 April 2008, 09:40
id only want one that does my car not really bothered about the rest lol

though the vw also do audi yes? o they do seat as well?
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: Rhyso on 02 April 2008, 09:48
id only want one that does my car not really bothered about the rest lol

though the vw also do audi yes? o they do seat as well?

yep - it should do all VAG group cars, so in theory it should be able to scan the Veyron  :laugh:
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: linz on 02 April 2008, 14:16
ah brill well deffo sommit to go on my wish list then :)
Title: Re: understanding vagcom
Post by: richw911 on 02 April 2008, 19:23
id only want one that does my car not really bothered about the rest lol

though the vw also do audi yes? o they do seat as well?

yep - it should do all VAG group cars, so in theory it should be able to scan the Veyron  :laugh:

 :grin:  :laugh: