ok wanting a fault code reader

[dubpirate]

my car is a 1993 mk3 golf 1.4 ryder abd engine

will it plug in

is it a 16 pin reader i need

any recomendations

thanks

[dubpirate]

ok so i have read post 1990 cars are 16 pin ust want someone to confirm b4 i purchase one thanks

[boneybradley]

It will be obd1 2x2 (4 pin) not obd2... you can still get readers (or a converter plug so you can use obd2 reader) they changed for Euro2 emission reg's in mid 94ish

[itavaltalainen]

Strictly speaking Mk3 is not OBD2, it only got the OBD2 16-pin socket from MY95 on.
Protocol has not changed, just a different socket and a "modern" OBD reader will not work with them. You need a VW specific one, e.g. an AutoDia K409.
Adapters from 2x2 connector to 16 pin can be bought but if you got to scrappy and get yourself a new centre console you can just rewire the socket to 16 pin one.

Would not buy a cheap chinese copy, they are rubbish and you will suffer from timing issues on the USB <-> RS232 conversion before adapter converts it to TTL.

[boneybradley]

I just thought, If your local to me and get a 2x2 converter cable (I've lost mine somewhere) then I can try both my scanners for you (I have semi-full vcds too)

[dubpirate]

Would a u281 reader work with an adaptor cable ??

[thai-wronghorse]

Would a u281 reader work with an adaptor cable ??

It's what I've used on my past 3 mk3's without a hitch. Cheap, simple and effective.

[thai-wronghorse]

http://www.talktomycar.co.uk/products/codereaders/mj002.htm

[dubpirate]

These are only £10 on eBay or are these the copies your on about cheers

[itavaltalainen]

As your fault code reader is a stand alone unit it cannot suffer from USB <-> RS232 conversion timing issues

The background with Ebay cables:
Cheap "VAG COM" compatible cables from China quite often have cheap (a/k/a forged) FDTI USB-RS232 adapter chips which come with sh!t drivers... since Windows is poor with USB real time keeping it needs some good drivers and authentic chips, otherwise you won't get a connection.

I have built my own RS232 VAG interface (with a kit from ELV Germany, product code VDA100) and use a Brainboxes USB<->RS232 adapter to connect to it. Brainboxes converters are very good and made in the UK, so you can actually get support for them and they come with life time warranty... We use them at work for high tech devices.