VagCom

[Exardious]

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.

[Foreveryoungaus16v]

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.

[Exardious]

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.

[itavaltalainen]

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.

[Robracer]

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

[itavaltalainen]

@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.

[Robracer]

@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

[itavaltalainen]

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).

[Robracer]

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

[itavaltalainen]

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?