Buying a fault reader

[james_biscuit]

Hello,

Our ABS light keeps coming on all the time. And then for no apparent reason turns off again.

Having read previous posts I think the first port of call is to get the fault codes read and check the sensors. Would be really handy to have our own fault reader anyway, can anyone tell me exactly what we need for a 97 8V?

Read about something called VAGCOM but havent got a clue what that means or what to look for? The fault readers selling on ebay at the moment are for older GTi's However, they are only £20. A good investment I think, if we can get our claws on the right one.

Excuse my ignorance, any comments welcome!

[monkeyalan]

you need one with an (On Board Diagnostic) OBD2 connection rather than OBD1 which is probably the cheap one on ebay.

[adyh]

Be sure when you buy the reader that it will do more than just the basics. Some of them will only talk to the Engine ECU . This is ok for engine faults but ABS has a seperate ECU .

[STOMMO]

Hi. Get yourself onto E-Bay and type in the search box.   GS200 VW/AUDI CODE READER. (Sorry cant do links yet. ) This should take you to a site in the U.S.A named ALPHA-BID. They sell loads of different code readers. I got one delivered in three days. It arrived last week and it works fine on my 97 8v gti. Best part about it for me was that  they hadn't got the one I ordered (  a cheaper version) in stock, it was stuck in customs and they offered me another one with a refund on shipping. The one they sent me was VW/AUDI AUTOSCANNER u280. It directed me straight to the left hand front ABS sensor. Easy Peasy.

[james_biscuit]

Thanks for the answers guys, have re searched on ebay using the search terms given and found one ending tonight. £20, easy.

Lets hope its as simple as the sensors

If one of the sensors is stuffed, does that stop the ABS working altogether?

Just tested it out on the wet road, the wheels locked up so I assume that means the ABS isnt working!! Burnt rubber!!

[AudiA8Quattro]

If one of the sensors is faulty then yes the ABS will shut down.
You don't need diagnostics to test sensors, a multimeter set to resistance works as well and is alot cheaper(as i keep on saying )

[majic mk3]

It may be just a dirty sensor, when you find out which one is faulty, try to give it a clean, maybe with some brake cleaner! Because they're magnetic, they pick up all sorts of sh1t! It'll be cheaper than buying a new one any way!

[AudiA8Quattro]

The problem is its difficult to clean the sensors in situ, and the old design rusts in really badly.
New sensors aren't that expensive any more, try euro or gsf.

[monkeyalan]

don't they just! I ended up chiseling mine out as they felt like they were welded in.