Diagnostic tool....

[hemang02]

I have a Mk4 98 Reg Golf 1.6 auto...
Is there a code reader available that anyone here has used and can recommend ?... I see many available for sale on the internet....some on ebay...some PC based... some with a standalone handheld unit...
from £15 to £75.

I want to diagnose an intermittent fault with the engine cutting out while I am driving.... maybe using it once will pay for itself.. and then if I ever have any technical problems in the future it would be handy.

Would be grateful if someone could point in the direction of one .. that they have already used and know that it works ok. BTW... where does it connect in the car ? and how can I be sure the unit i buy will be compatible with my car...(e.g. do i need to check the type of connector on the car... or find the protocol type..etc ?)

thanks.

[Eshrules]

I have a Mk4 98 Reg Golf 1.6 auto...
Is there a code reader available that anyone here has used and can recommend ?... I see many available for sale on the internet....some on ebay...some PC based... some with a standalone handheld unit...
from £15 to £75.

I want to diagnose an intermittent fault with the engine cutting out while I am driving.... maybe using it once will pay for itself.. and then if I ever have any technical problems in the future it would be handy.

Would be grateful if someone could point in the direction of one .. that they have already used and know that it works ok. BTW... where does it connect in the car ? and how can I be sure the unit i buy will be compatible with my car...(e.g. do i need to check the type of connector on the car... or find the protocol type..etc ?)

thanks.

you have a couple of choices available to you here... i'll try and remain as impartial as i can for you :)

vagcom

this is the popular software, essentially the electronic version of the bible for all things VAG....

this software is diagnostic in the main, but can also be used for adaptations (editing in basic terms) and a few other things such as output tests (such as testing the N75 valve)

there are a couple of ways to use this software, you can buy a 3rd party vagcom cables (usually USB connection) such as the one's i sell @ £14.99 including P&P for forum members. if you choose to do this, for full use of the software you will have to purchase a license (approx £50), but for your use, the shareware version should be fine, which is freely available from the rosstech website.

the other option, is to purchase an official interface from the rosstech website, these now act as a dongle, ie, they are self-authenticating with the software so no license fee is payable, but these 'dongle' interfaces are more expensive than a 3rd party interface.



NOW, you mention scanners and unfortunatley, these too , are like a minefield.

there are 2 main types of scanner, the basic and the 'pro'.

basic scanners should retail at around £20/40 .... these will read fault codes and clear them, this includes ABS fault codes etc. i have one of these at home and for your requirements, i think one of these would suffice.

the 'pro' scanners (such as the V- Checker pro which i retail @ £99.99 including P&P) are all singing, all dancing. they read codes, display descriptions of the codes, allow them to be cleared. the clever stuff is that they can also perform adaptations, work with airbag modules, perform output tests and monitor the measuring blocks to help identify faults, such as the MAF etc....

to be quite honest, for what you're describing, the best (and cheapest) option IMHO would be to source a 3rd party cable, download the shareware version of vagcom and take it from there.... :Blush:

[cbrpaul]

IMHO go the vagcom route , it maybe a little more money , but it will give you so much more versatility and help !!!!


I
;)


:beerchug:

[Eshrules]

IMHO go the vagcom route , it maybe a little more money , but it will give you so much more versatility and help !!!!


I
;)


:beerchug:

the one thing i always advise people to do when asking this sort of question, is to get a cheap vagcom lead, download the trial software and have a play. some people don't like the software or having to lug around a lappy, so may choose a scanner. i certainly wouldnt (IMHO) go out and pay a few hundred pounds for the official interface and license package if this is the first time of use.
i started out with the cheapest scanner you can think of with my fiat, again with the golf and you learn which suits you best.
from what the OP has said, he isn't going to need the full functionality of vagcom, although granted it will pay for itself within a few uses :)

[Sam]

I bought the fully registered version of VAG-COM without ever having used a diagnostic tool before. I was very wary of buying a "cheap" cable on ebay because of the issues over quality of goods from overseas/the East.

I didn't get much use out of VAG-COM in the first year or so and many times I'd find myself having to justify the purchase (to both me and other people). Changing the alarm siren and making the doors lock at 10mph is cool, but it really wasn't worth the >£100 I paid for the privilege. Now that the car is older and the wife also has a VAG car I get to use it quite a lot, but at the time..... :(

Only recently have I had the chance to use one of the hand-held all-in-one scanners (from the good man above) and I have to say I'm very impressed. It does everything VAG-COM can do and it fits nearly in the glovebox. I now keep it there all the time. My laptop is on hand if I'm at work, but obviously there are days when you don't want to take your laptop out with you. The interface is much the same, the output is identical, ok the language is questionable at times, but go and watch Lost in Translation ;)

If I were doing it all again I'd ditch my snobbish attitude to things and start with a budget cable and the freeware version of the software just to see if it was for me.

Once you get to use it and see what it can do and just how useful it really is, consider stepping up to a scanner or going the whole way and buying a licence for the fully registered version.

[hemang02]

Thank you so much guys for the advice.. so I guess i'll got down the vagcom route with the lead and the trial software...
I tried to go the site: http://www.eshrules-enterprises.co.uk/ but it seems to be down.. (i get page not found in my IE).
I'll try again tomorrow... or maybe it is easier to call ... what are eshrules phone contact details ?
cheers.

[Sam]

Thank you so much guys for the advice.. so I guess i'll got down the vagcom route with the lead and the trial software...
I tried to go the site: http://www.eshrules-enterprises.co.uk/ but it seems to be down.. (i get page not found in my IE).
I'll try again tomorrow... or maybe it is easier to call ... what are eshrules phone contact details ?
cheers.

His site is currently down due to some admin errors.

Try sending eshrules a PM, that's the quickest way.

[Eshrules]

Thank you so much guys for the advice.. so I guess i'll got down the vagcom route with the lead and the trial software...
I tried to go the site: http://www.eshrules-enterprises.co.uk/ but it seems to be down.. (i get page not found in my IE).
I'll try again tomorrow... or maybe it is easier to call ... what are eshrules phone contact details ?
cheers.

as above, really, or you can email me (sales@eshrules-enterprises.co.uk) :beerchug:

[paulommaia]

you have a couple of choices available to you here... i'll try and remain as impartial as i can for you :)

vagcom

this is the popular software, essentially the electronic version of the bible for all things VAG....

this software is diagnostic in the main, but can also be used for adaptations (editing in basic terms) and a few other things such as output tests (such as testing the N75 valve)

there are a couple of ways to use this software, you can buy a 3rd party vagcom cables (usually USB connection) such as the one's i sell @ £14.99 including P&P for forum members. if you choose to do this, for full use of the software you will have to purchase a license (approx £50), but for your use, the shareware version should be fine, which is freely available from the rosstech website.

the other option, is to purchase an official interface from the rosstech website, these now act as a dongle, ie, they are self-authenticating with the software so no license fee is payable, but these 'dongle' interfaces are more expensive than a 3rd party interface.



NOW, you mention scanners and unfortunatley, these too , are like a minefield.

there are 2 main types of scanner, the basic and the 'pro'.

basic scanners should retail at around £20/40 .... these will read fault codes and clear them, this includes ABS fault codes etc. i have one of these at home and for your requirements, i think one of these would suffice.

the 'pro' scanners (such as the V- Checker pro which i retail @ £99.99 including P&P) are all singing, all dancing. they read codes, display descriptions of the codes, allow them to be cleared. the clever stuff is that they can also perform adaptations, work with airbag modules, perform output tests and monitor the measuring blocks to help identify faults, such as the MAF etc....

to be quite honest, for what you're describing, the best (and cheapest) option IMHO would be to source a 3rd party cable, download the shareware version of vagcom and take it from there.... :Blush:


hi mate first post here so try and go easy on me please

do you still sell the cables for diagnostic on a vw golf mk3 1995 16 pin plug
i'm asking as i checked your items and didnt find any
thank you for your time

[deono]

you have a couple of choices available to you here... i'll try and remain as impartial as i can for you :)

vagcom

this is the popular software, essentially the electronic version of the bible for all things VAG....

this software is diagnostic in the main, but can also be used for adaptations (editing in basic terms) and a few other things such as output tests (such as testing the N75 valve)

there are a couple of ways to use this software, you can buy a 3rd party vagcom cables (usually USB connection) such as the one's i sell @ £14.99 including P&P for forum members. if you choose to do this, for full use of the software you will have to purchase a license (approx £50), but for your use, the shareware version should be fine, which is freely available from the rosstech website.

the other option, is to purchase an official interface from the rosstech website, these now act as a dongle, ie, they are self-authenticating with the software so no license fee is payable, but these 'dongle' interfaces are more expensive than a 3rd party interface.



NOW, you mention scanners and unfortunatley, these too , are like a minefield.

there are 2 main types of scanner, the basic and the 'pro'.

basic scanners should retail at around £20/40 .... these will read fault codes and clear them, this includes ABS fault codes etc. i have one of these at home and for your requirements, i think one of these would suffice.

the 'pro' scanners (such as the V- Checker pro which i retail @ £99.99 including P&P) are all singing, all dancing. they read codes, display descriptions of the codes, allow them to be cleared. the clever stuff is that they can also perform adaptations, work with airbag modules, perform output tests and monitor the measuring blocks to help identify faults, such as the MAF etc....

to be quite honest, for what you're describing, the best (and cheapest) option IMHO would be to source a 3rd party cable, download the shareware version of vagcom and take it from there.... :Blush:

Hi i have a 1996 sharan and i need to run a code test to check gear box, i have a laptop and it runs vista and has usb.

You said above that you sell Usb lead for £14.99 and that i can download software free to use share ware, so few things:

Is vista supported

Can i do a live test while driving to check the gear box

Will this lead and software test Maf meter

And last of all how do you take payment

Many Thanks..

[ROWENC]

Hi Mate

New to forum so I hope I'm not asking one of those questions that keeps coming up.

I have a 95 VR6, can you tell me which type of diagnostic cable I need?? as the ABS fault is starting to get on my nerves and with the info on this forum hopefully I can fix it.

Cheers

Rob

[Paul Grayson]

does anybody know if the vagcom software will communicate with the climate control unit in a a4 b6 without being fully licensed, and which version needs downloading for a third party lead as i have had a look on the rosstech website and there appears to be bewilldering number of versions of the software