Which Vag-Com?

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Jim Elbrecht - 01 Aug 2007 02:12 GMT

My wife has a '97 VW Cabrio, and my son has a '98 Audi A4.

The Cabrio needs a scan- and I'm thinking it is a good time to get
the cables and software and learn to do it myself.

I have a laptop with USB.

But now I see there are a few choices- Cables on Ebay for $20- Ross
Tech for $99. . . downloadable software from several vendors.

How different are the various cables or software? Is there a set
that is considered better in some way than all the rest? How?

Is there a Vag-com FAQ someplace that will answer all those questions?

Thanks,
Jim

Reply to this Message

Yes Baby - 01 Aug 2007 05:40 GMT

> My wife has a '97 VW Cabrio, and my son has a '98 Audi A4.
>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> Thanks,
> Jim

http://www.ross-tech.com/

Reply to this Message

dave AKA vwdoc1 - 01 Aug 2007 12:45 GMT

The "cloned" cables/adapter will not be able to do the latest version of the
ross-tech.com software. Also that software will be LOCKED to one computer.
If you purchase the adapter from ross-tech.com, you will be able to use any
computer with the software installed on it.

Yes you could save some $$ purchasing a clone adapter, but if you purchase
the real thing and don't need it anymore you can always sell it over $100
recouping some of the purchase price. It usually pays for itself on the
first 1-2 repairs when you use it. A true investment!
Or buy a clone first for $20 to try out the software limited version free!
If you activate the software for $99 then you can apply that software
purchase to the purchase of the real adapter later! ;-)

If my answer seems vague............I vote you purchase the real adapter
from ross-tech.com, I have 2 of them.

JMHO

Signature

later,
dave
(One out of many daves)

>> My wife has a '97 VW Cabrio, and my son has a '98 Audi A4.
>>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> http://www.ross-tech.com/

Reply to this Message

Jim Elbrecht - 01 Aug 2007 13:55 GMT

As soon as I posted I saw your answer-

-snip-

>Yes you could save some $$ purchasing a clone adapter, but if you purchase
>the real thing and don't need it anymore you can always sell it over $100
>recouping some of the purchase price. It usually pays for itself on the
>first 1-2 repairs when you use it. A true investment!

Thanks-
Over $100?. . . appears to be an understatement.<g> 4 days to go
and there is one on Ebay now at $170 with 22 bids. I think you
sold me.
[ebay item 320142427324 ]

-snip-

>If my answer seems vague............I vote you purchase the real adapter
>from ross-tech.com, I have 2 of them.

I'm leaning that way because of the resale value, and because I'm sure
to have questions once I start using it, and it seems like there are a
lot more folks using the Ross-Tech stuff.

Just in case I decide to go cheap-
Do you know how limited the earlier versions of the software are for
my older VW & Audi? [97 Golf/Cabrio & 98 A4]

Thanks again-
Jim

Reply to this Message

dave AKA vwdoc1 - 02 Aug 2007 01:25 GMT

Jim,
Remember if you do go cheap you will be only out that $20 to buy the clone.
The $99 to unlock the ross-tech.com software can be applied to the purchase
of their adapter if you need/want it. ;-)

So if you want to hook up to the VW and Audi that you have........try out
the clone.
I think that I would. $20 what the heck I spend that on a take out meal for
the family. lol

But remember that the clone will ONLY work fully on the computer with the
unlocked software! 8^)

> As soon as I posted I saw your answer-
>
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> Thanks again-
> Jim

Reply to this Message

Jim Elbrecht - 01 Aug 2007 13:20 GMT

-snip-

>> How different are the various cables or software? Is there a set
>> that is considered better in some way than all the rest? How?
>>
>> Is there a Vag-com FAQ someplace that will answer all those questions?

-snip-

>http://www.ross-tech.com/

I'd found Ross-Tech's FAQ- but that just answers questions about
*their* software/cables. [And even at that I'm not sure if I'd be
happy with their shareware/freeware, or if I'd feel the need to shell
out "$299-$599" for their newest, registered software.]
http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/vag-functions.html

When they say their shareware software has "limited" ability to "Read
fault codes" - is it so limited that I'll curse it every time a light
comes on the dash [like the ABS light that is now on on the 97 Cabrio]
or will it just not have some exotic stuff that I'd end up going to
the dealer for anyway?

[If I go with the Ross-Tech software I've obviously got to read some
more on that site as yesterday I saw a page where I could buy the
cable for $99 and download the software for free-- today I just see
the "buy the cable and software for $229". .. and another where I
could download "registered shareware" for use with 3d party cables for
$99.]

Is the Ross-tech's software as good or better than some other vendors
like Lemmiwinks or Vag PC Diagnoses?

I know *good* is often in the eye of the beholder, but I'm looking for
simple, but thorough nuts and bolts software. I won't be super tuning
either car, but I like to avoid trips to the dealer for things I can
fix myself.

Thanks,
Jim

Reply to this Message

Bart Oleksy - 20 Aug 2007 20:20 GMT

> I'd found Ross-Tech's FAQ- but that just answers questions about
> *their* software/cables. [And even at that I'm not sure if I'd be
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> or will it just not have some exotic stuff that I'd end up going to
> the dealer for anyway?

I have some similar questions, even though I've sprung for a clone cable
already & downloaded the shareware software. I did manage to get a
connection with the laptop (had to tell the program I had a serial
connection, even though the cable was plugged into the USB port), but
stalled out around that point.

I was just looking to do a couple of very simple things, like change the
country code (e.g., odometer display changes to kilometers from miles)
and turn off the various service indicators for oil changes & the like.

Haven't had much success finding codes & such for those kinds of tasks.

But so far I'm only out the $20-ish for the clone cable so it's not much
to play around with it.

Any other thoughts on the topic out there?? :D

Bart

> [If I go with the Ross-Tech software I've obviously got to read some
> more on that site as yesterday I saw a page where I could buy the
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> Thanks,
> Jim

Signature

Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Reply to this Message

dave AKA vwdoc1 - 21 Aug 2007 04:40 GMT

You have to activate the ross-tech.com software for $99! That fee can be
applied to buying their adapter also. 8^)
I prefer their adapter since it can be used on multiple computers and is not
"married" to only one.
The first one of theirs I bought, and it was the earliest adapters, did not
work at all and they sent me a new one the next day. Great service!!
Not sure if I can say that it is simple to determine what is wrong all of
the time. You will need a Bentley to help determine how to fix certain
issues. It might tell you that the right front wheel sensor is bad if you
have an ABS light come on, or it might tell you some issue with Fuel Trim.

After a few times of getting your codes checked at the dealer for $70+ per
issue, having your own adapter will pay for itself. AND you can always sell
it to recoup most of your $$$ back too!
But if you are not going to work on your own VW/Audi then why spend the $$$
at all for the tool. ;-)

JMHO

Signature

later,
dave
(One out of many daves)

>> I'd found Ross-Tech's FAQ- but that just answers questions about
>> *their* software/cables. [And even at that I'm not sure if I'd be
[quoted text clipped - 44 lines]
>> Thanks,
>> Jim

Reply to this Message

Bart Oleksy - 21 Aug 2007 19:24 GMT

> You have to activate the ross-tech.com software for $99! That fee can be
> applied to buying their adapter also. 8^)

Oh, and this isn't quite true. For FREE, you get a limited version of
the software. Differences are listed here on this chart:

http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/vag-functions.html

Bart

Signature

Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Reply to this Message

dave AKA vwdoc1 - 22 Aug 2007 04:06 GMT

>> You have to activate the ross-tech.com software for $99! That fee can be
>> applied to buying their adapter also. 8^)
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Bart

You are right! The "shareware" version can be used free, but shareware is
not supposed to be "free". If you like it then you are supposed to buy it.
;-)
AND you get what you pay for! lol

AFAIK
The "FREE" but very limited shareware is allowed so that people can see if
their adapters work before buying it.
So you don't have to activate it.........but it really limits that software
like putting a potato in the tailpipe! lol
The other poster was indicating that the limited version was frustrating him
and I recommended that he will need to activate the software to "unlock" its
capabilities! ;-)

Pasting some of the message I was originally replying to, that got deleted:
">> When they say their shareware software has "limited" ability to "Read

>> fault codes" - is it so limited that I'll curse it every time a light
>> comes on the dash [like the ABS light that is now on the 97 Cabrio]
>> or will it just not have some exotic stuff that I'd end up going to
>> the dealer for anyway?"

JMHO

Signature

later,
dave
(One out of many daves)

Reply to this Message

Bart Oleksy - 21 Aug 2007 19:40 GMT

> You have to activate the ross-tech.com software for $99! That fee can be
> applied to buying their adapter also. 8^)
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> But if you are not going to work on your own VW/Audi then why spend the $$$
> at all for the tool. ;-)

As I said, I was hoping to do some very minor tweaking here and there
with it, like turning off the service indicators (say after I've done my
own oil change), changing odometer from miles to kilometers, etc. Saves
the shop charge for those minor things, so it can pay for itself quite
easily that way, but leave the trickier stuff to the shop.

Seemed to make sense for my situation, but it might not for others.

Bart

Signature

Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Reply to this Message