Information Diagnostic Toools

Gilbert

Gilbert

Member
United-Kingdom
What’s the A2OC consensus regarding the best occasional use diagnostic scan tool. I currently have OBDeleven Pro but know this has limitations when compared to VAGCOM/VCDS. However, I can’t justify the cost of a genuine copy of VAGCOM/VCDS.

I know there are apparently good, reasonably priced clone devices and herein lies my dilemma. Should I buy one or pay someone when VAGCOM/VCDS is required? To that end, are there any proficient VAGCOM/VCDS A2OC users in and around Greater Manchester?

Hope this thread isn’t too controversial and that it generates interest and contribution.
 
I have VCDS-lite, and an Xtools VAG401. The latter was bought after a number of visits to my local independent to reset spurious warning lights on my A6 at £50 a go, and paid for itself in a week. Since then it has paid for itself many times over - throttle body on the AUA, basic diagnostics on all three A2s, ability to perform basic settings and calibration of dials being some of the tricks in its repertoire. Have a look on Youtube - there are a few videos showing what it can do on contemporaries to the A2 such as Mk1 TT and so on. What it won't do on any A2 is speak to the Climatronic ECU, but for that I use VCDS lite to delete flap errors. It cost me 30-odd quid a few years ago ; now it is becoming harder to get hold of and the price has gone up a wee bit. I do wonder if some of the other Xtools units would work as well as this one does rather than choosing another unknown generic.

edit -
Agree with @audifan above on the VCDS-lite set up - as long as you have an old PC (Windows XP / 7) laptop and USB dongle to connect it to the car this is a very cost-effective way to go, although it does lack some of the functionality of the 401 if you need to perform operations that require a full / registered version of VCDS to execute. Flip side is that it will access all of the A2 ECUs where the 401 won't.
 
audifan said:
An old laptop with usb port, a KKL cable from ebay and download the FREE version of VCDS Lite from Ross Tech is the cheapest way to go.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this, I have several old laptops and could easily dedicate one of these as a diagnostic tool. Will VCDS Lite run on Windows 10 or do I need an older or different OS?

I’ll do a bit of Googling or YouTubing to come up with an answer but the Clone lead and unlimited VINs at about £50 is looking more and more tempting.
 
Gilbert said:
Thanks for this, I have several old laptops and could easily dedicate one of these as a diagnostic tool. Will VCDS Lite run on Windows 10 or do I need an older or different OS?

I’ll do a bit of Googling or YouTubing to come up with an answer but the Clone lead and unlimited VINs at about £50 is looking more and more tempting.
Click to expand...
It'll run on any version of Windows between XP and 10. (Maybe 11 too, check on Rosstech website).
Cost 99$ to register for full functionality. Only for VAG vehicles to 2005/06.
Mac
 
Howey said:
Supervag hand held device ain't bad and can read SKC
Click to expand...
Does it fully support, via label files. older cars like A2, Mk1 TT etc?
Some tools that are very good for modern cars, are not so good on classics, as there's such a small user base, that it's not economical to support them.
Sounds good if you have a mixed fleet.
Mac.
 
PlasticMac said:
Does it fully support, via label files. older cars like A2, Mk1 TT etc?
Some tools that are very good for modern cars, are not so good on classics, as there's such a small user base, that it's not economical to support them.
Sounds good if you have a mixed fleet.
Mac.
Click to expand...
Dont know tbh but it reads my A2 well and probably codes the keys too but I chose to use works Hella to do that
 
Gilbert said:
Thanks for this, I have several old laptops and could easily dedicate one of these as a diagnostic tool. Will VCDS Lite run on Windows 10 or do I need an older or different OS?

I’ll do a bit of Googling or YouTubing to come up with an answer but the Clone lead and unlimited VINs at about £50 is looking more and more tempting.
Click to expand...
Im still running it on XP! I have an old laptop that's probably not far off the vintage of the car. The only time it was ever connected to the internet was to download VCDS so Im really not bothered about any patch/security issues etc and all it does is run VCDS and the Emerald programmer for my Elise EUC (similar vintage)
 
carbore said:
Im still running it on XP! I have an old laptop that's probably not far off the vintage of the car. The only time it was ever connected to the internet was to download VCDS so Im really not bothered about any patch/security issues etc and all it does is run VCDS and the Emerald programmer for my Elise EUC (similar vintage)
Click to expand...
That's just what I would like but with a battery that means it don't need constant mains power
 
carbore said:
Im still running it on XP! I have an old laptop that's probably not far off the vintage of the car. The only time it was ever connected to the internet was to download VCDS so Im really not bothered about any patch/security issues etc and all it does is run VCDS and the Emerald programmer for my Elise EUC (similar vintage)
Click to expand...
I also run VCDS Lite on XP, on a similar vintage HP Mini Note. The battery is not what it was, but I've replaced the HD with an SSD. It'll last an hour or so now.
If you consider it, you'll meed to install a suitable driver. XP doesn't have one as standard.
Mac.
 
Robin_Cox said:
I have VCDS-lite, and an Xtools VAG401. The latter was bought after a number of visits to my local independent to reset spurious warning lights on my A6 at £50 a go, and paid for itself in a week. Since then it has paid for itself many times over - throttle body on the AUA, basic diagnostics on all three A2s, ability to perform basic settings and calibration of dials being some of the tricks in its repertoire. Have a look on Youtube - there are a few videos showing what it can do on contemporaries to the A2 such as Mk1 TT and so on. What it won't do on any A2 is speak to the Climatronic ECU, but for that I use VCDS lite to delete flap errors. It cost me 30-odd quid a few years ago ; now it is becoming harder to get hold of and the price has gone up a wee bit. I do wonder if some of the other Xtools units would work as well as this one does rather than choosing another unknown generic.

edit -
Agree with @audifan above on the VCDS-lite set up - as long as you have an old PC (Windows XP / 7) laptop and USB dongle to connect it to the car this is a very cost-effective way to go, although it does lack some of the functionality of the 401 if you need to perform operations that require a full / registered version of VCDS to execute. Flip side is that it will access all of the A2 ECUs where the 401 won't.
Click to expand...
Xtool's own UK website are currently doing a discount on the VAG401 that takes the price down to what I paid for it 6+ years ago -

XTOOL VAG401 OBD2 Auto scanner diagnostic tool for Audi/VW/SEAT/SKODA

Xtool V401 supports many function such as read and clear fault codes, basic setting, oil reset , srs reset and so on.Support CANBUS and UDS Potocols, it is coverage of VW,AUDI,SEAT and SKODA after the year 1996.
www.xtool.co.uk www.xtool.co.uk
 
I use : Maxscan PRO VAG 405 OBD EOBD Diagnostic Code Reader & Scanner it’s not bad for a handheld device
 
Robin_Cox said:
Xtool's own UK website are currently doing a discount on the VAG401 that takes the price down to what I paid for it 6+ years ago -

XTOOL VAG401 OBD2 Auto scanner diagnostic tool for Audi/VW/SEAT/SKODA

Xtool V401 supports many function such as read and clear fault codes, basic setting, oil reset , srs reset and so on.Support CANBUS and UDS Potocols, it is coverage of VW,AUDI,SEAT and SKODA after the year 1996.
www.xtool.co.uk www.xtool.co.uk
Click to expand...

Despite already having the full VCDS, I am tempted to take advantage of this offer, which would certainly be easier to travel with than my laptop.

I see that the unit ships from China. Does anyone here have experience of purchasing from them in the last 12 months? Did you get asked to pay any additional charges at delivery?

Thanks.
 
steve_c said:
Despite already having the full VCDS, I am tempted to take advantage of this offer, which would certainly be easier to travel with than my laptop.

I see that the unit ships from China. Does anyone here have experience of purchasing from them in the last 12 months? Did you get asked to pay any additional charges at delivery?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
I've bought in a number of things from China (Ali and others) over the past year, and what you paid at the store site is what was delivered - they have become a lot more professional on the websites and shipping in the past 2 years. Can't comment for Xtools' own website, but I would hope it would be similar.
 
Another thing to take into consideration is the current strike action that could well impact items coming into the UK.
 
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