I am looking into purchasing a vag com reader. just wondering if anyone could provide me with any insight of which one to get. i read that ross tech is the way to go ?? i would just be using it for basic tweaks to my touareg, such as TPMS turn off, and other basic issues. thanks for the help.
VAG-COM. WHICH ONE SHOULD I GET???
bgregorchuk
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I am looking into purchasing a vag com reader. just wondering if anyone could provide me with any insight of which one to get. i read that ross tech is the way to go ?? i would just be using it for basic tweaks to my touareg, such as TPMS turn off, and other basic issues. thanks for the help.
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I'm looking at getting one too and decided on the Ross-Tech brand.
If you check out their 'what to buy' page:
What to buy
It'll help you choose which dongle. For my 2011 I'm assuming it's this one:
Link
I'm getting the USB one since my PC has plenty of USB ports. Good luck.
If you check out their 'what to buy' page:
What to buy
It'll help you choose which dongle. For my 2011 I'm assuming it's this one:
Link
I'm getting the USB one since my PC has plenty of USB ports. Good luck.
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The best place to look on our web site to find compatibility and recommendations is our Vehicle Application Charts. On that page, all Touareg applications are shown on this next page: VW Touareg. From that page, you can see that all 2007+ TRegs need the VCDS License with HEX-XXX+CAN Interface where XXX = USB for a USB port and COM for a serial port (not many computers have serial ports any longer).
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You want the HEX-USB-CAN cable. It's the best investment you'll ever make for your VW!
Mine has paid for itself MANY times over in saved trips to the dealer (they want $100 just to hook it up). As an added advantage, I get to use it to "personalize" my VW's through changes and mods. Finally, the support of Uwe and the Ross-Tech crew is just top notch. I can't say enough good things.
There is also a good VW community here, on the 'Tex and other VW sites (I'm a PassatWorld member too) for support as well. Good luck!
Mine has paid for itself MANY times over in saved trips to the dealer (they want $100 just to hook it up). As an added advantage, I get to use it to "personalize" my VW's through changes and mods. Finally, the support of Uwe and the Ross-Tech crew is just top notch. I can't say enough good things.
There is also a good VW community here, on the 'Tex and other VW sites (I'm a PassatWorld member too) for support as well. Good luck!
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I've got a question. Why do the dealers charge to hook through the VAG-COM? Isn't it for diagnostics? I'm confused, sorry I'm new to VW.
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They charge because it takes a technicians time and it takes costly equipment to connect to the car and pull valuable diagnostic information from the car. They usually charge the equivalent of 1 hour of labor for this.
Without the information, the tech is flying blind and is likely to mis-diagnose a problem with the car.
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Got it, thanks!!! Now, what if the car's still covered under warranty? Do they still charge? I'm trying to figure out if I should get one now or wait awhile.
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
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@Sonderwagen -
Dealers don't have a VAG-COM (actually VCDS now) per se, they have a VAG Tool (1552?) that has a fancy touch screen interface. They plug it into the OBD port (between the steering wheel and pedals).
They charge a flat fee (usually applicable to repairs) to hook up to any vehicle that is out of warranty. It's about $100. They run the same type of full system scan that you can with a VCDS, though you usually never get to see the results.
The VAG tool (and the VCDS/VAG-Com) also allow other funcitonality too - such as monitoring, logging data etc. But yes, you are correct it's for diagnostics too. Of course they'll charge out of warranty customers.....
Dealers don't have a VAG-COM (actually VCDS now) per se, they have a VAG Tool (1552?) that has a fancy touch screen interface. They plug it into the OBD port (between the steering wheel and pedals).
They charge a flat fee (usually applicable to repairs) to hook up to any vehicle that is out of warranty. It's about $100. They run the same type of full system scan that you can with a VCDS, though you usually never get to see the results.
The VAG tool (and the VCDS/VAG-Com) also allow other funcitonality too - such as monitoring, logging data etc. But yes, you are correct it's for diagnostics too. Of course they'll charge out of warranty customers.....
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Sweet, thanks so much for the info!!!! I'll hold off getting one for awhile then.
Thanks again!!! :mrgreen:
Thanks again!!! :mrgreen:
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Their tool today is a 5051/5052 - the one with the touch screen. Oh, and some dealers do use VCDS although they are required to have at least one factory tool.
VCDS is completely compatible with the factory tools mentioned here. It uses the same nomenclature so that when you view a repair procedure on the erwin.vw website, the factory information website, you can follow that procedure using the VCDS tool like you would on the factory tool.They charge a flat fee (usually applicable to repairs) to hook up to any vehicle that is out of warranty. It's about $100. They run the same type of full system scan that you can with a VCDS, though you usually never get to see the results.
The VAG tool (and the VCDS/VAG-Com) also allow other funcitonality too - such as monitoring, logging data etc. But yes, you are correct it's for diagnostics too. Of course they'll charge out of warranty customers.....
One thing VCDS does that the factory tool does not do and it was the reason VWoA gave VCDS to all their factory techs, VCDS does data logging which allows you to diagnose driveability issues. You can take the car for a run and record live measuring values so that you can see what's going on when a problem crops up 20 minutes into driving the car.
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