It seems there are quite a few secret features that can be enabled using VAG-COM. I have stumbled across a few talked about on the forums. My friend also has a Skoda Octavia MK2, and has a VAG-COM - which he is going to play with on my car when I see him next week.

Before I go to meet him, it would be good to get an idea of what secret features could be enabled using it. So far I am interested in enabling:

Auto Locking

As I understand it, there is a mode you can enable which locks the doors when you drive off, and unlocks them when you pull the key from the ignition. I'm a paranoid pete so quite often lock the doors when I get in, but sometimes forget to do it, and if I do it, it is a pain to have to pull the handle twice to get out.

Emergency Stop Hazard Lights

I have read that you can enable a feature that flashes the hazard lights if you have to slam on the anchors. Would be very useful to help prevent someone driving up my **** if I had to do an emergency stop.

Are there any other features that can be enabled using VAG-COM (or other methods?).

Is it dangerous to use VAG-COM? I read that someone managed to wipe their car's memory and it suddenly became a very fancy paperweight. Is there a way to do a backup before I mess around with things, and a way to restore this backup if things do go tits up? I don't fancy being stuck 150 miles from home with a car that won't do anything.

Also, is it possible for a dealer to know if you have used a VAG-COM? Will they overwrite your new settings at a service? My car is out of warranty, so I don't want to break it, or do something that will leave a dealer telling me to go forth and multiply.

Cheers!

You can do untold damage with VCDS so be VERY careful what you do. Make sure you make a note of the original values before you alter anything no matter how mundane it may look.

Its also worth noting that some features are dependent on the model of car and equipment fitted.

Generally its only engine remaps that can be overwritten by a dealer, most other settings will be left intact.

Have a nosey around Stu's site for more info: Octavia-vRS.com - Octavia II Controller Coding

Have a look at some of the threads linked in http://briskoda.net/octavia-ii/octavia-ii-help-hint-threads-links/103741/

In particular, the link to "Octavia Tip and Tricks" is worth reading.

I think you can also change the remote unlock function, You can choose single click for drivers door unlock, and double click for all doors unlock or vice versa.

You can enable the second rear fog light relatively easily along with disabling the very annoying seat belt warning chime.

you can put on the coming/leaving home lights too if you dont already have them on your car and the bleeps to let you know when you have locked unlocked the car.

Vagcom can ruin your car, but just activate one thing at a time and note down what you have ticked/unticked/changed each time so if it causes problems you know what was done and what needs to be undone (and solve it).

Before you start up VAGCOM, open up a Word document, or similar and name it.

Once VAGCOM is started, at every screen that you make changes on, do a Screen Dump (Print Screen) of the values before and after modification and paste them to the word document. Press save on the word doc at every stage.

Steve

Once VAGCOM is started, at every screen that you make changes on, do a Screen Dump (Print Screen) of the values before and after modification and paste them to the word document. Press save on the word doc at every stage.

Very sound advice from Steve (sometimes you are not changing what you think you are)

I used to advocate that procedure myself however VCDS does log all changes giving both the original and modified coding. These changes can be found in the Debug folder in the VCDS root folder.

Thanks Stu, didnt realise that.

Having said that, been a bit thick myself and not using VCDS that often, seen a screen dump of changes (pictures) makes more sense to me!!!

Steve

So if I do bugger anything up, or a change I make doesn't appear to do what is intended, it is simple enough to change it back.

The thing I am worried about doing is making a change that cannot be undone afterwards. This can happen when flashing the bios on a motherboard, or installing new firmware on a router, but I presume the VAG-COM is just changing the configuration - not the actual firmware, so shouldn't "brick" the car's computer.

Cheers!