I have read that you can purchase the Vag-Com off of ebay. I would obviously like to find faults due to lights such as the ABS on the dashboard and once I have tried to rectify the problem.....to re-set whatever you re-set. What should I be looking for on ebay? I have a Skoda Fabia Comfort 1.4 16v 2002 plate. Or would it be a waste of money etc for me to purchase this bit of equipment? Thank you in advance.

Moved to VAG-COM forum...

There are several ways of taking on diagnosis yourself:

Buy a hand-held scanner for upwards of GBP30, which will as a minimum allow you to diagnose engine problems - and not necessarily just on VAG group cars. The more you pay, the more functions you get, right up to something approaching what you can do with VAG-COM (more on that later). I have the cheapest handheld you can get in my car, as I often have to drive to places in the middle of nowhere, and don't fancy either completing the journey on the back of a wagon or running the risk of a long journey home with a warning light showing, on the off-chance it's spurious or insignificant. Obviously, if it comes back after being reset, it probably ISN'T spurious, but at least I'll know what's up to make a judgement on whether to call out the recovery people...

For the same sort of money as a hand-held, you can get hold of a generic version of the VAG-COM cable, which will allow you to run the demo version of the software. This allows you to scan more systems than a handheld (stuff like the air-con and the electric windows), but you won't be able to change any settings. Also, the generic cables don't always communicate particularly well with the controllers in the car, and you might not be able to interrogate all of them. I also have a generic VAG-COM cable, and while it's been useful in helping me diagnose what was up with my air-con, I can't get at some of the controllers like the electric windows, which is why I'm on the hunt for a genuine cable of my own.

So what about the real deal, then? Full-version VAG-COM is effectively the same kit as a VAG group dealer has to do diagnostics and also adjustments. Sure, it's expensive, but you can do virtually anything TO anything, from changing the weight of the power steering to making the doors lock automatically when you start driving. It's an expensive toy, but worthwhile if you're into your car and/or do your own maintenance...

Hope this helps...

Moved to VAG-COM forum...

There are several ways of taking on diagnosis yourself:

Buy a hand-held scanner for upwards of GBP30, which will as a minimum allow you to diagnose engine problems - and not necessarily just on VAG group cars. The more you pay, the more functions you get, right up to something approaching what you can do with VAG-COM (more on that later). I have the cheapest handheld you can get in my car, as I often have to drive to places in the middle of nowhere, and don't fancy either completing the journey on the back of a wagon or running the risk of a long journey home with a warning light showing, on the off-chance it's spurious or insignificant. Obviously, if it comes back after being reset, it probably ISN'T spurious, but at least I'll know what's up to make a judgement on whether to call out the recovery people...

For the same sort of money as a hand-held, you can get hold of a generic version of the VAG-COM cable, which will allow you to run the demo version of the software. This allows you to scan more systems than a handheld (stuff like the air-con and the electric windows), but you won't be able to change any settings. Also, the generic cables don't always communicate particularly well with the controllers in the car, and you might not be able to interrogate all of them. I also have a generic VAG-COM cable, and while it's been useful in helping me diagnose what was up with my air-con, I can't get at some of the controllers like the electric windows, which is why I'm on the hunt for a genuine cable of my own.

So what about the real deal, then? Full-version VAG-COM is effectively the same kit as a VAG group dealer has to do diagnostics and also adjustments. Sure, it's expensive, but you can do virtually anything TO anything, from changing the weight of the power steering to making the doors lock automatically when you start driving. It's an expensive toy, but worthwhile if you're into your car and/or do your own maintenance...

Hope this helps...

Thanks for the information. It 's getting to be a bit clearer. I looked on ebay for the first type ie the hand-held which is maybe what I would likely get and I can't find one. Where do they sell them? Thanks.