My dads Fabia airbag light needs turning out. So I thought about buying a fault code reader. But which one? One of those off e-bay, Halfords, Argos, etc or do I go the whole way and get a laptop and download VAG software? I've no idea? What do you folkks recommend?

If I got one it would do for all our family Skuds, I've got a Fabia vRS, so would be a usefful tool to have.

I bought a cheap cable off ebay (£8 blue one), seemed to work fine. Some of the functions on VAG COM dont work like live data. Hope this helps..

Edited 8 January, 201115 yr by Liam-6

I've got one off eBay like this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-AUDI-Diagnostic-Fault-Code-CAN-Reader-VAG-OBD2-U281-/300403718678?pt=UK_Diagnostic_Tools_Equipment&hash=item45f174fa16 and it's come in pretty handy, nothin special but it does the job.

Reads fault codes and resets lights etc.

i've also got the blue lead, but as yet its un tried as my laptops decided to spit its cd drive out

Edited 8 January, 201115 yr by sivrs

Ive been looking at them but told there a waste of money . I was leant one wiith a blue cable and it worked for afew minutes then froze and couldnt get anywhere if it .

I bought a cheap cable off ebay (£8 blue one), seemed to work fine. Some of the functions on VAG COM dont work like live data. Hope this helps..

Ive been looking at them but told there a waste of money . I was leant one wiith a blue cable and it worked for afew minutes then froze and couldnt get anywhere if it .

You could pick up a wire that is compatible with VCDS-Lite which runs in shareware mode. The software costs you nothing. The wire might cost you the equivalent of like $40 USD - like 20 pounds. One of our distributors, Gendan, sells a compatible wire for VCDS-Lite: http://www.gendan.co.uk/product_VAGUSB.html

Load up VCDS-Lite. If you need full performance, you can get it by buying a license from Ross-Tech for $99.

Now I would be remiss if I didn't remind you that this package will only work on cars up to about the 2005 model year. In 2005, many VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda models began moving to CAN diagnostics. VCDS-Lite does not support CAN. Only the full system and dongle style interfaces can support CAN diagnostics.

I hope that helps.

Can anyone shed any light on how good those blue cables are?

Can anyone shed any light on how good those blue cables are?

I bought this one http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110616650232&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT and connected it up yesterday (after removing my aftermarket stereo) and it seems to work okay. I removed the stereo as if the K-Line is shorted to 12v it would fry my USB ports (or so I believe).

You need to install driver software you can download for the USB/Serial emulator driver (don't lets windows install it's own) you also may have to tinker with the settings in the device manger so you can see which Com port it's assigned to, and ensure the other settings are correct.

I think these leads limit you to VCDS Lite. I've managed to read my fault codes using this lead and VCDS Lite, but haven't attempted anything else, largely because I didn't get a PIN or SKC code with my car so need this first to really tinker.

I'm sure plenty of others will have an opinion on these leads, but seemingly for simple fault code reading mine does the job.

I'm also looking for a cheap VAG Tacho device, if I can get one of these I should be able to access the PIN myself.

The colour makes no difference - it's what's inside that counts!

The quality/reliability of 'eBay leads' varies dramatically - even those from the same seller.

If you want to play it safe, buy one from Gendan http://www.gendan.co.uk/product_VAGUSB.html I know a large number of people who have these and they always work reliably with VAG-COM/VCDS Lite

Edited 11 January, 201115 yr by rwbaldwin

I've got one off eBay like this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-AUDI-Diagnostic-Fault-Code-CAN-Reader-VAG-OBD2-U281-/300403718678?pt=UK_Diagnostic_Tools_Equipment&hash=item45f174fa16 and it's come in pretty handy, nothin special but it does the job.

Reads fault codes and resets lights etc.

Just bought this months Car Mechanics to read review of fault code readers. This one rated as"Best Budget Buy's slightly younger and cleverer sibling" with CAN-based vehicle compatibility and particularly suitable for post 1990 VAG vehicles.

Are there any novice users out there who can give their experiences?

Me and my brother and dad have all chipped in and brought a maxiscan of ebay . Came to £45 inc p&p and that works fine .

I have this the Autel MAxiscan MS609 i also have the MS509

http://www.auteltech.com/ms609.htm

I have just bought a dedicated VW Audi Skoda etc reader off fleabay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/U281-DIAGNOSTIC-SCANNER-CODE-READER-VW-GROUP-OBD-2-/270698801881?pt=UK_Diagnostic_Tools_Equipment&hash=item3f06e7ead9 this cost just over £20 and reads Engine, (Auto?) Gearbox, ABS and SRS- Airbag UCUs. I have only used it to clear engine fault codes, but have read the ABS and SRS ECUs with no fault codes. I am confident that it will clear codes on these as wll.

Othersimilar priced universal readers only read the engine ECU. Make sure you check the description.

Edited 30 January, 201115 yr by Rougharse-Racing

I have this the Autel MAxiscan MS609 i also have the MS509

http://www.auteltech.com/ms609.htm

I've also got an MS509. It's an excellent scantool for the money but it's an EOBD (OBDII) scanner designed for petrols 2001 on and diesels 2004 on, and for emission related data only. It doesn't communicate with ABS, Airbag, HVAC and other modules.....

My aftermarket lead works fine with VCDS Lite. It did come packaged with a copy of Vag-Com 409-1 which seemd to have some issues, couldn't connect to the airbag system controller and then just kept crashing.

I think I might have to find a local VCDS registered user to check my serious fault code 65535 on the ABS. The Airbag light is also on, but showing no faults in VCDS lite and both airbags showing as activated. I don't have a key switch in my car, so it couldn't be that.

I physically checked the airbags to make sure they're all fitted and connected as the car was a cat C I bought and thought maybe they had pulled a fast one. Everything's there so not sure why I get a light, could it be linked with the ABS?

...check my serious fault code 65535 on the ABS...

This fault means the airbag controller is faulty or you can't reach the airbag controller. It can also occur if the car has been in an accident where the airbags were deployed.

When you try and open the airbag controller with VCDS, can you see the model/part number?

Hi. Yeah, I managed to connect to it fine with VCDS Lite, not with the 409 version I had. I think it was 6Q0 909 601, but can go take a look later on to confirm. I know ending 605 can have problems with Vag-com/VCDS

The vehicle will have been in an accident where the airbags deployed, but these have been replaced with new ones. I'd have thought the controller needed replacing at the time of accident to be put back on the road, but possibly wasn't (dunno how dodgy the total repair job was).

Would buying an airbag controller off fleabay sort this out, or could it be something else though?

In theory, the airbag controller needs to be replaced after an accident. It can't be reset by software.

Have a word with these guys http://www.bba-reman.com/uk/index.aspx

They may be able to replace the parts that were 'damaged' when the airbag control unit fired the airbags

I can probably get a secondhand airbag controller of fleabay, but I really want to know it's knckered before I buy a replacement. The airbag system light is on, but I don't get any fault codes on that ecu. The 65535 is on the ABS ecu, so do I replace that too with a secondhand one?

My car's worth £zero as it was cat-c so I don't really want to chuck a lot of money at it and find the problem's still there.

Maybe someone with a registered VCDS system in Bristol could have a look and see whether their system gives them a little more info.

You won't get any more codes with the registered version. You managed to connect to it and see its part number with VCDS-Lite. The 65535 code means the unit can't self test, so is faulty or more likely it has fired the airbags.

If you replace the unit, it must be with same part number and revision. If you go the fleabay route, make sure the seller confirms that the donor car wasn't in an accident. Have a look to see if a Briskoda member is breaking a car.

I've tried a laptop, a piece of software called ScanTool.net1.13 and an Elm327 USB cable. Once I managed to get the port and baud rate sorted it reads about half of the engine parameters, and shows no fault codes have been generated in 9 starts / 600kms. Has anyone else used a pc with some software, even this programme? My only concern is that it won't detect any faults reliably, though it sense something:

Bumping this as I'm after a cheap fault code reader.

Or I have a laptop but I'm not sure if the free software will work on a 2008 vintage.

Hello All,

By your opinions which is the best fault code reader for Skoda Superb II 2.0 CR TDI year 2010 car?

-VAG fault code reader

-Vgate Scan VC210

-U281 VW Audi Skoda Seat VAG CAN BUS Fault Code Reader

If is there other alternatives I'm interested in.

Hi, I bought a U281 code reader to check out the errors causing my engine warning light to come on. But it says linking error. Have I got the right thing, or is it faulty?

My car is a "57" Octavia VRS

I got a U281 yesterday for my 06 Fabia VRS and it works fine, picked up my fault code and I was able to get rid of the check engine warning light. Did you plug it in with the engine off and then turn the ignition key round to the last position before the starter kicks in?

I plugged it in with the ignition key out, then turned the key on (but didn't start the car) which is what you said I think.

I can clear the engine warning light but gives linking error if I try to read the code(s)