Recently purchased a second-hand Octy Mk2 (2005) and I've instantly become a fan. I've always heard rave reviews for it's ability as an all-rounder. I'd like to be able to read and reset errors using the CAN interface. I'm considering the Ross Tech HEX-CAN equipment. It seems to be very highly rated.

What I'd like is to be able to buy one piece of hardware which will allow me to diagnose faults, reset them or fix them where appropriate, and to tune the ECU. I've got plenty of time to test on a spare ECU before running live and I may have a friend who does this for a living willing to have a play around on the test ECU.

Is there a piece of hardware that will allow me to diagnose, reset and flash the ECU?

I'm guessing the Ross Tech stuff will work but I'm not sure if their cable will be compatible with the various tuning software available?

Any help greatly appreciated and I'll post as much info as I can as and when it becomes available.

AFAIK the only thing that does all that is a VAS, like the dealer has.

I have VCDS cable for VCDS (oddly enough) but it doesn't do the flashing, so I use a KWP2000 cable and separate software for that side of things. I can't use either cable for the other purpose to which it was intended.

If you go with certain tuners such as DNA or Shark you can buy a handheld unit from them which will read and delete fault codes and also flash their maps, but you cannot log data or change other settings that vcds can do.

AFAIK the only thing that does all that is a VAS, like the dealer has.

We can reflash ECUs but only it a suitable file is on the server or a flash CD.

We can't reflash an ECU that's up to date and can't see or change map code.

We can reflash ECUs but only it a suitable file is on the server or a flash CD.

We can't reflash an ECU that's up to date and can't see or change map code.

What tools do the likes of Shark use to modify code & flash?

Not sure on modifying the code as thats more of a software thing, but the KWP2000 cables are one of many out there which can flash ECUs.