I was intending going down the VCDS route as well as it seem a fun thing to play with but the more I read on the forum of several related car electronic issues I'm just wondering could this be a side effects of using VCDS?

 

I'm sure that Skoda would have quality tested their products but may be not including all possible configuration options being applied by users in the additional setup tuning. Hope it's not related. Personally I don't intend on using it now,.

 

 

Having used VCDS for several years in various guises I have never had ONE issue with it where VCDS was the direct cause. (and I have used it on a wide range of vehicles too)

 

Probably most horror stories relate to dodgy cloned cables and hacked software.

Having used VCDS for several years in various guises I have never had ONE issue with it where VCDS was the direct cause. (and I have used it on a wide range of vehicles too)

Probably most horror stories relate to dodgy cloned cables and hacked software.

^ what he said.

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I too was thinking like this.

 

At present I have 2 x MQB based cars; an Octavia that is quite possibly the best car I have ever owned and a Leon which is also a very good car but is proving a little more problematic with a few electronic gremlins. I eventually bit the bullet and purchased a Ross Tech cable - I have not used VCDS to change any coding yet; purely for diagnostics. Apart from a start/stop fault and a flashing glow plug light once on the Leon (which are now clear) the 'vehicle status' menu does not show any errors - however, when you hook the car up to VCDS numerous fault codes of varying frequency and priority are being displayed. Obviously, being engineering savvy this should assist me with getting the dealers to resolve any issues under warranty which are not immediately apparent.

 

To be honest most manufacturers have issues in the first few months that a model is released - ordinarily these are resolved with software changes that you as a consumer will not even know about as you will be offered software updates by means of a free valet, winter check or they will be completed on the first service. Even if you have no fault with your car they can use the data gathered to resolve issues in the problematic cars.

 

In sum, I do not regret purchasing the VCDS and do not believe the issues to be related, as they are present on cars without coding changes.

Edited 28 March, 201412 yr by Black_Sheep

(and I have used it on a wide range of vehicles too)

Can you use it on a non VAG vehicle in any capacity other than the generic OBD? (Basically engine measurements / faults.)

VCDS can be used as a generic code reader on a wide variety of non VAG cars, but not for changing anything.

Only non vag car I have communicated with is a Ford sharan with the Tdi engine in.

I've used it on a Vectra C.

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I was intending going down the VCDS route as well as it seem a fun thing to play with but the more I read on the forum of several related car electronic issues I'm just wondering could this be a side effects of using VCDS?

 

I'm sure that Skoda would have quality tested their products but may be not including all possible configuration options being applied by users in the additional setup tuning. Hope it's not related. Personally I don't intend on using it now,.

 

I have possible electrical problems, and none of them are caused by VCDS, unless VCDS can physically damage a wiring loom behind the dash.

 

The only damage you are likely to do with VCDS is make a change that messes something up. But you will of course have kept a record of every change you make, and if not, there is a log file that documents every change made so you can always backtrack.

Just be careful with Byte18 changes on BCMs on Octy IIs and Yetis but VCDS does warn you not to touch Byte 18!

Just be careful with Byte18 changes on BCMs on Octy IIs and Yetis but VCDS does warn you not to touch Byte 18!

And Superb's

As others have said VCDS itself will not be damaging the electrics, an owner who does not understand what he is doing however is a different story.

Always do am autoscan first and save the resulting log before fiddling.

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I've been reading many threads here about VCDS changes, and I am going to try some.

Thing is, I don't have a clue where to get it, what it costs or what cables or hardware I need to use? does this run and connect from a laptop?

 

I assume this is a software programme which enables you to access, and therefore change, the cars factory settings.

Is there an idiots guide on here somewhere?

thanks

Pete 

http://www.ross-tech.com

http://m.gendan.co.uk/product_VCHU.html?gclid=CJjk18Tewr0CFeKWtAod2TMA_g

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Having used VCDS for several years in various guises I have never had ONE issue with it where VCDS was the direct cause. (and I have used it on a wide range of vehicles too)

 

Probably most horror stories relate to dodgy cloned cables and hacked software.

I do not agree. I have a "cloned cable" and is happy with it.

 

Most faults I see, is "Error code 40", meaning, the fault is located 40 cm. above the computer = the user