Hi,

 

I am looking for a specification of the VAG-COM interface to be able to read out the ECU. 

 

I know that there are those cheap modules with a CD-ROM and an application: I do have one myself and opened up the connector to which only a USB cable is connected.

 

I was quite surprised that the main component is just a very simple FT232 chip that converts RS232-TTL to USB and back. What the rest does of this VAG-COM version 3.1 is a wild guess: may be electricly seperate the signals to and from the VAG-COM from the USB signal? 

 

So in other words: is the VAG-COM basicly a standard TTL RS232 COM protocol with so many data, stop and CRC bits at a certain baudrate? What are these values?

 

Any place on the internet were I can find more about this stuff?

 

Thanks!

VAG-COM (now called VCDS) is a hardware/software package. see http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/index.html

The full VCDS interface also acts as a dongle and contains Ross-tech's proprietary information. Nobody is going to help you duplicate this and such discussions are not permitted on this site.

VCDS-Lite will work with a non-proprietary lead, but is limited in function.

If you are looking for general information or just want to 'play', I suggest you start with OBDII which is well documented.

HTH

what is your point @rwbaldwin? Is the VAG-COM proprietary information?

 

VCDS is a hard/software whatever that uses VAG-COM, right?

 

So VAG-COM is still called VAG-COM?

 

correct me if I am wrong 

VAG-COM and VCDS are both commercial, proprietary products produced by Ross-tech. The value of these products is in the software, which is not open source. VCDS does not use VAG-COM - it is just the new name for VAG-COM.

The protocols used by these products to talk to the ECU (such as KWP-2000) are published by the manufacturer. ODBII is considered 'fully open' and is a standard used by all manufacturers.