I am liking the look of this tool especially as it's from a UK company rather then Ross-tech. (Autel have many nice products I see)

 

Now does this have the ability to record data while you are driving? It says live PCM datastream.

it appears very  comprehensive especially for just 99 quid.

 

http://www.autel-tech.com/products/code-readerscode-scanners/autolink-al519/

 

Works on ALL 1996 and newer vehicles (OBDII & CAN) – domestic and import

• Features the unique patented One-Click Readiness Key for quick State Emissions readiness check and drive cycle verification
• Bright color coded LEDs and built-in speaker provide both visual and audible tone for readiness verification
• Retrieves generic (P0, P2, P3 and U0), manufacturer specific (P1, P3 and U1) codes and pending codes
• Easily determines the cause of the Check Engine Light(MIL)
• Turns off Check Engine Light (MIL), clears codes and resets monitors
• Displays DTC definition on the TFT color screen
• Views freeze frame data
• Displays monitor and I/M readiness status (emissions)
• Reads live PCM datastream
• Displays live O2 sensor test data
• Graphs data (1996 and newer vehicles)
• Reads, stores and playbacks live sensor data
• Enhanced OBDII Mode 6
• Troubleshooter code tips guide technicians to the root cause of a trouble code faster, saving diagnosis and repair time
• Retrieves vehicle information (VIN, CIN and CVN)
• Multilingual menu and DTC definitions – English, Spanish and French, etc.
• Internet updateable and upgradeable
• Prints data via PC

 

Cheers

But it hardly does anything that VCDS can do, its just a glorified generic reader and cannot alter any settings. I bet the only ECU it can access is the engine one, and none of the VAG specific ECUs.

Looking on Amazon the reviews are not exactly glowing either, its £80 on there by the way.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Autel-Autolink-AL519-OBD-II-Reader/dp/B007XE5LTG#customerReviews

But it hardly does anything that VCDS can do, its just a glorified generic reader and cannot alter any settings. I bet the only ECU it can access is the engine one, and none of the VAG specific ECUs.

Looking on Amazon the reviews are not exactly glowing either, its £80 on there by the way.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Autel-Autolink-AL519-OBD-II-Reader/dp/B007XE5LTG#customerReviews

hmm I think you are right.

The 619 looks a bit better. Reviews are more positive.

There must be an alternative to the overpriced VCDS that can produce enough live data to solve most issues.

 

There is the autel VAG 505. Will have a look.

 

(correction Chinese company apparently!)

Edited 12 August, 201411 yr by Brit24

hmm I think you are right.

The 619 looks a bit better. Reviews are more positive.

There must be an alternative to the overpriced VCDS that can produce enough live data to solve most issues.

There is the autel VAG 505. Will have a look.

(correction Chinese company apparently!)

Given what VCDS can do it isn't overpriced. A mate has bought some fancy diagnostics kit that is very similar to VCDS but covers multiple manufacturers. It cost something like 10 grand.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

Do you know if the vcds lite version has the capability of recording live data while you are driving under real conditions?

Do you know if the vcds lite version has the capability of recording live data while you are driving under real conditions?

 

Pretty sure it does if you register it.  Not sure about the free version - I think it is limited in terms of measuring blocks that can be accessed.

http://www.ross-tech.com/vcds-lite/index.html

VCDS-Lite

Windows-based Diagnostic Software

for VW / Audi / Seat / Skoda

for generic 3rd-party interfaces

VCDS-Lite is our low cost solution for older VW-Audi Group cars. It works great with just about all the older models that didn't require a direct CAN connection for diagnostics. The free shareware version does quite a lot and it's, well, free. The fully registered version is does pretty much everything the older dealers' tools could on those cars, but even when fully registered, it will not have quite all of the functions that the full (non-lite) version of VCDS would provide.

Some of thedifferences between versions and between the free VCDS-Lite Shareware and the Fully Registered version:

Free Shareware:

Cannot do AutoScan

Won't display text for all fault codes

No Basic Settings (so no TBA, Xenon levelling, etc or checking timing on TDI's)

No Adaptation Saving (so no changing of locking/lights/horn behavior)

No Output Tests

No tech support from Ross-Tech

Limitations of VCDS-Lite compared to VCDS even if Fully Registered:

No Generic OBD-II

Won't work with CAN-Bus vehicles

Fewer fault code definitions and label files

No built-in Activation (you'll be limited to a single PC)

No Advanced Measuring Blocks

No Acceleration Measurement

Refer to our VCDS Function Chart for more details

We do not sell interfaces for VCDS-Lite. If you're considering VCDS-Lite, then you obviously have

a very limited budget for tools an we can't compete on price with Chinese eBay sellers. When choosing an interface for VCDS-Lite, we recommend getting one that's based on an FTDI FT232 Chip. They almost always work well if you manually configure the virtual COM port into an unused port in the range of COM1 - COM4 and set the latency timer to 2, as shown here.

Thanks Gizmo.

 

I do like this demo very much and is tempting me to buy the full  version. (misses cannot know this!)

 

http://www.ilexa.co.uk/vagmovies/petrol_engine_demo.htm

 

Even on my old carb alfa romeo 33 I had a lambda fitted and AFR gauge to view the fuel mixtures. some other gizmos also.

Edited 12 August, 201411 yr by Brit24

Sorry to be a PITA. I always tend to exhaust my possibilities before buying.

 

I am looking at the Foxwell NT500 which 'appears' to be a reasonable buy that reads live data.

 

Any experiences from this product?

 

http://www.foxwelltech.com/index.php

Edited 12 August, 201411 yr by Brit24

Hi , Is Autel 519 displays live o2 sensor data for Skoda Octavia mk1 1.6 sr ?