Hi:

 

I'm interested in procuring a fault diagnostics tool to cover several Skodas I have owned from new. I naturally thought of VCDS.

 

If I enter the VIN numbers on the Ross Tech site then the VIN's for the slightly older cars indicate that I should use the HEX CAN USB tool.

 

But, the VIN for my Octy 3 does not exist (according to Ross Tech) and I was directed to their email address for sales support for "assistance".

 

Before I did that I approached their UK representatives to see if they could help. But they do not recognise the VIN either, so could not suggest the appropriate VCDS version with 10% confidence.

 

According to Ross Tech the 7/8th digits of the VIN identifies the chassis type and hence the apropriate VCDS tool. Mine decodes as being chassis type " NE" which they do not recognise. (The VIN plate and the numbers on the V5 agree by the way).

 

So next I aproached Ross Tech directly and they have just replied. Essentially they did not answer my question, ignored the appraent VIN anomaly and just said that the HEX CAN USB will probably be OK.

 

I'm sure it may be, but I'm not spending £263 on a lick and a promise.

 

Either I've got a duff VIN or their customer support is very wanting. I'm tempted to go for the OBD stuff as its a lot, lot cheaper although the functionality is obviously limited compared to VCDS.

 

Anybody else got a VIN where the chassis type is anything other than "5E"?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hex+can works on the mkIII. At least mine does.

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Hex+can works on the mkIII. At least mine does.

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It almost certainly will work on mine as well but Ross Tech will not guarantee that if you ask them (as I did). So what's the point of the VIN checker on their own website? They explicitly instruct you to contact them for further advice if the VIN does not decode, but when you do they just reply with marketing waffle.

 

 

I'm less than impressed with Ross Tech on the basis of their performance so far.

HEX+CAN USB categorically works with ALL VAG cars newer that 1990... Not sure why anyone (including ROSSTECH and their distributors) would have any doubt!? The website says, and I quote...

All Pro-Kits and HEX+CAN interface systems support all VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda models.

HEX+CAN USB categorically works with ALL VAG cars newer that 1990... Not sure why anyone (including ROSSTECH and their distributors) would have any doubt!? The website says, and I quote...

All Pro-Kits and HEX+CAN interface systems support all VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda models.

I am aware of what their web site says.

 

But using Ross Tech's own VIN checker my Octy does NOT exist - the VIN on my Fabia is recognised OK. The VIN on the Octavia also does NOT decode according to how it should according to the Compatability Charts also published on the Ross Tech site. When I approached them for clarification the broad statement about working for ALL VAG cars made since 1990 seems to melt away to nothing as my VIN does not meet their expectations. Not unaturally the UK distributors are unable to provide a definitive answer either.

 

I've checked the VIN plates and the V5 and they all agree with each other. According to Ross Tech, the 7/8th digits should show the chassis type as being "5E" for a 2014 Octavia and not "NE" as they do on mine.

 

So have I got a dodgy VIN? Or does everybodys VIN not equate to "5E"?    

My MY15 octy is NE as well. I just find it odd that they couldn't just say yes just because they've not updated their VIN reader for cars built after week 22.

This reader updated in Oct understands it http://igorweb.org/vindec/

My MY15 octy is NE as well. I just find it odd that they couldn't just say yes just because they've not updated their VIN reader for cars built after week 22.

Thanks Jose - I suspected that the Ross Tech VIN checker and Compatabilty Charts were possibly incomplete. They obviously don't want to stray from the published script.

 

BTW my car was built circa week 15/16 2014 and delivered week 19.

This reader updated in Oct understands it http://igorweb.org/vindec/

Recognises mine too !!!!

Also, must have been NE for a while as this euro ncap test dates back to 2013 http://www.euroncap.com/results/skoda/octavia/512.aspx

Send this thread to ROSSTECH and get them to update their system!!

Send this thread to ROSSTECH and get them to update their system!!

Will do.

Would be very hard for Rosstech or any third party manufacturer to keep a record of all possiable model variants that are produced so its not a massive surprise that your vin doesn't show up.

Would be very hard for Rosstech or any third party manufacturer to keep a record of all possiable model variants that are produced so its not a massive surprise that your vin doesn't show up.

Then they should not guide you towards the VIN checker on their website to specifically check for product compatability before you buy. And why also do they publish additional product compatability charts on their website which, in the case of the Octy 3, appear to be either incorrect or at best misleading? Their charts say that a 2104 Skoda Octavia should have “5E” as the chassis type (within the VIN sequence) for either a HEX CAN or a MICRO CAN to function correctly. My chassis type is “NE” and so therefore there is no guarantee that the product will work properly.

 

Why is this important? Well if you inadvertently purchase the wrong interface you will be unable to get all your money back for a return.  The UK distributors will deduct an unspecified sum for the difference between the original list price and a used price; the US parent will charge you 20% of the list price. So about £50. The Distance Selling regulations will not help as you have to use the product in order to test it, and used products do not qualify for return unless faulty.

 

The product will probably work – lots of forum members obviously use it very successfully. But I don’t feel it was unreasonable of me to ask the question of the supplier whether their product works fully on a“ NE” type chassis (as their documentation specifically refers to it only working on a a “5E” chassis) and expect a simple yes or no in return.

I'm not defending them, I would however note that rosstech is an american company and I imagine that there primary focus is the american market. Therefore I would conclude that the vin numbers they maintain are american ones not European ones.

They don't keep a catalog of all VINs, they just look at the model variant section of the VIN (which is standardised). Given they are in bed with selling a VAG only product, and VAG only change models in week 22 every year, I don't think it is unreasonable for them to check once a year in week 23 what the new model numbers in the VINs are and update the website VIN checker!

They are nothing to do with VAG, so its not surprising they don't have he most up to date vins.

They are the opposite of in bed with VAG. They have had to reverse engineer virtually everything and had to change from vagcom to VCDS after VAG threatened legal action. They have had to buy cars in order to develop the software.

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I know they are not affiliated with VAG, hence I said 'in bed with selling VAG products' not 'in bed with VAG'!!!

Still, staying up to date with VINs as a non affiliated party is an afternoons work once per year, not hard, they should be doing it!