As a recent VCDS purchaser I am really seing the benefits that it has over a basic gereric OBD2 reader in terms of being able to drill down further and see exactly what component has caused a malfunction of a system.

 

My companions 2004 Clio's dashboard is currently doing a christmas tree impression with new warning lights coming on all the time, I will be working on soon and wondered whether now is the time to invest in a multi-vehicle tool.

 

I already have a cheap bluetooth dongle that works with a mobile phone and it gives the generic fault codes and can clear them (assuming I have repaired the fault) and I assume reset any warning lights, the latest one is airbag and service lights, pretty sure my dongle thing will just bring up the generic code like it did for the ECU but not tell me the level of detail that VCDS would like open/closed circuit, no signal or implausible signal from left/righ/front/back airbag seatbelt pre-tensioner, control mudule, side impact sensor, clock spring etc, or would it?

 

Assuming not then can anyone recommend a diagnostic tool that will work with multiple car makers and can diagnose the main important control modules to that level? I wont be needing anything that can do re-coding because I assume to get that level across multiple car makes would be very expensive.

 

At around £100 I would buy one without any hesitation.

Edited 5 December, 20187 yr by J.R.

You can use your VCDS cable in Generic OBD-II mode on non-VAG cars.

 

I used my HEX-NET several times to clear the engine management light on a colleagues Lexus that kept complaining about DPF problems - probably because he always bought cheap supermarket diesel!

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Edited 5 December, 20187 yr by xman