I'm not normally one to just jump in and ask for help without first doing some research online. However, in this case I'm going to make an exception because I have looked and its all VDCS and the screens don't match.

 

I have bought an OBD Eleven adapter with the Pro software. It arrived today. I have hooked it up and ran a diagnostic and had a look at some petty faults like a reboot of the infotainment system when I removed it. But I haven't a scooby how to do any mods. So if someone could be kind enough to point me in the right direction of just doing one, I'd be very grateful and then I can figure out the others.

 

Dial sweep would be an easy one to start with because I'll be able to see it working from sitting inside the car. Or cornering fogs. Or teardrop wipe. Whatever, I don't mind. Just point me in the right direction on which bit of the app to use and how and I'll take the rest from there. Hopefully

 

Also, can I leave it plugged it? I assume it won't drain the battery?

 

thanks in advance

 

Nick

Once you get to the point of running a scan, press the little button on the bottom right and it’ll go into the module lookup. Once you’ve found the one you want to start with, click on it and follow the instructions from the main VCDS coding thread as linked here. There are a few that I’ve done that aren’t there like Skoda Surround coding and drive profile in the instrument cluster (post MY16). I can send you those or post them up

What year and model do you have? 

30 minutes ago, SashaGrace said:

Once you get to the point of running a scan, press the little button on the bottom right and it’ll go into the module lookup. Once you’ve found the one you want to start with, click on it and follow the instructions from the main VCDS coding thread as linked here. There are a few that I’ve done that aren’t there like Skoda Surround coding and drive profile in the instrument cluster (post MY16). I can send you those or post them up

 

The VCDS Threads really do need some updating & tidying up, I did send a message to a moderator about it and never heard anything back about sorting/tidying them up or updating them.

 

Maybe Sasha, you and other seasoned VCDS users could start an updated thread for later MY vehicles.

 

I know that I'd be most appreciative of it as I'm about to take the plunge and get VCDS.

 

But I would suggest using caution before doing any of them as some of them may well have changed with updates in later MY vehicles and using caution may well be for the best, as you don't want to make an adjustment that may ultimately cost you money to resolve, because you can't remember what you did or you can't reverse it. I do seem to remember that one or two things are adjustable in a non reversible way.

31 minutes ago, ExSEAT said:

What year and model do you have? 

 

A 65 plate Estate SEL 1.6 DSG. So a standard 2015 model, nothing fancy like a VRS or anything

@TheWanderer is absolutely spot on in what he says. When I got my last VRS and OBD11 everything was VCDS, now three years on it still seems to be VCDS on here with the added bonus that it signposts the coding for the pre facelift cars rather than anything post my16. We could do with a obd11 specific thread.

 

With your car @NikTheGeek being different from mine I dont know what is compatible. However, since Ive been taught how to use OBD11 Im happy to help teach others.

1 hour ago, SashaGrace said:

Once you get to the point of running a scan, press the little button on the bottom right and it’ll go into the module lookup. Once you’ve found the one you want to start with, click on it and follow the instructions from the main VCDS coding thread as linked here. There are a few that I’ve done that aren’t there like Skoda Surround coding and drive profile in the instrument cluster (post MY16). I can send you those or post them up

 

Ok, I've got it, thanks. The terminology is different. In OBD 11 its called Staging. Once I realised that (it says it in brackets in the guide) it was easy, thanks!

 

One thing I've noticed, it doesn't seem to give any DPF info. I assumed it would be able to read the DPF status unless I'm looking in the wrong place. I tried a different app, but that wouldn't connect to this adapter.

 

Nick

13 hours ago, SashaGrace said:

Once you get to the point of running a scan, press the little button on the bottom right and it’ll go into the module lookup. Once you’ve found the one you want to start with, click on it and follow the instructions from the main VCDS coding thread as linked here. There are a few that I’ve done that aren’t there like Skoda Surround coding and drive profile in the instrument cluster (post MY16). I can send you those or post them up

Sasha, are these ones in your build thread? As I'd be interested to give them a whirl.

 

Apologies I'm only on my mobile so the search for surround didn't produce any results.

 

Kev

14 hours ago, SashaGrace said:

I can send you those or post them up

 

Sasha, please feel free to start an OBD11 walkthrough thread  (they are long overdue IMO)

 

13 hours ago, TheWanderer said:

The VCDS Threads really do need some updating & tidying up, I did send a message to a moderator about it and never heard anything back about sorting/tidying them up or updating them.

 

Maybe Sasha, you and other seasoned VCDS users could start an updated thread for later MY vehicles.

 

I know that I'd be most appreciative of it as I'm about to take the plunge and get VCDS.

 

But I would suggest using caution before doing any of them as some of them may well have changed with updates in later MY vehicles and using caution may well be for the best, as you don't want to make an adjustment that may ultimately cost you money to resolve, because you can't remember what you did or you can't reverse it. I do seem to remember that one or two things are adjustable in a non reversible way.

 

They are tidied and updated at times, I do know however of at leat two very active and knowledgeable VCDS (& VCP) owners who no longer visit Briskoda due to the minority of a few people who just ‘take, take, take’ and then moan bitterly when things do not go their own way and VCDS owners will not drop everything to help them out (I too have personal experience of this).

 

This is the primary reason why many of the ’newer’ adaptations do not get published on the existing VCDS threads.

 

How would you feel if your hard work (Ross-Tech’s VCDS) had been copied by someone (OBDEleven / Carista etc) who then proceeded to adapt it to own inferior software (inferior in as much as there are clearly bugs in the ‘one click’ app function).

Then some owners who go on to purchases these cheaper apps to code their cars proceeded to moan when VCDS owners wouldn’t help them fix the problems they had caused by using this copied software?

 

Yes they are clearly the minority, but it is always the minority who spoil it for the majority, maybe with an OBDEleven thread this will re-address the balance a little? (many of the ’new’ adaptation that some OBD Eleven owners are finding are already known to experiences VCDS owners but do not get published widely)

 

Although VCDS was created by Ross-Tech, it is mainly the owners of VCDS who spend the time to see what each adaptations can be done, this info is then generally shared between the community, they also send scans back to RT which in turn improves the product as RT clearly cannot physically get there hands on every model in the VAG range.

 

13 hours ago, TheWanderer said:

But I would suggest using caution before doing any of them as some of them may well have changed with updates in later MY vehicles and using caution may well be for the best, as you don't want to make an adjustment that may ultimately cost you money to resolve, because you can't remember what you did or you can't reverse it. I do seem to remember that one or two things are adjustable in a non reversible way.

 

Very wise words. 

Adaptations also sometimes change slightly in their wording, a bit of common sense usually means this is obvious. (providing you actually understand what you are changing, rather than just copying a walkthrough) 

The stereo one is. Not sure if the drive mode one is because it doesn’t work on pre MY16 cars for some reason. It standard with the VC which is awesome.

 

For reference,

 

Skoda Surround and Virtual Subwoofer 5F Infotainment - Long Coding - Byte 11 change to Hex 04 (Sound System Internal Individual) 

 

Drive mode in cluster 19 CAN Gateway - Long Coding - Byte 8 - Enable Bit 4

 

Regarding an OBDEleven walkthrough it’s is exactly the same as VCDS in terms of coding the cars, all of the guides posted in the main VCDS sticky thread can be used with OBDEleven. If I can change so much on my VC without breaking it I would argue that the software is pretty decent although the latest app update is a disaster. As always with OBDEleven, the biggest problem by far is the use of the one click apps. I never recommend these. If you buy the £22 PRO pack and only long code, use the backup function and treat the cars complex systems with the respect and caution they deserve then you will be fine. The issue is that people buy it because it’s cheap then use the apps because they want to make changes that, with all the respect I can bring across in text form, they don’t understand. If you are a prospective OBDEleven purchasor, please take care and take some time to learn about what you are doing. Use the software properly. 

 

Perhaps I’ll cobble something together which runs through the backup and history functionality which does a good job of creating autoscans. 

Sasha. As always thank you.

I too purchased Obdeleven with the pro pack, using advise from all the great people on here (make back ups etc) I've achieved some pretty nifty additions to a great car.

 

To all prospective owners, use the advise available and you won't go far wrong but it is at your own risk. Enjoy.

5 hours ago, SashaGrace said:

Perhaps I’ll cobble something together which runs through the backup and history functionality which does a good job of creating autoscans. 

 

I've not found the backup option yet! I must look for it... 

Same with VCDS, just take screenshots of everything before you make any changes.

 

Not sure how OBD Eleven works, but in VCDS you can take a full scan and this will be your record of all of the default coding with the car's modules. VCDS shows the coding values, which dictates what options you have set for example.

 

At least this way you can refer to the default options. I also back this up again so before I perform any changes in VCDS I will take a screenshot of the default values and also copy them in to Notepad where possible. 

This way, should something break I can revert the car to the default coding.

 

 

The OBD11 adaptation options does sometimes have different names to what is mentioned in the VCDS thread.

 

You have to go on a hitch, use search function to search for similar words.

 

OBD11 does keep a history of all your changes, so it's easy to look back and undo everything if needed.

2 hours ago, Plantman said:

Same with VCDS, just take screenshots of everything before you make any changes.

 

Not sure how OBD Eleven works, but in VCDS you can take a full scan and this will be your record of all of the default coding with the car's modules. VCDS shows the coding values, which dictates what options you have set for example.

 

At least this way you can refer to the default options. I also back this up again so before I perform any changes in VCDS I will take a screenshot of the default values and also copy them in to Notepad where possible. 

This way, should something break I can revert the car to the default coding.

 

 

 

So...When you do an initial of scan the car, it creates a copy of the settings of everything on the car? 

 

If so can you use that to reset everything to its default condition, if needs be? 

 

Anyway, I've ordered it, a basic 10 VIN setup kit, I'll be ordering a foam lined carry case to keep it in, in a couple of day's once it have the device and I know the size of it, so it doesn't get damaged.

When you perform a full scan is presents you with the results but you will need save this for your own records. It's not a copy in the sense that you can restore it automatically. 

 

It can save them out to a simple text file.   You can use the coding values within this to revert back to standard yes, which is why it is a good idea to run a full scan when you first have VCDS and keep that safe.

 

Important to note is that I don't believe it creates a save of EVERY single code setting which is why you will also need to take a note of the value before you change it - be it coding, a timing setting or a simple change from say disabled to enabled.

 

Some values are very deep inside the VCDS program so you often have to search a particular module and drill down to the various options you can change.

 

 

1 hour ago, Plantman said:

Important to note is that I don't believe it creates a save of EVERY single code setting which is why you will also need to take a note of the value before you change it - be it coding, a timing setting or a simple change from say disabled to enabled.

Not so, VCDS creates 2 log files which record every coding change and adaptation channel change you make, along with the date and time that you made it

 

They're called AdpLog.csv and CodingLog.csv, and they're saved in the C;|Ross-Tech\VCDS\Debug folder IIRC.

 

Here's an example from the CodingLog.csv file:

Quote

Address 44, 5Q0 909 144 R, recoded(Long Coding), from, 8303, to, 8703, (73430/790/00120), Wednesday, 24 August, 2016, 11:01:37:40444

And an example from the AdpLog.csv file:

Quote

Address 44, 5Q0 909 144 R, channel IDE04555-Activation of pwr steering assist without engine running, adapted from, not active, to, active, Monday, 11 February, 2019, 11:32:15:40444

 

Just checked my folders and do not have anything there automatically saved.

 

Is this an option you had to enable?

 

 

Edited 25 February, 20197 yr by Plantman

4 minutes ago, Plantman said:

Just checked my folders and do not have anything there automatically saved.

 

Is this an option you had to enable?

Nope, I've not changed any settings and VCDS has done it all the time I've owned/used it (since 2004).

 

 

That is a good feature - just need to figure out why is doesn't work on my machine.

7 minutes ago, Plantman said:

That is a good feature - just need to figure out why is doesn't work on my machine.

I can see you're asking on the Ross-Tech forum - if anyone can figure out why your VCDS isn't saving those log files it will be them

Edited 25 February, 20197 yr by PetrolDave

Yes, they are a top bunch and part of the real positives to having VCDS isnt it

Works on my Windows 7 PC but not my Windows 10 PC.

 

So worth checking to make sure this is working for others.

Edited 26 February, 20197 yr by Plantman

9 minutes ago, Plantman said:

Works on my Windows 7 PC but not my Windows 10 PC.

 

So worth checking to make sure this is working for others.

An easy way to check whether it's working is to click on the "About" button when you open VCDS (you don't need to have the cable plugged in or be connected to a car), at the bottom of the left hand column there should be three lines like this:

Quote

DTC Clears: 57

Codings Changed: 21

Adaptations Saved: 144

 

Edited 26 February, 20197 yr by PetrolDave

Yup, that is indeed populated.

 

PS: since this is a bit of a thread hijack I will just post the resolution (if we find one) but will leave this back to a discussion about OBD Eleven

 

Thank you for your help PetrolDave.

Edited 26 February, 20197 yr by Plantman