i'm thinking of getting a vag.com lead off ross tech , which lead do i need for a march 04 fabia VRS , i read somewhere that the leads work better using a serial port not a usb port is this true ? and is a serial port the 15 pin plug on the back of my laptop ? otherwise i'll have to use a usb lead , also is the software easy to use ?, i've used fords WDS but thats just pressing the touch screen. does the software come with the lead ? or is it extra i read on another thread it was

USB leads work ok with VAG-COM as long as you have the right version, the problem is if you use a USB to serial convertor on your laptop and plug a serial VAG-COM cable into it.

The 15 pin connector on your laptop is for an external monitor, a serial port has 9 pins (1 row of 5, and one of 4).

i'm thinking of getting a vag.com lead off ross tech , which lead do i need for a march 04 fabia VRS , i read somewhere that the leads work better using a serial port not a usb port is this true ? and is a serial port the 15 pin plug on the back of my laptop ? otherwise i'll have to use a usb lead , also is the software easy to use ?, i've used fords WDS but thats just pressing the touch screen. does the software come with the lead ? or is it extra i read on another thread it was

suggest you check out ecutool.com - they have a CAN-BUS USB dongle that works with certain versions of software with full functionality - $150 if I remember rightly.

I got it and it works a charm.

Cheers

Bas

This is something I've been looking into recently as I am thinking of getting the USB&CAN one as I may have a use for one soon.

I had a quick look at their site Basil and all I could find was stuff on Ebay. The ones on Ebay just seem to be the usual 3rd party USB ones that work with VAG-COM 409.1.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-Audi-Seat-Skoda-KKL-OBD2-OBDII-USB-Scanner-Interface_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ30921QQitemZ8050674636QQrdZ1

Have you got one working with the latest version of VAG-COM? I wouldn't pay $100 for a 3rd party one without the software as Ross-Tech US website sell the full USB HEX&CAN for around £200, the UK dealers seem to sell them for £260.

I have a cheapo serial one that I use with Version 3.12 of the software no problem. That doesn't have CAN bus functionality but then you don't need that for the Fabia. Thats what I'd advise for you ric.

i'm interested in your lead fluffmeister (do you have software or is it easily downloaded) i could pick it up instead of you posting , but i'm getting even more confused now , i was under the impression that 04VRS used can bus but vrstu says it doesn't have can bus functionality , so is there a definitive answer to what software/lead is right for my car .

You don't need a CANBUS lead for the Fabia.

You don't need a CANBUS lead for the Fabia.

He Speaks the truth..

You can download and register a full version of Vag-Com from Ross Tech iirc, I was using it with the shareware version, just for messing around with.

Like I say m8, take it and try it, if it works then send me a cheque, if your not happy send the lead back

Fluff'

fluffmiester , can i collect it tomorrow , where are you in warrington ?

I am in Warrington m8, I will be out on the bike tomorrow morning and will probably be heading close to your neck of the woods, will possibly be heading up through Ruthin, so will be cutting through Wrexham on the A483 to head up to the Ponderosa and horseshoe pass..

Fluff'

i'm just off m56 at chester services , what time are you passing thru on the way to the race track they call north wales ?

I know that you dont need CAN-BUS for the furby.

I have the cable: http://www.ecutool.com/516880106CAN.htm

for the simple reason it acts as a "dongle" - it activates fully functional software.

Having CAN-BUS allows you to play with virtually any VAG vehicle.

It is GBP 86.00 (with airpost)and gives you FULLY FUNCTIONAL VAG software. Plus it can be declared at any value you like. (cough, cough)

Good deal, eh?

Cheers, Bas

hi

bit confused by all this ... i would like VAG COM and understand i have to download it from ross tech and then pay £57 to register it to get all features. But ... on the ross tech download page it says -

Before attempting to download VAG-COM, please look at your interface to determine the name of your interface (this will be the the LARGEST writing on the label):

what interface !? what label !? - am i stupid or what ? :(

and i have a '06 fabia so what cable would i need (my laptop does not have a serial, just USB)

and where does the cable plug into in the car, under the bonnet or inside the car ?

hope someone can help and dont mean to get anyone annoyed with my stupid questions, i have tryed searching threads but there is soooo many to look through u gave up.

p.s. fluffmeister, i live in Garth, about 8 minutes from Llangollen up the mountain and i often go up the horseshoe pass with the fabia

what label !?

There's also a bit that says: "or you have any no-name or third-party interface".

http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/download/

-Uwe-

VRSRichard the 16 pin plug is behind the drop down cubby hole on the r/h/s of the steering wheel , you will need to get a lead and driver software off ebay or rosstech , ebay approx £20-£30 , comes with the 16 pin plug on one end and usb plug on the other end , the just download the software off rosstech , 409.1 for usb connector , load drivers for lead , plug the laptop/lead into the car then mess about with the comm settings on your laptop until VAGCOM works , i think its comm port 2 , then you do a full module scan (this takes some time so make sure your batteries charged) then it will autosave the info onto the HDD , then you can mess with VAGCOM , have fun

VRSRichard the 16 pin plug is behind the drop down cubby hole on the r/h/s of the steering wheel

Like this:

...the just download the software off rosstech , 409.1 for usb connector...

When talking about 3rd party USB hardware, VAG-COM will not work in real USB mode using these interfaces. 3rd party hardware uses a COM port emulation, that simulates a serial port. So it makes no difference if you download the serial or usb version of the software, with 3rd party hardware you are always using the serial port.

...then you do a full module scan (this takes some time so make sure your batteries charged) then it will autosave the info onto the HDD , then you can mess with VAGCOM , have fun

It will never auto-save a result, newer versions (NOT 409.1) will ask if you didn't save the result, but no auto-save.

thanks to everyone for there help.

the picture was very useful as i would of been looking for ages

ric04vrs - i need the 409.1 'twin usb' one ? second down on right: http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/download/

*scratches head ..... im a bit confused by all this

ric04vrs - i need the 409.1 'twin usb' one ?

Does the interface you have say TWIN-USB?! I doubt that.

what interface !?

i dont know what im talking about thats why i am asking someone to help

It will never auto-save a result' date=' newer versions (NOT 409.1) will ask if you didn't save the result, but no auto-save.[/quote']

i meant that the next time you use the software on your car that it wouldn't have to go through the module address checks again , therefore it has saved some info somewhere on the laptop , or is this incorrect , sorry about this but i'm still new to VAGCOM and i was just trying to help someone based on my experience with it which was a bit of a pain until you get the correct comm port , but you can only do this with the lead plugged in the car i found , maybe genuine ROSSTECH leads and software are slightly different in their set up , also i agree with the software download in that it doesnt matter whether its usb or serial , i downloaded 409.1 , my lead came off ebay via fluffmiester on this site , my mates used it on his SEAT leon cupra R also with 409.1 software with no problems , also the picture was correct for the 16 pin connector position except it will need transposing for R/H/D

what interface !?

i dont know what im talking about thats why i am asking someone to help

If you buy a 3rd party interface/lead' date=' use either 311.2 or 409.1 (SERIAL). The 409.1 USB is only for genuine Ross-Tech TWIN-USB interfaces, not for 3rd party interfaces/leads.

i meant that the next time you use the software on your car that it wouldn't have to go through the module address checks again , therefore it has saved some info somewhere on the laptop , or is this incorrect...

Sorry to say that, but yes it's incorrect. The Auto-Scan (AS) feature is only available when using the full version, the Control Module Finder (CMF) is available in both, full and shareware, but the CMF will NOT fasten future scans of your car it only shows you which modules are installed in your car, not more, not less. The CMF does not list fault codes, the AS does.

...with it which was a bit of a pain until you get the correct comm port , but you can only do this with the lead plugged in the car i found , maybe genuine ROSSTECH leads and software are slightly different in their set up

Not maybe and not slightly. Using genuine Ross-Tech hardware means plug and play, no games, just diagnostics.

so are you saying sebastion that the next time i plug the lead/laptop ito my car i will have to go through the module address checks(control module finder) again before i can do a fault code check or am i misinterpreting what you are saying , i understand that the freeware is very limited to what it can do , but all i wanted it for was fault code checking and removal which i assume i can do with it , i did do a fault code scan and it did stop after it checked the engine and ABS iirc , to go further i do understand that i must have an unlocked version of VAGCOM ?

so are you saying sebastion that the next time i plug the lead/laptop ito my car i will have to go through the module address checks(control module finder) again before i can do a fault code check or am i misinterpreting what you are saying

No, you don't need to do that at all. The Control Module Finder (CMF) is only used if you are unsure which modules your car has, it has no effect on VAG-COM's scanning possibilites.

...i understand that the freeware is very limited to what it can do , but all i wanted it for was fault code checking and removal which i assume i can do with it...

Using the shareware version you simply go to each module directly to get the codes.

i did do a fault code scan and it did stop after it checked the engine and ABS iirc , to go further i do understand that i must have an unlocked version of VAGCOM ?

Correct, the complete Auto-Scan function is only available with the full version.

Edit - Sorry just read that you are using shareware, for some reason I had convinced myself that you'd got past the registration process.

As Sebastian quite rightly says it is restricted until registered.

Shareware Limitation(s): The unregistered version will scan a very limited number of control modules and then stop.

http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/tour/autoscan.html