Will the VCDS Lite version read and reset airbag codes etc?

 

EDIT.

 

I did a search for VCDS and the first thing I came across was this site https://www.gendan.co.uk/product_VCV23.html

 

It seems to suggest that I need their Ross-Tech VCDS Hex-V2 for VW, Audi, Seat, Skoda cars 1996 on, 3 vin limit device for £225 vat and delivery included, has anyone any knowledge of this unit at all?

Edited 23 June, 20196 yr by Graham Butcher

VCDS Lite is mostly the same as the full version but it's intended for use with third party interfaces so you're probably more limited by the capability of the cable you use with it. Getting it to behave can be tricky too.

 

HEX-V2 includes a Ross-Tech cable so installation and use is simpler than for VCDS Lite. It will do everything you need it to do on your car. It's limited to use on 3 vehicles (the 3 VIN limit) but I think Ross Tech allow you to change the VINs stored on it from time to time.

 

The manufacturer's website is https://www.ross-tech.com/ if you want to read up more on it.

As recommended in an earlier thread, just get yourself Carisa with a months free subscription for £15.99...

 

 

https://caristaapp.com/pricing

On 23/06/2019 at 21:08, silver1011 said:

As recommended in an earlier thread, just get yourself Carisa with a months free subscription for £15.99...

 

 

https://caristaapp.com/pricing

Apparently according to Carista, it will read airbag fault codes and reset them but only if there is no real fault present. So in other words, if the error condition has been caused by the disconnection of a part in order to gain access to something else, and that no real damage was subsequently done to the part or the connections to it, so when you reconnect the circuit again, it is as before no faults, then the Carista will reset the error. if the item that I have found and is currently on route to me from Amazon USA  https://uk.dhgate.com/product/vgate-vag-can-vc210-obd2-car-diagnostic-scanner/453570384.html#s1-1-1;uk|747458592  does not do the job, but I'm hopeful it will as it claims it will in the advertising and packaging, please note that I got it free delivery to the door for £12.20 and it was the very last one Amazon had it stock, then I shall be getting the Carista.  

That’s the same as any diagnostic system anyway. It won’t be able to clear a permanent fault. 

4 hours ago, Tech1e said:

That’s the same as any diagnostic system anyway. It won’t be able to clear a permanent fault. 

I totally agree with you, but I was just quoting the reply I got back from Carista.

Today I noticed that the cooling fan was not working off the solar sunroof which it should do on my car to keep cooler air moving around inside the car when it is parked up in direct sunlight. I was wondering if this is also linked to the airbag error at all?

The scan tool I had ordered https://uk.dhgate.com/product/vgate-vag-can-vc210-obd2-car-diagnostic-scanner/453570384.html#s1-1-1;uk Arrived over the weekend and it did indeed clear my airbag error code and reset the warning light but I did notice that the error code it gave me did not match any listed in the provided manual, none the less I cleared the error message detected and the car was OK again so I guess maybe there are different code numbers for say European cars to those for North America, because the buttons are marked as OK and NEXT but the manual refers to them as ENTER and SCROLL? One thing I did notice that might be a clue is that the engine menu selection displays "Linking Error" and the manual states the following.

"If the "LINKING ERROR!" message does not go away then there may be problems for the code reader to communicate with the vehicle. Contact your local distributor or the manufacturer's customer service department for assistance.

 

No then question is, do you contact them (the sellers of this item) or the car?

 

By the way, it did not fix the solar sunroof problem, so that's something else to look at, does anyone know where I get my hands on the wiring diagram for a Superb L&K with the solar sunroof?

 

 

Edited 8 July, 20196 yr by Graham Butcher

I wouldn't be surprised if there are differences between the device and the device user guide, as long as you figured out what it needed to do and it worked then I wouldn't worry,

5 hours ago, Tech1e said:

I wouldn't be surprised if there are differences between the device and the device user guide, as long as you figured out what it needed to do and it worked then I wouldn't worry,

Yes, I fixed the airbag OK but how about getting access to the engine and the ABS menu without it displaying the Linking  Error? which is what I was referring to , the codes being different at this point is not the issue for me.

How old is your car?

Its a 63 plate, so I believe that makes a 2013 model?

 

Edited 8 July, 20196 yr by Graham Butcher

So the drivetrain will be using UDS protocol for diagnostics, probably find that code reader won’t pick that up at a guess. 

3 hours ago, Tech1e said:

So the drivetrain will be using UDS protocol for diagnostics, probably find that code reader won’t pick that up at a guess. 

Well it seems to be able to access the controller for the drive chain with no problems, I don't get the Linking Error message when I enter the automatic transmission menu and it seems to scan through and reports no DTC codes found. So whatever protocol its using, it reads it OK.

Edited 9 July, 20196 yr by Graham Butcher

1 minute ago, Graham Butcher said:

Well it seems to be able to access the controller for the drive chain with no problems, I don't the Linking Error message when I enter the automatic transmission menu and it seems to scan through and reports no DTC codes found. So what protocol its using, it reads it OK.

 

I don't think transmission uses the UDS protocol, not all the systems do. Either way I bet if you plugged in ODIS or VCDS it would read everything.

2 minutes ago, Tech1e said:

 

I don't think transmission uses the UDS protocol, not all the systems do. Either way I bet if you plugged in ODIS or VCDS it would read everything.

I thought you said that it would be using the UDS protocol in your earlier post, all I know is this tool claims to be able to read the fault codes for all VAG cars sold since 1990 worldwide as per attached extract from the product packaging.

 

 

3 hours ago, Graham Butcher said:

I thought you said that it would be using the UDS protocol in your earlier post, all I know is this tool claims to be able to read the fault codes for all VAG cars sold since 1990 worldwide as per attached extract from the product packaging.

 

 

It's a cheapie from China, very probably a knock-off of another product (which could explain the mismatch you've encountered between the manual and the device itself). I'd be loathe to trust what's written on the packaging as any guarantee of what it can do. Caveat emptor with these things.

Seeing how diagnostics has moved on a whole lot since 1990 and even since the introduction of CAN diagnostics I would think that claim no longer stands. Even VCDS HEX-CAN won't read the newest protocols as diagnostics has evolved.

35 minutes ago, chimaera said:

It's a cheapie from China, very probably a knock-off of another product (which could explain the mismatch you've encountered between the manual and the device itself). I'd be loathe to trust what's written on the packaging as any guarantee of what it can do. Caveat emptor with these things.

yes it is a cheapie from China but I'm a cheapie retired person 😀 who will not be using it very much at all in reality. If I was into car repairs or using it professionally, I'd have purchased something like the VDS system knowing that it would be money well spent. All I need is a device that will enable me to check and reset the odd error code when I manage to do something myself that I can do without having get deep into the bowls of the car, such as replacing the blower motor myself for just £148 instead of giving the dealer £491 to supply and fit, it only requires the glove box to be removed (5 screws, and a couple plugs to disconnect and replace) a total of about 20 minutes work. The blower motor was brand new and the same make and identical to the one removed so why not DIY if its that simple?

47 minutes ago, Tech1e said:

Seeing how diagnostics has moved on a whole lot since 1990 and even since the introduction of CAN diagnostics I would think that claim no longer stands. Even VCDS HEX-CAN won't read the newest protocols as diagnostics has evolved.

As an end user, I can only go by the advertised claims made on the carton.

19 minutes ago, Graham Butcher said:

As an end user, I can only go by the advertised claims made on the carton.

 

I know, you asked why it won't connect to engine, this is more than likely the cause.

21 minutes ago, Tech1e said:

 

I know, you asked why it won't connect to engine, this is more than likely the cause.

Sorry I misunderstood  what you was trying to say to me.

2 hours ago, Graham Butcher said:

yes it is a cheapie from China but I'm a cheapie retired person 😀 who will not be using it very much at all in reality. If I was into car repairs or using it professionally, I'd have purchased something like the VDS system knowing that it would be money well spent. All I need is a device that will enable me to check and reset the odd error code when I manage to do something myself that I can do without having get deep into the bowls of the car, such as replacing the blower motor myself for just £148 instead of giving the dealer £491 to supply and fit, it only requires the glove box to be removed (5 screws, and a couple plugs to disconnect and replace) a total of about 20 minutes work. The blower motor was brand new and the same make and identical to the one removed so why not DIY if its that simple?

And that's fine. My point is that at this end of the price range there are no guarantees that anything you buy will work as advertised, hence caveat emptor.

Agreed, but I did expect it to at least be able to talk to the system, but I never for a single moment expected that it would be able to do everything that the more expensive system would do, I was expecting the basic functions at least and leave the more advanced the more advanced things to the professional tools, but to actually fail even to tap into the basics functions!

Edited 9 July, 20196 yr by Graham Butcher

My VCDS Hex-Net reads everything my VAS 6150 D does, only thing it can’t do is connect to FAZIT (VCDS that is).

The fault library will be all to hell with those Chinese units, I had a VAG K CAN, the fault codes it read was nothing like what VCDS or ODIS read.

At least it erased your code.