31 minutes ago, Wino said:

Turn the ignition on, that's what switches it.

Oh yes! Right I’ve tested the black yellow switched wire on the smaller plug and it’s reading as below so ok.. so from advice Ime now stuck until I get a vcds diagnostic 😐

 

 

Stuck as to what to do with this now with my limited skills!

 

Is anybody / does anybody know any Mobile Mechanics in Yorkshire area who has vcds diagnostic equipment etc to look at my car?

 

Marcus

I don't want to sound flippant or too obvious but have you not considered looking on the "Bay" for a used vcds going for a reasonable cost?

Might be worth it to do the coding yourself and to then still have it for any future jobs you may wish to do, along with offering a low cost "lend" to local people who may need the odd code/fault read). I am sure you could also sell it on again as and when you change vehicles. It will almost certainly be cheaper then going to the main dealer for the repair, will give you great satisfaction upon completion, along with relief of being able to take the MOT when the world gets jump-started again!

20 minutes ago, mrgf said:

have you not considered looking on the "Bay" for a used vcds going for a reasonable cost?

 

@mrgf Are these generic for all vehicles or do I need a specific one for Fabia Diesel?

VCDS covers ALL VAG cars, Audi , Seat , Skoda and VW.

 

Just be aware there is LOTS of cheap copies out there.

 

Heres a genuine one doing well !!!!

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vcds-Hex-can-Genuine-Vcds-Lead-Unlimited-Vin/124178296814?hash=item1ce99a6fee:g:G~YAAOSwDtdesvqI

so is a copy no good then ? and can somebody explain exactly what I need to do with the lead if I get one in laymens terms!

I believe Ross Tech make the proper ones, there are many fake/copies and some may well be ok but buyer beware!

 

As far as I know, they will plug in to a laptop etc to then run diagnostics and change certain things, along with cancelling fault codes, etc. 

If buying used, make sure you have enough "Life" on the item. Some I think, could be used on a limited amount of vehicles, say ten, others non-restricted, for garage use. These will almost certainly be more expensive but have that resale value or later usage for a replacement VAG car, if you buy one. 

 

At close to £300, that one on eBay is not for the feint-hearted, use once, bung it in the drawer user but if used a few times, and as its unlimited, still worth the cash!

£300 is only about 3 hours labour at a dealer, won't take long to pay for itself

So using one of these means I also need a laptop suitable for the job and some software? is this free to download? also I need to know how to use it and am I right in thinking this will only diagnose the problem or will it also fix it? if so how - can anybody explain in laymans terms?

On 11/05/2020 at 21:59, UrbanPanzer said:

VCDS covers ALL VAG cars, Audi , Seat , Skoda and VW.

 

Just be aware there is LOTS of cheap copies out there.

 

Heres a genuine one doing well !!!!

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vcds-Hex-can-Genuine-Vcds-Lead-Unlimited-Vin/124178296814?hash=item1ce99a6fee:g:G~YAAOSwDtdesvqI

 

Flipping heck, it is doing a bit better than "well" - and I traded mine in for maybe £125 - bother!

Im debating whether to sell or trade in via ross-tech, although my hex-can-usb is unlimited vin which is what I would want from the Hex-net, but its pricey!!

22 hours ago, marcusbarlo said:

So using one of these means I also need a laptop suitable for the job and some software? is this free to download? also I need to know how to use it and am I right in thinking this will only diagnose the problem or will it also fix it? if so how - can anybody explain in laymans terms?

 

VCDS is only written for use with Windows operating system, so buying a cheap laptop will be required, but most people already have a lap top is not normally an issue.

 

On the subject will it fix things, well yes it will identify faults, clear stored faults and even allow you to clear service indicators/warnings and even recode some modules - but, and this is a big but, no diagnostic tool will 100% of the time take you by the hand and solve problems, it will give you a lot of help though if you are capable to take on board that help.

 

It is a bit like buying a big set of car fixing tools, if you have no idea of how a car works, they will not initially be of much use to you, but you should eventually get there if you try to learn.

2 minutes ago, UrbanPanzer said:

Im debating whether to sell or trade in via ross-tech, although my hex-can-usb is unlimited vin which is what I would want from the Hex-net, but its pricey!!

 

Ultimately you will have no choice than to move on and up with VCDS as your end up running newer cars, that was the only reason that I upgraded, well actually it was my daughter buying herself a new 2019 SEAT Leon Cupra - I knew that I could not get my hex-can-usb to cover all controllers in that car, but I did scan it and confirmed that, so used that as an excuse to move up.

 

I'd think if you plan to stay within the VW Group family and buy newer cars as time goes on, then it looks like, from that ebay listing, that you now know what is possible to sell your VCDS for, then buy a new 10VIN HEX2 or HEX-NET, I found that HEX-NET was not being pushed very hard when I bought my HEX2 from ilexia, remember that you can buy "blocks" of additional VINs later as time goes on, plus I would always charge anyone if I needed to use up a VIN on their car, which you only ever need to do if you reset the service warnings and/or recode any controllers, just reading fault codes and clearing faults does not use up any VINs.  The only time so far that I've used up a single VIN was to recode a friend's A6 after he had his battery replaced, but I took a hit on that as I was learning from doing that to his car.

 

I've also got  Carista and I was an early buyer/user so I think the original terms of use exist, so in theory I should be able to clear service warnings without using up VCDS VINs.

running newer cars............especially VAG ones................not that wealthy yet. 🤣

Ah but "newer" is only a relative term, it will soon creep up on you, I'm keeping an eye on that one you linked to, its making serious money!

blimey its gone up a bit!!!!

 

Im not so sure they know what their buying, its not far off HEX V2 money

 

finished at £345 😲

Edited 13 May, 20206 yr by UrbanPanzer

8 hours ago, rum4mo said:

 

 

 

It is a bit like buying a big set of car fixing tools, if you have no idea of how a car works, they will not initially be of much use to you, but you should eventually get there if you try to learn.

yes agree but there come a point where cost of all this gear + my time in learning/doing it is getting a bit much against me sticking to what I'me good at aka day job and paying a mechanic to sort it even if I don't get the satisfaction of sorting it myself! If it costs me say £500 for a mobile mechanic to sort its cheaper than me buying all equipment and doing it and def cheaper than main dealer sorting it 

@marcusbarlo, fixing things is either in your blood or it isn't I reckon, I've always had a liking of working on things so it suited me to do that and try to keep up with advances enough to continue to get results, save time and money and not be completely tied down to playing the game the way that manufacturers intended buyer to.  Maybe for me an island mentality, and to try to be self reliant where possible.

 

I know plenty people who have stopped working on their cars and they all use the excuse/reason that they have better things to do in their free time, but mainly they have not kept up advances in technologies - then for some reason dive back in buy lots of expensive tools but end up handing their car to get fixed and once again remove that problem by buying yet another brand new car.

 

Whatever floats your boat I suppose, I have a very bad habit of buying any tools I feel that I might need!

Wot he said!

1 hour ago, rum4mo said:

Whatever floats your boat I suppose, I have a very bad habit of buying any tools I feel that I might need!

 

 

Amen to that............. I need the same therapy!!!

I get that. Used to always be running on an extremely tight budget, then, when money flowed freer, I'd try to buy the correct tool for the job. Now, money is tighter then ever and I think many will have a tighter than usual budget so may pay more for these particular diagnostic tools to recompense themselves by saving long-term on work they can then undertake. Particularly s they will almost certainly have more free time and find it harder anyway, to get a booking to sort the work out!

 

That said, surely that end price can't be that far away from the initial purchase price?

 

 I had a quick look. Yeah, the full price is around £480 new, which includes a few extras. Basic versions (3 vin) is around £300 but many of its features can be used without accessing the vin so it can still read many codes etc without becoming useless or dedicated to that set of vehicles.

Edited 15 May, 20206 yr by mrgf

On 06/04/2020 at 22:04, marcusbarlo said:

Hi Guys,

I am new here and hope you guys can help, I'me the proud owner of a 2013 montecarlo 1.6 d for a few years now had no problems but power steering has packed in :-/

 

I've read on here similar issues but after this research I'me still stuck in need of help:

 

Symptoms:

-last 6 months intermittent working/not working , instant cut off with yellow warning wheel displayed on dash, no funny noises or groans etc..sometimes first thing on a morning would not work then after a few miles would work?

-last few months stopped working altogether with yellow warning wheel displayed on dash

 

Car will now fail mot Skoda garage plugged in computer and advised I need a new electric power steering pump and servo pump cable set repair kit quoted at £1386, I said I would leave it for now but still got charged £96 for them to tell me my power steering did not work which I knew!

 

So:

I bought a second hand pump of the bay and fitted it, the old one when I turned it upside down drained water out from electric plug in points?!

-second hand replacement still does not work and I still have dash warning light... bugger?

-I have not replaced the cable set ...

-I have checked battery volts on tickover 13.87v - all OK with battery and alternator..

-Checked the fuses advised on this forum under steering wheel and on battery all OK..

-now at a loss as to problem..

-Can I bench test second hand pump I've bought to make sure its not a dud?

 

Anything else to check I've missed?

 

Any help greatly received

 

Marcus

Marcus can I ask when you swapped the pump how did you get on with the hydraulic hoses? I see one has a metal clip, is it a single use clip? The other hose has a screw fastener - did this have an o-ring seal too or not? Just eyeing up the job to see if it's within my abilities & tools, thanks.