Can I start off by saying that I know nothing about VCDS. As you may have seen in an earlier thread of mine, I'm considering having a go at replacing an injector on my Fabia Mk2 TDI and I know that the new injector will need coding afterwards. So, my question is what do I need to get to do this? I have a laptop running Windows 10, and another running Linux, so I would be very grateful if someone could spell out what I need to get and how I go about it. I'm pretty sure that, with a bit of homework and research, I can manage replacing the injector, but I'm not so sure about the coding bit. What's the advice here from those more knowledgeable than me?

I hope you gat an answer soon but to be honest, I didn't know injectors needed coding anyway!

4 hours ago, Salopshire said:

Can I start off by saying that I know nothing about VCDS. As you may have seen in an earlier thread of mine, I'm considering having a go at replacing an injector on my Fabia Mk2 TDI and I know that the new injector will need coding afterwards. So, my question is what do I need to get to do this? I have a laptop running Windows 10, and another running Linux, so I would be very grateful if someone could spell out what I need to get and how I go about it. I'm pretty sure that, with a bit of homework and research, I can manage replacing the injector, but I'm not so sure about the coding bit. What's the advice here from those more knowledgeable than me?

 

You need a licensed version of VCDS and CAN compatible dongle which works with VCDS, the laptop is the least of your worries.

 

For your current application the outlay is considerably greater than paying a specialist to do the work for you.

6 minutes ago, mrgf said:

I hope you gat an answer soon but to be honest, I didn't know injectors needed coding anyway!

Thanks. Yes, they do need coding - the car will start and run without, but not as it should.

 

3 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

 

You need a licensed version of VCDS and CAN compatible dongle which works with VCDS, the laptop is the least of your worries.

 

For your current application the outlay is considerably greater than paying a specialist to do the work for you.

I'm beginning to think that might be the case, but what do you estimate the outlay would be?

Oh, Ok. On my 1.4 Greenline, I had one done years ago but they never mentioned re-coding. Perhaps they just "Did it".

 

Personally I think the VCDS looks to be a very ugly legacy system but if you're techie/maths/old computer minded you might like it.

 

This page from the site will give you an idea and the link pages off it help you. - https://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/product.html

 

The Click here for PC Requirements off it. - https://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/faq_1.php

 

HTH. Even the site is very messy to me, reminds me of something from the 90s or 70s (or 60s!).

 

30 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

For your current application the outlay is considerably greater than paying a specialist to do the work for you.

So - what is that cost in (pounds sterling)?

 

If I remember I'll ask if my neighbour's machine can code injectors or if it's extra cost on his machine, I don't know but imagine Chinese programs are better as they were probably given, or taken, from source, including the car manufacturers' programing mistakes of course. 😊

10 hours ago, nta16 said:

Personally I think the VCDS looks to be a very ugly legacy system but if you're techie/maths/old computer minded you might like it.

 

This page from the site will give you an idea and the link pages off it help you. - https://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/product.html

 

The Click here for PC Requirements off it. - https://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/faq_1.php

 

HTH. Even the site is very messy to me, reminds me of something from the 90s or 70s (or 60s!).

 

It's probably not over complicated if you fully know what you're doing - which I'm afraid I don't. The whole thing seems a bit of a minefield, so I think putting it in the hands of the professionals is the best way for me. I live out in the sticks, so mobile mechanics seem the best option. Click Mechanic have quoted £506 for fitting a new injector and coding, so I think that's what I'll go for. I'd have liked to have had a go myself, particularly as further injector failures seem very likely before too long, but in the absence of good detailed help and advice on here I don't think it would be wise. If there's anyone on here in the Shropshire/Herefordshire area with the necessary expertise, etc, who would take on the job I'd be interested.

I don't know if anyone does take on such work but there are plenty of people here that seem to know a lot about the archaic VCDS system operation (other systems I'm sure could also do the coding in a much user-friendly way).

 

Here is a map of VCDS owners, I found someone to help me when I first discovered how over-complicated, intertwined and invasive these VW computer programs were when I found changing a car battery now involve programs, oh, the sheer joy for me. - https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1Td73_uUUqscV3nRm5br_o89PmBU&msa=0&ll=21.259901462991746%2C83.39240985000004&z=2

 

There's also a section of the site for 'Diagnostics & VCDS' where you can find lots of info and users. - https://www.briskoda.net/forums/forum/23-diagnostics-amp-vcds/

 

As with many things that relate to computers and computer programs many things that should be straightforward to those that are diligent and logical aren't always so having full preparation, care and various back-ups are required.  If the computer programs were really that good they'd sort out and set up these things themselves, accept what's good and reject what's wrong.

  

Thanks for that, very helpful. I know my way around computers, but what's best to buy to do this job doesn't seem very clear. Unfortunately, there seems to be a big gap in my area of VCDS owners - Kidderminster is the nearest, over 30 miles away. Earlier this morning I contacted a garage about 15 miles away who are Skoda specialists - or claim to be at least - and they said they would code a new injector for £60. Seems a bit steep for a few minutes work, but not not be a bad option if I fit the injector myself. On that basis I could fit four new injectors and get them coded for around £200 - and should be a lot less for that number.  There's a German company on Ebay - looks reputable - who do four reconditioned injectors for £340, with 12 months guarantee, so that could be worth thinking about. Problem with them is that they could be two weeks in getting here.

9 minutes ago, Salopshire said:

and they said they would code a new injector for £60. Seems a bit steep for a few minutes work,

But it's not just a few minutes work is it, they need to buy and maintain the tool, training, experience and updates on its use and lots of of other minor forgotten things, and it's not just a few minutes in reality unless he has absolutely nothing else to do than be standing in the exact spot with the machine ready and your car materialises in front of him with the door open.  £60 sounds reasonable to me (VAT will be added probably).

 

I'm surprised they want to take the work on.

 

Seems a sad state of affairs that you need to go to a German company for reconditioned injectors, out your way there must be lots of farmers places about, I know some farmers barely have two helicopters to rub together so will be looking for places that do such work at very good value, ask around.

 

No more than 15 minutes start to finish. I accept what you say about the equipment, etc - but this wouldn't just be a one-off, they'd be doing them fairly regularly. And why wouldn't they want to take the work on? it would be quite profitable - I'd buy the equipment, get some training, and do them happily for £60 if I had a regular demand for it.

 

I just quoted the German company because it's the first one I saw, but there are plenty in this country - and that's probably what I would use.

 

 

53 minutes ago, Salopshire said:

No more than 15 minutes start to finish.

Possibly, if all goes well perhaps even less.  You are having this work done at a a relegated business premises rather than a public car park or public street outside someone's house those need paying for.

 

 

58 minutes ago, Salopshire said:

And why wouldn't they want to take the work on?

Do you like to follow up on work that someone else is unable to finish when you have no idea of their abilities or standard of work, whether they have given you the correct information and codes, who's at fault if something goes wrong, was it miswritten or misread.

 

 

1 hour ago, Salopshire said:

I'd buy the equipment, get some training, and do them happily for £60 if I had a regular demand for it.

What makes you think they get regular demand for such as you want - buy the equipment, train yourself and you could have a profitable side line, not just coding injectors but other VAG and others' parts , error code reading and perhaps some proper diagnostics from these, you could become the the person to fill the gap from Kidderminster for VAG on here at least.

 

 

1 hour ago, Salopshire said:

I just quoted the German company because it's the first one I saw, but there are plenty in this country - and that's probably what I would use.

Sorry, that's fair enough.

 

All the best, let us know how you get on with your injectors and coding, obliging Skoda specialist are always good to hear about for those local to the area.

 

30 minutes ago, nta16 said:

Possibly, if all goes well perhaps even less.  You are having this work done at a a relegated business premises rather than a public car park or public street outside someone's house those need paying for.

 

 

Do you like to follow up on work that someone else is unable to finish when you have no idea of their abilities or standard of work, whether they have given you the correct information and codes, who's at fault if something goes wrong, was it miswritten or misread.

 

 

What makes you think they get regular demand for such as you want - buy the equipment, train yourself and you could have a profitable side line, not just coding injectors but other VAG and others' parts , error code reading and perhaps some proper diagnostics from these, you could become the the person to fill the gap from Kidderminster for VAG on here at least.

 

 

Sorry, that's fair enough.

 

All the best, let us know how you get on with your injectors and coding, obliging Skoda specialist are always good to hear about for those local to the area.

 

Well I don't want to labour this point because I have other things to do, but if you don't think that £60 for a few minutes work is not excessive then I'd like to know what you think is.

 

I think you're being silly about following up other people's work. A bit of code would need to be changed, that is all. Anything other than that would not be part of it.

 

I did say 'if' I had a regular demand for such work. This is a busy garage, so presumably they do. Furthermore, I am retired - after running a business for many years - and I live in a sparsely populated area, so there would be little demand near to where I live. But I certainly would - even now, in my seventies, if there were. 

 

Finally, I will say this; for many years before I bought a Skoda I had Rover cars and I used the Rover forum for advice - MG-Rover.org Forums. That forum was excellent, full of people with genuine knowledge who wanted, and were able, to help. This forum is the exact opposite.

 

I shall not trouble it further.

23 minutes ago, Salopshire said:

Well I don't want to labour this point because I have other things to do, but if you don't think that £60 for a few minutes work is not excessive then I'd like to know what you think is.

 

I understand your POV completely but the minimum unit for billing is one hour, so you're paying for an hour even it only takes five minutes.

All professional services work this way, I'm amazed you haven't noticed, lawyers, accountants, heating engineers to name but three.

Sorry you feel that way I thought I had offered help to you, no need to go off in a strop because we disagree on what's a reasonable charge.

 

If you read another thread on here you'd understand the possible problems of injector swaps and the codes, as you were in business I can't understand how you'd think I was being silly about following up on the work of others you don't know and I very much doubt the garage is busy with putting in codes on other people's work.

 

You must do as you please.

 

Set price doesn't have to be for any set or minimum time period.  I could well be wrong as I don't know the rates in the area but £60 to around here sounds a bit low for one hour's labour.

 

If £60 is too much then don't agree to the work and look elsewhere, simple supply and demand of business.

 

ETA: Part-hour charging is (used to be) perhaps I'm out of date) common, I've even had it from a Merc garage, thank gawd I wasn't paying Merc labour rates as the quality of the work, and speed, was poor and done by the same men who done the work on the very expensive and cheaper Mercs, unfortunately the girl mechanic I'd spoken to previously couldn't be there on the day I was booked in for.

 

Edited 20 May, 20224 yr by nta16
ETA:

1 hour minimum charge, straight across the entire service industry from plumbers to lawyers and everyone accepts it except when it's us grease monkey's doing it and all we get is "your ripping me off", just because we are motor trade!

3 hours ago, Salopshire said:

There's a German company on Ebay - looks reputable - who do four reconditioned injectors for £340, with 12 months guarantee, so that could be worth thinking about. Problem with them is that they could be two weeks in getting here.

 A link to that supplier may assist other with injector issues on the 1.6 TDI locating replacements assuming they are of a good quality - there has been another thread recently where injector failure appeared to be an issue, unfortunately in that instance someone recoded the injectors probably badly. For reference/cost comparison there is a UK company that can supply new/exchange injectors as your identified Ebay quoted price appears very low in comparison.

Skoda Fabia Diesel Fuel Injectors (pfjones.co.uk)

We will only fit genuine VDO from ECP (for the four cylinder, the 3 cylinder is Delphi and even genuine VW ones can fail immediately), they have over 10000 in stock which is in excess of £6m retail, no company in their right mind put that much into stock if they are not going to shift them quick.

37 minutes ago, Crasher said:

1 hour minimum charge, straight across the entire service industry from plumbers to lawyers and everyone accepts it except when it's us grease monkey's doing it and all we get is "your ripping me off", just because we are motor trade!

I'm not sure that is the case as I'm almost sure I've had part-hour charge fairly recently but as I can't remember when or what perhaps it's not as recently as I think.

 

Generally overall I've not had good experiences from dealing with the motor trade overall but do know this is a generalisation and I have had good experiences and good quality of work and meet some good people in the motor trade and I have always promoted them but particularly good mechanics need very little promotion as they get more work than they can handle or want anyway.

 

I told one chap he must put his prices up to get rid of the few moaning something-for-nothing customers that were dragging him back and down, guess who was first with his price increase, twice, and I was glad to pay it.  I used to drive a couple of other mates cars there for them and the irony of when I couldn't get my car in for work because one of theirs was still there having additional work.

 

Edited 20 May, 20224 yr by nta16

19 minutes ago, Crasher said:

We will only fit genuine VDO from ECP (for the four cylinder, the 3 cylinder is Delphi and even genuine VW ones can fail immediately), they have over 10000 in stock which is in excess of £6m retail, no company in their right mind put that much into stock if they are not going to shift them quick.

That's very interesting, having had abysmal parts quality with classic car parts for a long time I've wondered why this hasn't also happened to newer car parts quality given  the same mindset of the bigger businesses.  Have them made, very, cheap, pile them high and get them sold.

 

As with the Skoda name and brand previously it takes a long time to lose a poor or bad reputation but unfortunately it takes even longer to loose an undeserved good reputation.  Since at least the end of the 80s I've not understood this idea of German engineering excellence in the cars, with many owners ignoring or keeping quiet about the problems with the cars, especially with the more prestige marques, so that they could keep resale values high.

 

English dealerships, for any marque, have never helped themselves, or rather have always helped themselves too much before the merry go-round of dealership ownership stopped and started again, did counterfeit parts really get into Dealership stocks, wouldn't surprise an old cynic like me.

 

Those that want everything very cheap get what they deserve, unfortunately so do the rest of us.

 

Edited 20 May, 20224 yr by nta16