finding a useful diagnostic tool for budget price

[Ylla]

Hi all, I have a  2006 Octavia 1.9 TDI PD Elegance BKC engine code, driving in town yesterday the engine just stopped without any notice, tried to restart without success, engine cranked but no start.

Called out Greenflag,  the guy did some basic checks, I have fuel from the filter then he knocked the EGR valve few times, no luck for starting it, plugged in his tool and find some faults including bad glow plugs but nothing really related to the cranking but no start issue, finally he give up and towed me home, so now here the bank holiday weekend and I'm started thinking for getting a proper diagnostic tool - I have a dongle like thing called Xtool advancer AD10 but as turned out totally useless, didn't find any fault codes.

I am suspicious that this problem will be not easy to rectify and instead spending on callout diagnostics and a tow to a garage I would buy a tool to diagnose the issues myself and which I am keeping just in case for need in the future. I'm looking for information what kind of tool I need to looking for finding and clearing fault codes, resetting service and so on kind of things. I know garage tools costs a lot but I'm sure some pocket friendly options out there, any advice will be helpful, thanks in advance

[landroverbodger]

it depends on how much you want to spend i have been looking at the icarsoft about £150 . it will be my next purchase when the cash is available . for land rovers i use gap iid that costs a lot more but will do most things dealer diagnostics can . 

[J.R.]

A good subject for discussion.

 

I have VCDS, it seemed very expensive until I found out how much a local VAG specialist would charge me to do diagnostics on my then MK1 Octavia where only the drivers door would unlock and how many weeks it would be before they could even look at it.

 

I scrapped the car instead and got a MK2 and then realised with the complexity and fragile electronics VCDS was now an essential, having got it, seen what it can do and how much use I have had from it I consider the price a bargain, it gives me control and peace of mind when things start going haywire to be able to faultfind and diagnose.

 

My only regret is not getting the 10 vin version from the get go, at the time 3 vins seemed more than I would ever need but I was wrong.

[Ylla]

36 minutes ago, landroverbodger said:

it depends on how much you want to spend i have been looking at the icarsoft about £150 . it will be my next purchase when the cash is available . for land rovers i use gap iid that costs a lot more but will do most things dealer diagnostics can . 

Just took a quick browse around and icarsoft come up to me too, my budget is between £100  - £200, but there are many versions, I'm not sure what to look for

[Ylla]

34 minutes ago, J.R. said:

A good subject for discussion.

 

I have VCDS, it seemed very expensive until I found out how much a local VAG specialist would charge me to do diagnostics on my then MK1 Octavia where only the drivers door would unlock and how many weeks it would be before they could even look at it.

 

I scrapped the car instead and got a MK2 and then realised with the complexity and fragile electronics VCDS was now an essential, having got it, seen what it can do and how much use I have had from it I consider the price a bargain, it gives me control and peace of mind when things start going haywire to be able to faultfind and diagnose.

 

My only regret is not getting the 10 vin version from the get go, at the time 3 vins seemed more than I would ever need but I was wrong.

Back in time I had my Vectra and a Peugeot 407 scrapped this way,  both because engine failed to start and the cost of diag and garage just not worth it because their low value. I can replace the parts once I figure out what could be wrong.

I had a very bad experience in a Toyota dealer service as my Previa was drinking too much petrol, they charged me a fortune for diagnosis, they ordered different parts to replace but they solved nothing. I had enough, ordered a service manual and find out myself that a single broken wire caused all that trouble. Only tool needed is a multimeter to check the relevant wires.

What is that VCDS  and that 10 vin version? When I look them are cables and software. I have Chromebook only, so if I want that I need a windows laptop too ?

[varooom]

51 minutes ago, Ylla said:

What is that VCDS and that 10 vin version?  When I look them are cables and software. I have Chromebook only, so if I want that I need a windows laptop too ?

VCDS does need a Windows platform AFAIK.  The 3/10/unlimited VIN are hardware choices for the cable, and how many unique VIN's it can scan before it won't do another, unlimited being literally as many as you want.  The software is the same for VCDS no matter which you use, full functionality.

 

The other choice is OBDeleven (not one I have used) that just needs Android or iPhone to work, similar to VCDS in function, but not sure if every feature is same.  Cheaper to buy, but seems to need tokens to make things work, or some possible subscription* someone who use's it will respond soon I hope.

[Ylla]

57 minutes ago, varooom said:

  The software is the same for VCDS no matter which you use, full functionality.

 

So technically I buy a cable and the software comes with it for free...or I  need to pay for the software too ? 

[varooom]

5 minutes ago, Ylla said:

So technically I buy a cable and the software comes with it for free...or I  need to pay for the software too ? 

Yes you buy cable, and software and updates are free for life with VCDS.

[nige8021]

1 hour ago, varooom said:

VCDS does need a Windows platform AFAIK.  The 3/10/unlimited VIN are hardware choices for the cable, and how many unique VIN's it can scan before it won't do another, unlimited being literally as many as you want.  The software is the same for VCDS no matter which you use, full functionality.

 

 

Scanning doesn't use up a VIN only if you do an adaption or re-coding does it then register the VIN as being used and even if you get the 3 VIN option you can just pay to upgrade to 10 or unlimited if you should need it 

[Ylla]

Found a deal on Amazon, Autel Maxicheck Pro for £130, bought this because my next car maybe no VAG, today arrived and hooked up to the car right away but to my surprise didn't find any fault codes. I am sure there are many fault codes there so for testing it I pulled the MAF sensor cable to see anything happen and yes, the MAF code appeared. This means to me that even this is a pro tool just doesn't read everything ? Maybe I definitely need a VCDS for a deep analysis or my problem is mechanically related, eg like air getting into the fuel system. Since then the car started with a squirt of holts spray but still stops randomly.

Tried to look arund for used VCDS but looks no such thing out there or I can't find it ?  Full price not ideal for me at the moment as we just about moving house so every penny is counted. Thinking about to try the VCDS lite but I don't know what kind of older cable to buy for it to work with the 2006 Octavia and where from ? I read about a lot of fake cables around, I dont want that, can someone recommend a cheaper but legal cable or someone have one to sell which is working with the lite version ?

[nige8021]

Gendan https://www.gendan.co.uk/product_VAGUSB.html sell a cable for use with VCDS-Lite but it is only K line not Canbus and yours being a 2006 it will want a Canbus capable cable for full diagnosis ability   

 

I have a full Hex v2 unlimited based in Milton Keynes but at the moment I'm without transport as my Treg engine is in the process of being repaired 

Edited 31 August, 2022 by nige8021

[Ylla]

8 hours ago, nige8021 said:

Gendan https://www.gendan.co.uk/product_VAGUSB.html sell a cable for use with VCDS-Lite but it is only K line not Canbus and yours being a 2006 it will want a Canbus capable cable for full diagnosis ability   

 

I have a full Hex v2 unlimited based in Milton Keynes but at the moment I'm without transport as my Treg engine is in the process of being repaired 

Thank you, this is a great info I may contact you if I can't find solution, figured out that a Micro-Can cable what I need but now discontinued and Lite version not working with it so If I found one in used I still need to register at Ross Tech for $99 so the complete price very near to if I have the HEX-V2 package now only £225. I have to think about this.

Meanwhile I was thinking what caused this issue as the car was running fine before, a few days ago checked the sender unit in the tank because my fuel gauge not working and disconnected the fuel lines,  maybe this event triggered something. Obtained a pressure tester so the next is to checking out the tandem pump working properly.

[varooom]

I think you only need to register the swap $99 if you want tech support from Ross Tech usually.

The cable will just plug in and work.

[Ylla]

7 minutes ago, varooom said:

I think you only need to register the swap $99 if you want tech support from Ross Tech usually.

The cable will just plug in and work.

Yes but I still need to pay for the cable if I find one I dont think is under £100 a piece

[Ylla]

11 minutes ago, varooom said:

I think you only need to register the swap $99 if you want tech support from Ross Tech usually.

The cable will just plug in and work.

Also I'm not sure if I can use the full VCDS software without registration

 

[varooom]

Yeah had a look on eBay last night and the older unlimited VIN cables still sell for a premium price of about £200, madness unless you compare it to the HEX-V2 unlimited.

I have a spare one here as I now have ODIS capability (dealer or independant software) it get's used on my car as it's familiar and faster to get to what I want.

[Ylla]

Whatdoyou think of this VAS 5051B ? Title says dealer diagnostic tool but need update. How difficult that can be ?

[varooom]

That's a headache, as assuming it works, you need an OrgID (organisation ID) to get a licence.  A hoop you won't be able to jump through.

 

And diagnostic will be PAYG at 7Euros an hour.

[Ylla]

Okay, that option is dropped now.

Since I'm browsing  a new  Micro-CAN cable appeared on Gendan for £214  VCDS USB PC diagnostics package for CAN-only VW, Audi, Seat, Skoda cars (approx. 2004 onwards) (gendan.co.uk) ....but reading the details with this cable I'm reducing myself to MK5. Golf platform only but the bonus is that Micro-Can is unlimited  VIN ?

[varooom]

For that price you may as well bump up to VCDS HEX-V2 USB Package (3 VIN) that will give you old and new coverage at £225

[Ttaskmaster]

A friend of mine is a mechanic, with all the relevant diagnostic kits, softwares and stuffs for the vehicles he looks after.

He showed me how things like OBD-II and all the little dongles that work with phone apps are pretty useless overall - They will give you codes, but they'll be the generic fault codes and won't offer VAG-specific information. At best, they're a starting point for figuring out the problem.

Cheap is a relative term too, as the proper kit could end up saving you a lot more money on wasted purchases following inaccurate diagnoses. It's also why he doesn't charge people for just chucking a computer on their car and running a few quick scans while he goes to make a cup of tea!!

[StevesTruck]

VCDS will do most of what you ever want to do on a VAG and do it well. I've got it, use it quite a bit and it does what I need, but I find it clunky to use and having the cable into a laptop feels a bit old fashioned, especially when you're doing live data.

 

My brother's got about £500 worth of Topdon diagnostic tablet. I don't do anything on VCDS that it doesn't seem to be capable of. It's a little slow but really intuitive and the Bluetooth dongle is great, and it works on all marques. 

 

The question really is what do you want to do, on what cars, and how much do you want to spend. 

[skomaz]

I have a quicklynks t55 VAG specific tool from gendan that I used successfully on our 2007 octavia.  The cost was about £60 but it can access all modules and includes VAG specific codes etc. 

 

It was cheap and cheerful but worked for me, although it doesn't want to talk to our Kodiaq so is probably now surplus to requirements. 

[petrolcan]

On 27/08/2022 at 16:40, Ylla said:

Hi all, I have a  2006 Octavia 1.9 TDI PD Elegance BKC engine code, driving in town yesterday the engine just stopped without any notice, tried to restart without success, engine cranked but no start.

This is me being curious, does it start when cooled down? I ask as I had a similar issue on a car that turned out to be a sensor failing when hot.

[Ylla]

8 hours ago, petrolcan said:

This is me being curious, does it start when cooled down? I ask as I had a similar issue on a car that turned out to be a sensor failing when hot.

The most annoying thing is that start and stall out randomly, no connection to engine warm or cold or anything,  sometimes stall after 2 miles driving other time 10miles, sometimes stutter before stops other time doesn't. Then cranking but no start. Only common thing that I can start it with few squirt of holts spray. This give me the impression the lack of fuel or air getting into the fuel system somewhere.New fuel filter on the way, first I will double check the sender pump in the tank and lines up to the tandem pump and checking pressures there....but heck, it started raining today