Hello all,

 

I am looking at enabling certain features on my 2013 Skoda Citigo Sport, namely the cornering foglights and the follow-me-home DRL/fog lights. As I understand it, this is done using the VCDS software via some kind of cable, which goes to the car's OBD port, which is to the right of the accelerator pedal (at least in the UK).

What should I buy in order to be able to carry out these changes? I am looking to spend as little as possible, but I understand that it is not best practice to plug something from eBay into your car....

 

Please can anyone send some relevant links?

 

Thanks,

Michal

Hi, welcome Michal.

for this you might be better (also) looking and/or asking in the VCDS forum.

 

Just for info -

VAG-COM was the previous name for VCDS,

VCDS you can read about in that forum, to me it's a horrible legacy looking and operation of system but many like it and if you only want to use a scan tool on a VW fine,

OBDeleven is a different supplier system usually (only?) used on these so called "smart" phones or perhaps also so called "smart" devices but I've never invested this, there's also a Carista system and I expect others.

 

There are other scan tools that cover not just VW but loads of other makes with facilities for bi-directional and 'coding' at various levels and prices.

 

Whatever system you use you are best to ensure that the system is VW appropriate and covers your model and year of vehicle and that the program for it is fully up to date every time before you use it and that the battery for it and the 12v car battery are both not in a too low state of charge otherwise you can get recording errors.  For 'coding' you want a system that does a pre-change(s) back-up before you make any changes in case you make a mistake or something else is wrong or goes wrong - obviously this fails if you don't do and save the pre-change(s) back-up to use.  Many don't bother checking and installing scan tool updates before use, checking car and/or battery(s) state(s) of charge and doing back-ups, for the first two at least these are often paid professionals.

 

'Diagnostics & VCDS' - https://www.briskoda.net/forums/forum/23-diagnostics-amp-vcds/

 

HTH.

  

Edited 2 December, 20241 yr by nta16

3 hours ago, MichalK said:

What should I buy in order to be able to carry out these changes?

The cheaper option would be to find someone with VCDS, ODIS, OBDeleven and offer them some beer money.

Don't assume the features you want will work on your car.

 

Thanks. AG Falco

1 hour ago, nta16 said:

Hi, welcome Michal.

for this you might be better (also) looking and/or asking in the VCDS forum.

 

Just for info -

VAG-COM was the previous name for VCDS,

VCDS you can read about in that forum, to me it's a horrible legacy looking and operation of system but many like it and if you only want to use a scan tool on a VW fine,

OBDeleven is a different supplier system usually (only?) used on these so called "smart" phones or perhaps also so called "smart" devices but I've never invested this, there's also a Carista system and I expect others.

 

There are other scan tools that cover not just VW but loads of other makes with facilities for bi-directional and 'coding' at various levels and prices.

 

Whatever system you use you are best to ensure that the system is VW appropriate and covers your model and year of vehicle and that the program for it is fully up to date every time before you use it and that the battery for it and the 12v car battery are both not in a too low state of charge otherwise you can get recording errors.  For 'coding' you want a system that does a pre-change(s) back-up before you make any changes in case you make a mistake or something else is wrong or goes wrong - obviously this fails if you don't do and save the pre-change(s) back-up to use.  Many don't bother checking and installing scan tool updates before use, checking car and/or battery(s) state(s) of charge and doing back-ups, for the first two at least these are often paid professionals.

 

'Diagnostics & VCDS' - https://www.briskoda.net/forums/forum/23-diagnostics-amp-vcds/

 

HTH.

  

Hello, thank you for the warm welcome and reply. I appreciate all of the information and thank you for the links - I'll take a look and inform what I will be doing, in case someone comes across this thread in the future. Might try the OBDeleven stuff - if I do try, is it possible to monumentally mess up my car if it malfunctions (or if I malfunction? 😂).

1 hour ago, AGFalco said:

The cheaper option would be to find someone with VCDS, ODIS, OBDeleven and offer them some beer money.

Don't assume the features you want will work on your car.

 

Thanks. AG Falco

Thank you for the reply, you're right, especially for someone like me. However, I like the idea of being able to turn things on and off as they suit me, but I'm not sure exactly what prices we're talking.

 

How much would it cost for the basic kit, and how long would it take to learn to use it?

As an 18 year old interested in engineering, this would definitely be a helpful addition as one of the things that I could talk about at an interview as well - that said, it's not the main reason for wanting to do this?

1 hour ago, MichalK said:

How much would it cost for the basic kit, and how long would it take to learn to use it?

I have OBDeleven because I have 3 VW cars and do most of the maintenance on them as well as changing some things myself.

 

Look at their website for some cost details:-

https://obdeleven.com/products

 

Initial cost, yearly costs and per change costs need to be considered.

 

Yes, you can mess things up using this software.

 

Thanks. AG Falco

Do not think of any scan tool as a magic tool, always check and cross-reference any information you get from it (and any other source, manufacturers, the internet, other people).  Computers aren't always right always check them.   Your senses and your brain are great tools.  So are pencil and paper (you can see them in daylight and bright sun and no batteries to go flat or need charging.

 

At 18 you probably have little idea just how how ****-poor computers and computer programs can sometimes be.  VW cars are full of computer bits and programs, these programs are complex and intertwined (and over-intrusive) so even IF they were 100% written perfectly and the modules, wires, connectors, parts all fully functioning well a "glitch" or programming error on a scan tool could mess things up in all sorts of unexpected ways.  Even a VW's car battery being in a low state of charge that the computers like can cause all sorts of unexpected issues and that doesn't mean the battery is necessarily in a very low state of charge.

 

I would suggest if you say bought an OBDEleven that you checked on the forums here and for OBDEleven users that they had successfully and without issues done what you want to do with it, any issues or errors corrected with updates.  And something many engineers, mechanics, auto-electricians, electrics and other trades don't always do particularly after getting qualified - read the 'Owner's Manal', 'Driver's Handbook', instructions before use and starting the work - known as "Read The Manual", "RtM" or when you've not and can't work things out or balls'd something up "RtFM".

 

Good luck.