New A4 owner - what are the best diagnostic tools for reading "default codes"and re-setting "check engine" lights. Mine keeps going off due to a problem that Audi claims does not need to be fixed (something sticks intermittently - but will not cause a problem). I would like to avoid paying for labor every time it goes off!!!

 

In my opinion, genuine Ross-Tech Vag-Com is second to none.
http://www.ross-tech.com/

 

Just checked it out - pays for itsself in less than two trips to the dealer...

 

That's right, also, the genuine interface allows you to use the latest versions of the Vag-Com program (and every update that comes out). With the real interface and product registration, you also have access to their technical support which is awesome.

 

any OBDII scanner will work fine but if you want a REALLY nice one that can do so much more than just check for fault codes then vagcom is the way to go

 

There are a bunch of ODB II readers on the market that claim to read and reset error codes. I am a little confused about all this. What does the Vagcom do in addition to the ODB II readers? Any good ODB II readers to recommend?

 

you can do 10X more with a vag - other just read - with ross-tech's program you can watch your sensors or your maf and see what it is reading. you can look for missfires and make logs of those files so you can graph them and look for bad coilpacks and other things - the list goes on and on

 

Totally second that, I first bought a cheap OBDII interface for 100 bucks. After downloading the Ross-Tech program and seeing all I was missing not having the genuine Ross-Tech interface, I immediately spent the extra money to get the real thing.

 

cheapest way to do it would be to buy an Ebay cable from "alpha bid" I bought my first one from "autonosics" and it wouldn't even read my are. Then go to ross-tech and buy their program (402 or 311.2) for $100 and it will do most everything that a "real" cable will do. I'm happy with how mine. If I were to redu it I think that I would buy the real cable. Its expensive and thats why I went the other route. But you'll get %90+ of what you spent on it back just by putting the thing on ebay. just remember its saving you over $100 every time you clear a code.

 

If you do not have a laptop a code reader will do:

http://search.ebay.com/search/search...&category0=