Hey..
SOoOoo i wanna start using my laptop to clear check engine lights etc... now the problem is i dunno what i need to buy. i see vag-com's on ebay, hardware only for cheap like 25 bucks or so, and apparently i can get the ross tech software for like 100 bucks.
can anyone give me a overall idea of what i need and where i should buy it.. the ross tech kits are outta my budget and seem outta my league as well.
I just wanna be able to diagnosis problems and clear dashboard lights, like check engine, service, rear brake light out, etc.
Thanks GUYS.. and Gals if there are any.
Much Love
Mike D

 

the ebay cable will only allow to do some much. the full cable from rosstech is 250 or something like that.

 

and worth every penny!

 

I dunno, I can do quite alot with the cable from 'alpha-bid'.. sold on e-bay. Mine was $23 shipped.

 

i was thinking about buying something from kragen or autozone, they have the obd 2 devices starting around 60 bucks. all i really wanna do i be able to clear codes when they arise and/or diagnois the problem..

 

The problem with that is there are 'audi specific' codes which thiers will not read. If you want, you can spend ~$200 for one that will do Audi, but then your back to the same price as ross-tech (or higher) and still cannot do data collection.

 

The most complete solution is to buy the Ross-Tech cable from the company ~$250 and they will give you the software for free. This allows you to clear CELs, check for fault codes that dont trigger CELs, modify window and locking functions, monitor sensors, etc. It is quite useful and well worth the price IMO.

Or you can buy an ebay type VAG system for maybe half the cost and maybe half the capabilities or so. Depends on what exactly you buy.

Or you can buy a hand held OBDII device that will allow you to scan the CEL codes and clear them. Their are online libraries that will translate the code for you and suggest potential fixes. Like someone said before, make sure it is Audi compatible.

 

My codes from my hand held obd 2 reader, scanner, dealio:
P0458. Evap system canister purge sol circuit low
P2401. Evap system lk detect pump ctl circuit low
P2257. Secondary air injections ctrl a low circuit
P0414. Secondary air injection system valve a CKT short
P0057. Ho2s bank 2 sen 2 heater circuit low
P0037. Ho2s bank 1 sen 2 heater circuit low
P0102. MAF or VAF a circuit low input
P0031. Ho2s bank 1 sen 1 heater circuit low
P0051. Ho2s bank 2 sen 1 heater circuit low
P0141. O2 sensor heater circuit malfunction (bank 1 sensor 2)
P0161. O2 sensor heater circuit malfunction (bank 2 sensor 2)

I also went to a local shop and had the shop plug my car in there..
the codes they got are as follows:
17843
18625
17522
17548
17924
17833
17880
17829
16441
16421
16415
He didn't give me the descriptions just the codes...


SO if anyone has any helpful info i would love to hear it..
Thanks mike

 

Get the cable from Ross-tech and you will get all the data you need.
I went the cheap eBay cable and freeware way and upgraded to the $99 s/w from Ross, but I kept having issues with the cable and my software kept de-activating. I bit the bullet and bought the cable from Ross and they gave me full credit fopr the software license. The new setup is awesome.
You need to run a full scan, save the log and post it here in its entirety.