new scan tool
 

been doing some research into a new scan tool. was looking heavily into the otc genysis. my matco guy( who i trust very well) recommended against the otc/matco. told me about this new scanner by autel. he loaned me one to mess with this morning.

this thing is bad ass!


Autel

Since I got the tdi VW I have been wanting a Ross-tech VCDS, VAG-COM.

Talked to a buddy with a shop and he said don't, just use his $$$big scanner. Haven't looked at it to see what it is but he says it will do all of the factory codes for VW, Mercedes, etc. Make sure you can reset airbag lights and such as that.

I thought the Passat was going to be a bigger, badder diesel Rabbit. It is but it is a road car and not a utility vehicle. It is an impressive road car. Carries the weight but it seems disrespectful to run it off the road. So the Rabbit gets a clutch and I'll use it instead of Gator or such.

This one here does full abs and airbag, module and pcm programming ,as well as bi directional control.

KM - that looks interesting- I shudder to look for the price :)

I am trying to find a decent explaination of OBDII, manufacturer specific codes, vag-com, 'hex codes' and a few other things.

I get that OBD-II is a standardized hardware (plug/wiring) and software (communication protocol) currently enforced on all cars...

(...until OBDIII comes out and the conspiracy theorists' heads blow up :)

So you can get a standard OBDII reader, and it will read the codes from any make-model, from 1997 - present. but it'll own read the designated OBDII codes.

OR, you can buy a VW/audi car and get a VAG-com - which has a hardware (dongle) and software component (VCDS software). These 2 things read OBDII codes AND VW-specific codes. AND can access VW specific modules (ABS module, airbag module, transmission module...)
***so is there a 2nd communication protocol used by VAG-COM ? or does it use the same wires/signals/voltages that OBDII uses ?

And then, if you buy a newer VW, Ross Tech (makers of the VAG-COM) tell you to buy the "USB+HEX" dongle- becuase the newer cars use "Hex-codes" or something.
***Are the Hex codes a new communication protocol, or still the same wires/voltages/handhaking as OBD-II ? If ross-tech is trying to sell a new dongle, then the protocol/voltages/handshaking better be different...


Then the guys on the Subaru board (I own a 2001 Outback, see the machine shop thread for more arguing :) say just to buy a vag-com and use some Rom/Raider other software. This makes me think that subaru uses the OBD-II protocol and hardware for its stuff also..but VCDS doesnt have/support the lookup tables necessary for Subarus - this makes sense.

I just want a tool that can see as much factory info as possible on a 2001 outback, a 2009 Kia minivan, and any 2000- volkswagen that I might buy in the future. Would your gizmo (above) do this ?

-John

Ross-Tech HEX cables have a "smart" controller built into the cable and offer more reliable and sometimes faster communication with control modules. The difference is whether the cable has support for CAN or not. For the most compatability, get a HEX+CAN cable.

-J