In my and probably many others opinion:
VAG Tacho - COSTS £1000s when new so if its any less then £100 its a cheap copy and cant be trusted
VAG CAN COMMANDER - SAME AS THE ABOVE
KWP2000 - cheap junk and can very very easily destroy an ECU, its cheap crappy, copied equipment that cant be trusted as far as it can be thrown.
Vag-com or VCDS as its now known as is a full diagnostic tool which can be used to diagnose faults on all VAG control units and can program keys - it also has many other functions
- check out
www.ross-tech.com for full details.
I have an old vag com from ross tech (one that doesn't work with new so called "can" cars) and I couldn't do anything except reading measuring blocks and DTC's + perform some tests.
BTW I really don't know what word "can" heare means because CAN stands for controller area network BUS - a communication link between car's electronic modules (as far as I know), while OBD stands for an on board diagnose - meaning that electronic modules have special function to
store DTC report in its memory (eeprom).
I really don't understand why this interface devices (vag can, vag commander...) between car and PC that only change the voltage and communication protocol (so it meets USB standard on PC and that in car) should cost more that couple of € since it is only a simple 8bit MC that has some kB software in it! I also don't understand why this thing is not standardised between all car manufacturers, since there are basicly only two providers of electronic modules - BOSCH and SIMENS
I really can't understand how can one destroy ECU since this is a simple 8bit MC with internal eeprom memory where program is stored (older cars had PROM and needed physisal intererence). and you should always copy the original ECU program before swapping the new modificated. Then with scaning the MAF, MAP and EGT readings you can control if values are critical - if they are and you can't change that you simply recopy the ECU software content with previous. As far as I know that's it.
BTW I used to deal with 8 bits microcontrolers (in visual basic and C based assemblers) and durring the summer I worked for some local tunner for about 1 month. My job there was to deal with customers that wanted serial ECU swapping. all I had to do was to conect PC to the car and send a new ECU program throug some sort of interface device, while owner perform custom swapping on dyno (for customers who modified their inlet and outlet of the engine - new exhaust and/or turbocharger, sometimes also new camshatfs). I did't really understand half of what he was doing, I only folow the exact procedure he gave me. First I had to check the engine with diagnostic tool (we used original VAG diagnostic tool), then if everything was OK (especial MAF sensor), I searched our ECU software database (by ECU number) and the send the software from PC to some other device (I think it was also original from VAG) and then recopy the ECU software (it took about few minutes)
So what I need is some tool with which I could set day runing lights + if it is even posible change the program of windshild wippers and If it is possible below 100€. I was looking on the ebay and UCABLES and prices for VAG commander were bellow 100$.
BTW I have AUDI A4 2.0 TFSI, year 2006 (bought in EU)
