vag-com???

[X180 CUP]

hi there, im pretty new to all of this..... could someone just take a moment to explain exactly what vag-com is.... keep noticing it in post and seems like a useful bit of kit but not sure as to whether i need it or not. i have searched the net and the only thing im really finding is the site ross-tech, is this where i would need to download it from? also to be a pain what one would i need to download for an 2000 Xreg 1.8 20vT leon as the whole interface thing really confuses me! where would i be able to get the connection tool from a laptop to the port in my car?

any advice/feedback would be much appreciated

cheers

 

[Cowie]

Hi mate and welcome to the site.
Vag-com is basically a program,whereby you can plug your car into a pc and find an issues,faults your car might have,is also used to log performance of your car,that's it in a nutshell really.It's a very good piece of kit and can save you cash too.
Lots of guys go down the ebay route as its a lot cheaper than purchasing the rosstech lead,
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/USB-VAG-COM-4...iagnostic_Tools_Equipment?hash=item35a1093ca3

I did this but was having trouble getting a good connection to all the modules,so bit the bullet and bought the proper cable.

Totally up to you which way you go mate

 

[Rocky Rocastle]

as above, thats the lead my mate has too and when ive used it it's been spot on

 

[X180 CUP]

hi mate, thanks for the welcome and the information. do i have to buy the software or do you download it? think i may bite the bullet and get one from ross-tech in that case. what VCDS package interface would i need to get?

cheers again

 

[Muttley]

VAG-com is software you run on a laptop to make it look like a VAG diagnostic computer. It can read fault codes, change values in the internal firmware to activate or change options, and so on. The lead connects the laptop to the car's diagnostic port, on Leons this is a nine-pin D under the ashtray.

Ebay leads allow you to connect but don't unlock the software, since you haven't paid Ross-Tech their license fee. Ross-Tech leads include the license fee, so you get full functionality. Shareware VAG-com does not allow you to change values in the various computers, so you won't be able to shut down the EGR or code new keys to your immobiliser or remote central locking.

 

[Cowie]

The interface i got was this one
http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/keykii-usb.html

but really mate it depends on what exactly you want to do with vag com,if its just to find faults and do some logging,then the ebay way would probably suffice,at end of the day mate it's all down to how much cash you want to part with.