VAG-COM Frequently Asked Questions -- Page 1

Q: Will VAG-COM work with my car?
A: VAG-COM will work with most Volkswagen and Audi models sold world-wide 1994 through 2002.   It will work with some cars all the way back to model year 1990.    It will also work with most late-model SEAT, and Skoda models sold in markets other than North America.    If your VW or Audi has a 16-pin "OBD-II style" Data Link Connector,  VAG-COM will definitely work.  If your car has the old "2x2" Data Link Connection, check if there is a wire going to each pin, as shown in the picture.   If there are four wires, VAG-COM should work.  If there are only three, it won't.  Please see these Application Charts where you can select your model and see which modules can communicate with VAG-COM.  Also see the Problems and Issues page for a few things that may not work as expected.   If in doubt, e-mail us.

Q: Will VAG-COM work even if my car is "chipped"?
A:  Yes.  If it doesn't work in a "chipped" car, the chip-vendor did something seriously wrong! Chips from reputable vendors are fully VAG-1551 (and VAG-COM) compliant.

Q: What functions are included in the current release?
A: Please see Function Chart for current feature set. 

Q: What  are the computer requirements?
A:  We recommend a Pentium-100 with 16MB or RAM and Windows 95 or newer.  Windows 98, ME, NT4, 2000, and XP are all fine.   Available disk-space is a total non-issue, VAG-COM requires less than 1 MB.     The PC must have an available RS-232 Serial port.   USB is not supported.    A serial Port looks like this:

Q: What if my Laptop doesn't have a Serial Port?
A:  We realize some new Laptops don't have Serial Ports, but the ISO-9141 data-link used in VW/Audi cars is so close to traditional "Serial" that it doesn't make sense to use any other kind of port on a PC.    If laptop doesn't have a serial port, you'll need to add one.    We've had poor results with most USB<->Serial adapters -- therefore USB<->Serial adapters are "Not Supported,"   If you can get one to work for you, fine.   If a USB<->Serial adapter doesn't work, or doesn't work well, please don't ask us for help.   
What we recommend:  This Quatech SSP-100 PCMCIA-Card.   We've had excellent results with these!    We don't  want to give anyone the idea that we recommend this because we make money on it, so please buy it directly from Quatech.    Other brands of PC-Card serial ports may not  work as well.  For example, a few users have tried "Socket" brand cards and have not been able to get them to work.
Update:  Quatech SSP-100 cards shipped since the end of May 2002 have a new high-speed clock generator "feature" that must be disabled in order to access some control modules.  Click here for complete details. We are currently not recommending the use of a Quatech card for users with Windows ME due to problems with the "new and improved" cards' incompatibility with ME. For these users, we recommend they upgrade to Windows 2000 or XP.

Q: What if the PC I wish to use with VAG-COM doesn't have Internet access?
A:  Because our software is provided to you via our download page, rather than on floppy disks or CD's, you will need a way to transfer the Self-Installing EXE file to the PC that you will be using with VAG-COM. The file fits easily on a floppy disk. Additionally, in order to activate VAG-COM, you will need to copy and paste the Serial Number from the PC that you will be using with VAG-COM into an email to  Activation@Ross-Tech.com. Likewise, when we return your Activation Code, you will need to copy and paste that into the PC that you will be using with VAG-COM as per the instructions on our Activation Page.

Q: Can I use VAG-COM on a desk-top computer?
A:  Yes, but you will probably have to extend the cables.   We now provide several different kinds of interface adapters.   For the MAX-COM and TWIN-COM interfaces, you must use a Serial (DB9M to DB9F) extension cord.   We usually stock  serial extension cables in 15' (3m),  25'  (7.5m) and 50' (15m) lengths.   For ISO-COM and FAST-COM interfaces, you should use an RJ45 Coupler and an ordinary Ethernet Patch cord.   We can provide the RJ45 Coupler for $5, but we don't sell Ethernet Patch cords.  You can buy those almost anywhere. 
Important Update:  Make sure your Ethernet patch cord is wired "Straight-Through".  Using a "Cross-Over" cable will create a short between +12 and GND from the car.  The usual result is the smell of burning plastic -- very undesirable.  As of 1/1/2002, damage to our interfaces caused by improper extension cables will not be covered under warranty.

Q: Will there be a Mac or Linux version?
A: There will be no "native" Mac or Linux versions.  The time and effort required to "port" VAG-COM to these platforms would never pay.  One person has gotten VAG-COM running under Linux using WINE -- click here for details.   Several people have tried various PC/Windows emulators for the MAC, but we have no reports of success on that platform.  A number of people have tried to get VAG-COM working with various Windows emulators for the Mac.  None have succeeded.

Q: Will there be a Windows-CE or Palm-OS version?
A: Possibly at some point in the future, but we don't have a timetable yet.  

Q: What's the difference between VAG-COM and an OBD-II Scan-Tool?
A: OBD-II is a government mandated diagnostic protocol that is primarily aimed at diagnosing emissions-related problems.   An OBD-II scan tool will work in many different brands of cars.  VAG-COM uses VW's proprietary diagnostic protocol and will only work in VW/Audi vehicles.  Although you can use an OBD-II Scan Tool in an OBD-II compliant (1996 or newer) VW or Audi, an OBD-II Scan Tool can only talk to the engine, not the numerous other "intelligent" systems in the car.   Want to reprogram your central locks or your Radio?  Diagnose a problem with your ABS, Airbags, or Automatic Transmission?  Re-align your Immobilizer after swapping ECU's?  Reset your Service Reminder Indicators?   Communicate with a pre-1996 model (not OBD-II compliant) car?  An OBD-II Scan-Tool can't do any of these things. Please see our OBD-II Page for information on using third party generic OBD-II software through our Interface.   

Q: Can I use VAG-COM to roll back my electronic odometer?
A: No.    A brand new instrument cluster (with less than 100 km on it) can be rolled forward, one time only.  Of course, this assumes that the instrument cluster is "diagnostics capable".  Not all instrument clusters with electronic odometers are.

Q: Can I use VAG-COM to "Flash" the chip in my ECU?
A: No.    I hope to develop this capability in the future, but since the VAG-1551/1552 can't do this, and it is not part of the "diagnostics", it will be an extra-cost option or a separate product.   You can also read a thread on this subject here.

Q: Is there anything else I need to make full use of VAG-COM?
A: Yes.  A good Factory Repair manual  containing the the VAG Scan-Tool procedures for your car.   VAG-COM is a tool, not an on-line service manual.  I could not possibly document everything you can do with it in every year and model of VW/Audi that VAG-COM can be used with.   The most cost-effective manuals with good Scan-Tool procedures are the CD-ROMs from Robert Bentley Publishers.   We offer these at a discount to registered VAG-COM users.  Beware, however, that many of the paper "Service Manuals" published by Bentley do not contain Scan-Tool Procedures.  If a paper Bentley manual is called a "Service Manual" it usually does not have scan-tool procedures.  If it is called "Official Factory Repair Manual", it does.  An additional source of manuals that contain Scan-Tool procedures is Dyment Distribution Services.  Click here for Audi,  or here for  Volkswagen, or call (1-800-544-8021).   For European VW manuals, check erWin.

Q: I already have VWTool / VDS-PRO, why would I want to upgrade?
A: Due to the untimely demise of its developer, VWTool has not been updated since early 1999.   If you have an older car, and you are satisfied with the way VWTool works, there is probably no good reason to upgrade to VAG-COM.   If you have a brand-new car, or you are a professional mechanic, you likely want a tool that is current.  There are numerous Fault Codes in the 2000 and newer  cars  that VWTool can't decode into text, and it can't touch any of the new control modules in 2001 and 2002 models that use KWP-2000.   In addition, VWTool is a 16-bit program written in an ancient version of Visual Basic and can be unreliable running under newer versions of Windows.   VAG-COM is a 32-bit program written in C/C++ and can be much more robust under 32-bit Windows.  Update:  The above statements apply to the currently available version of VWTool/VDS-PRO (2.0.9).  Baum Tools has informed us that they have acquired CarComp, and expect to release a 32-bit version of VDS-PRO in November.    See e-mail I received from Bill Baum.  Update:  I just want to point out that was in July of 2000.  November of 2000 has come and gone.  So has November of 2001, and there's still no new version...