VAG-COM Frequently Asked Questions -- Page 2

Q: How do I Register/Activate my software?
A: Click here for complete instructions

Q: What's the difference between the Shareware version 
      and the fully registered/activated version?
A:  The differences between Shareware and fully registered/activated versions are listed near the bottom of each function page in the Manual. 

Q: Is Product Support included in the price?
A: Absolutely.  If you have a question or problem, please post it to the VAG-COM mailing list, mail it to us directly, or give us a call.      However, please understand that we don't know everything about every VW/Audi ever made.

Q: Why can't I get VAG-COM to communicate at all?
A: Check the following:

• Is the adapter plugged into the car?   An adapter that is not plugged into the car will always be "Not Found".  It gets power from the car!

• Is the car's ignition switch in the ON position?

• Is it plugged into the correct serial port?  Some PC's have the ports mis-labeled.

• Are the serial ports on your PC properly configured?

• Disable Palm-Pilot Synchronization software!

• If you have a 1997 or newer car with an aftermarket radio, read this page.

• Check our Problems/Issues page for any special configuration settings that may be necessary for your vehicle.

If all else fails, feel free to call or email us, making sure to provide the brand and model of vehicle, brand and model of PC, and version of VAG-COM.

Q:  VAG-COM communicates, but it's "flaky"..
A: The diagnostic protocols require a degree of real-time response from the diagnostic tool.  Certain other programs and services can prevent VAG-COM from responding in the timely fashion that the protocols require.   Some control modules are fussier about this than others.   Fixes:

If you have any other programs running, close them.  If you have any of the following  active on your computer, turn them off:

• Virus Scanners

• Task Scheduler

• Microsoft Active-Synch

• Fast-Find 

• Some Novell Netware network drivers

• Power Management -- some laptops are notoriously difficult, try running the laptop on AC power!

Other Tips:

• Go through all the stuff in your System Tray:
  
  Right-Click on each little icon.  If there's a "Disable" or "Exit" option, do it!

• Windows 2000 with SP1:  Install IE 5.5 or SP2.

• Windows 95/98/Me:  Pull up a task list by pressing CTRL-ALT-DEL.   Kill everything except Explorer and Systray.   

• All versions of Windows:  Start -> Run -> MSCONFIG.  Take a look at what other non-essential stuff Windows is loading and do away with it.

• Some Windows installations, especially ones that have had numerous program installed and uninstalled over the years may be hopeless.  Try installing a clean copy of Windows in a different folder than the original.  

• STOP or Remove PCMCIA Cards, especially anything made by Xircom.  Some IBM  brand cards are also problematical.

If all else fails, feel free to call or email us, making sure to provide the brand and model of vehicle, brand and model of PC, and version of VAG-COM.

Q: How do I eliminate the "CAN'T OPEN CODES.DAT" message?
A: Ensure that VAGCOM.EXE and CODES.DAT are both in the same folder. Then run the VAGCOM.EXE file directly, not from a shortcut.    If you want to run VAG-COM using a shortcut, ensure that the shortcut's START_IN property points at the folder where VAGCOM.EXE and CODES.DAT are (i.e. whatever folder you installed VAG-COM in).

Q: Why does my dash BEEP when I access my ABS controller?
A: In many of the newer models, there will be a series of BEEPs from the dash when you access the ABS controller (and the ABS light will be ON while you are talking to it).  This perfectly normal and is done to notify the driver that the ABS is non-functional while in diagnostic mode.  

Q: Are there any Fault-Codes that can and should be ignored?
A: Yes.  Most 1995 and earlier Bosch ECU's will show you a DTC "00513 - Engine Speed Sensor (G28) if you scan them when the engine is not running.   This fault code goes away by itself once you start the engine.   If this sensor were truly defective, the engine would not run at all!   Please ignore this code.  
In addition, many Automatic Transmission Conrtol Modules will show a DTC that indicates a faulty brake light switch.   This can also be ignored and will not appear if you press the brakes once before checking for Fault Codes.

Q: Are there any known Bugs / Problems / Issues?
A:  Please check the Revision History and Issues Page.

Q: What's the Work Shop Code?
A:  Every VW/Audi dealer in the world is assigned a unique Work Shop Code.  A brand-new factory VAG-1551/1552 or VAS-5051 scan tools will not function until a WSC is entered, and once it has been entered, it cannot be changed.   Whenever a Control Module is Re-Coded, or certain Adaptations are performed, the scan tool sends its WSC to the control module and the control module records it for posterity.   Thus, if a scan-tool is used to do something like disable certain airbags, in principle, it should be possible to tell who (which dealer) did that.    Like the factory scan-tools, VAG-COM will accept a WSC once on the Options Screen.  If you enter a WSC there, it will be sent to the control modules exactly like it's supposed to be.   If you leave the WSC on the Options Screen at it's default of 00000, VAG-COM will operate in "stealth mode".  Instead of sending a fixed WSC, it will put back whatever was already in the control module, with one exception:  If it finds the "telltale" WSC (30011) that VWTool/VDS-PRO likes to leave behind, VAG-COM will replace it with something more innocuous.

Q: What's with the DEBUG files?
A: VAG-COM uses these to record a lot of the data being exchanged between the car and your PC.  Having these can be very useful if there is some sort of unexpected problem communicating with a controller in your car.   You can delete these at any time, but they will keep coming back.   The will not consume much space on your computer because VAG-COM overwrites them every time you start a new session with your PC.   If you're having a problem, I may ask you to send me a specific Debug file.  The best way to send Debug files is to ZIP them first.

Q: Why are the CODES.DAT and DEBUG files encrypted?
A: Because I don't want to make it too easy for someone to compete with me! :-)
     I have a large number of man-hours invested in creating that CODES file. It was done by digging through every factory service manual I could get my hands on and typing them all in (actually, my wife did most of that). If I distributed it as plain text, someone else could easily adapt it for use in their own program.
     Note: the file CODES.DAT file is user-extensible. You can add DTC's in plain text and the program will display them. Just make sure you insert your additions in the right spot -- the DTC numbers must remain in numerically ascending order as the program finds DTC's using a binary search.
     The debug files can record pretty much everything that happens between the car and the PC. A program like VAG-COM is actually fairly simple to write IF you understand the VAG diagnostic protocol. No documentation is available for this protocol. I figured it all out by watching what happens between the car and another scan-tool. Again, a large investment in time, not to mention the ISO-9141 Data Line Monitor I brought in from Germany. So I don't want everyone and his brother to be able to see what happens between VAG-COM and the car. OTOH, if you have a communications "glitch" with one of your controllers, I do need to see what's happening, and encrypting the debug
files seemed like a good compromise.