Looking to obtain some diagnostic software, mainly to test the switching speed of my lambda sensor amongst other things.

Been told to get VAG-COM.. and have seen this up on eBay - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VAG-COM-USB-409-1-Le...=item414c6e0ec3

Now I'm assuming this is legal as it is on the bay, but I thought when you bought a copy of the software it had to be registered to you? And it could only be registered to like genuine VW dealer service stations and ting?

Does this mean that what is being sold on eBay is not a full version? Like a demo or something? If so, what are the benefits of having a full version to obtaining a copy like this?

It seems pretty cheap for what you get, I'm a bit sceptical..

Oh and I'm no way, shape or form interested in obtaining any of the software illegally.. so please don't give me advice on torrenting it and shit - and mods please don't delete this thread!

Cheers Chaps,

Chris

I don't really know about the eBay one but my dad has got a genuine lead from Rosstech which I think also forms the license for the software, and it cost over £100. He's not with VW or any garage, just bought it himself.

This is only from what I remember, but we just download the software from the Rosstech website for free and don't need to enter any license key because the hardware forms the license. I've never tried an eBay cable but I know some on here have, hopefully they can reply and tell you about them.

Ray

I got my cable from eBay about a year ago, only cost me approx £7. The software I got with mine was just the trial version (not registered) - This worked fine, but doesn't give you all the info you need. You really do need the registered version to get the full use out of it.

That cable you've found however, I'm not sure if that's the registered version or not. You're best of asking the seller.

all your paying for on the ebay ones is the lead, the trial version of the software is free to download from the rosstech site (the people who make it). if you want the full version then you can buy it from rosstech for about £100 last time i looked.

the 'free' or trial version can perform scans and you can alter a few settings and interrogate some obd's, but to get the most out of it you really need the full version so you can allign tb, switch off airbags etc etc on the mk4 / bora there are sooo many options and upgrades you can enable with the full version.

i have a genuine lead (always get the better one) and the 'freeware' version of vagcom, it's fine for scanning and clearing faults but always leaves you wanting more from the system.

Olly

Sweet, thanks for the info all.

Am rather tempted to get hold of the real thing, could do with being able to do TBA and sort out the airbags and ting.

But as a trial version, do you imagine I would still be able to use VAG-Scope.. to check out the coolant temp and lambda readings against the engine RPM? That's all I'm really desperate for at the moment..

Thanks again,

Chris

the trial version on vag-com can be... ahem... registered shall we say.... if you know what i mean...

a proper copy of vcds is about £250 all in, but you wont need half of it's functionality

iirc i don't think you can test the switching speed on an oxygen sensor on KWP1280/1 protocol cars like a 6n polo of mk3 golf

is vagcom compatible with windows 7?

i was running it on xp but haven't swapped it yet

the trial version on vag-com can be... ahem... registered shall we say.... if you know what i mean...

a proper copy of vcds is about £250 all in, but you wont need half of it's functionality

iirc i don't think you can test the switching speed on an oxygen sensor on KWP1280/1 protocol cars like a 6n polo of mk3 golf

Hmm I probably wrongly described the switching speed.. but there is a live-feed graph type thing you can view in VAG-Scope apparently. Shows readings from the lamda sensor, and they alternate at increasing frequencies as the engine speed increases. I'm just assuming that that illustrates the switching speed lol.

They are shown in this tutorial, kindly supplied by PoloD in HERE!

Would this be available in a trial version of VAG-COM? It's not changing any settings, just viewing shit.. like viewing fault codes, so I'm imagining so?

Cheers again

I'm not sure if you can use vagscope in the trial version. But to be honest, for £13 an ebay cable is probably worth it just to scan the fault codes to see what pops up!

PoloD.

Just had another though.... check your manifold gasket and manifold carefully for leaks and cracks.

Edited 29 January, 201016 yr by PoloD

Ah gutting :(

I've bought the cable anyways lol, will see what's what and start looking into getting a full copy anyways.

Do you mean the exhaust manifold gasket matey? I thought it might be something to do with that.. as one of the studs has snapped off and I'm pretty sure it's blowing. That would let air into the system and make lambda think the engine is running too lean right? It's one of my thoughts..

My other thought is potentially the IAT sensor isn't working propery, making my mixture rich.. need some way of testing that aswell really.

gosh i hate emissions..