Will VCDS (VAG-COM) work with my car?
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VCDS (VAG-COM) will work with most Volkswagen and Audi models sold worldwide from 1994 to 2015+. It will work with some cars as early as 1991. It will also work with most 1996-2015+ SEAT and Skoda models.
Certain 2003 and newer models (see below) do require the CAN-enabled interfaces (HEX-USB+CAN or Micro-CAN), whereas earlier cars only require the KII-USB interfaces.
The new HEX-NET Professional interface communicates with VCDS by wireless WiFi or by wired USB, includes a VCDS software license and the interface you need to connect to VW/Audi Group vehicles. Unlimited VIN version, this interface and VCDS software turns Windows® PCs into a powerful diagnostic tool. Features: Fully licensed for VCDS.
If your VW or Audi has a 16-pin OBD-II style Data Link Connector, VCDS (VAG-COM) will definitely work. If your car has the old '2x2' Data Link Connection, please check the wiring to the connectors: if there are four wires, VCDS (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 VCDS (VAG-COM). Also see the Ross-Tech Issues page for a few things that may not work as expected.
What is CAN and why is that different to the earlier cars?
CAN stands for Controller Area Network. CAN is a new means of communicating with the car for diagnostics used by the latest generations of VW, Audi, SEAT, and Skoda vehicles (certain models from 2003). Unlike the older ISO9141 system which used a single K-line for diagnostic communications, the new CAN-Bus system uses a twisted pair of wires with differential signaling. CAN is considerably faster than ISO-9141 (500 kpbs vs. 10.4 kbps). Both new hardware and new software are required in order to communicate with cars using CAN for diagnostics.
Which VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda cars use CAN for diagnostics?
Some examples of the newer cars that require the CAN-enabled interface are:
- All Golf-5 platform cars (A5 platform) including:
- 2003+ VW Touran (1T chassis)
- 2004+ VW Golf/Rabbit (1K chassis)
- 2004+ VW Caddy (2K chassis)
- 2004+ Audi A3/S3 (8P chassis)
- 2004+ Seat Altea (5P chassis)
- 2004+ Skoda Octavia (1Z chassis)
- 2005+ Seat Toledo (5P chassis)
- 2005+ Golf Plus (5M chassis)
- 2005+ Seat Leon (1P chassis)
- 2005.5+ Jetta (1K chassis)
- 2006+ Eos (1F chassis)
- 2007+ Audi TT (8J chassis)
- 2007+ VW Golf Variant/Wagon (1K chassis)
- 2008+ VW Tiguan (5N chassis)
- 2008+ Audi A3 Cabriolet (8P chassis)
- 2011+ VW Jetta (16/AJ chassis)
- 2012+ VW Beetle (5C/AT chassis)
- 2003+ Audi A8 and A8L (D3 platform, 4E chassis)
- 2005+ Audi A6/S6/RS6 (C6 platform, 4F chassis)
- 2005+ Audi A4/S4/RS4 ('B7' platform) (some control modules)
- 2005.5+ VW Passat (B6 Platform, 3C chassis)
- 2006+ Audi Q7 (4L chassis)
- 2007+ VW Touareg (7L6 chassis) ('facelift', built after Nov. 30 2006)
- 2007+ VW Phaeton (3D chassis) ('facelift', MY 2008+)
- 2007+ Audi R8 (42 chassis)
- 2008+ Bentley Continental GT/Flying Spur (3W chassis) ('facelift', MY 2008+)
- 2008+ Audi A5/S5 (B8 platform, 8T chassis)
- 2008+ Audi A4/S4/RS4 (B8 platform, 8K chassis)
- 2008+ VW Passat CC (35 chassis)
- 2008+ Seat Ibiza (6J chassis)
- 2008+ Skoda Superb (3T chassis)
- 2009+ VW Scirocco (13 chassis)
- 2009+ VW Golf Mk.6 (5K chassis)
- 2009+ Audi Q5 (8R chassis) (2010+ models may have FP in the VIN)
- 2009+ Seat Exeo (3R chassis)
- 2010+ Skoda Yeti (5L chassis)
Will a HEX-USB+CAN interface work with the earlier non-CAN cars?
Yes. The HEX interfaces support the earlier non-CAN cars as well as the later CAN-enabled cars.
How do I access the earlier cars with the 2x2 diagnostic connector or the VW LT Van with the round Mercedes connector?
You can purchase the 2x2 extension cable for just £9.95 (inc VAT and delivery) or the LT Van adapter for just £20 (inc VAT and delivery).
What are the computer requirements?
A PC running Windows. The minimum recommended spec is:
- at least a 1 GHz Pentium-3 (or AMD equivalent)
- 256MB of RAM
- Windows Vista or newer
VCDS (VAG-COM) may work on some lesser PC's, but anything less than the above recommendation is unsupported. USB interfaces will not work at all with Windows 95, 98 or NT4.
Available disk-space is a total non-issue, VCDS (VAG-COM) requires less than 100 MB.
Systems running Windows in a virtualized environment (for example Virtual PC on a Mac) are not supported.
Vcds Hex V2 Diagnostic Tool
For a full list of Frequently Asked Questions, please also visit the Ross Tech website.