Vag com cables, where from and which

[bluequattro]

So from advice on another post I've been looking at cables
I can find plenty 2x2 to 26 pin but none to USB
Is there a cheaper supplier than Ross tech
Or do I get an adapter 16 pun to USB
I m new to this side of mechanics so please bear with me

[Monkeymagic]

Depends what else you want to talk to. If you want to talk to everything buy a genuine Ross tech can and hex cable. Try gendan UK they are official supplies as you end up paying import tax from Ross tech.

[Dan]

I have the HEX-USB/CAN from Ross-Tech which also acts as a dongle to activate the software.

I also picked up a 2x2 adapter for about £15 somewhere online.

Obviously that's the expensive route, but when you think of how much use you'll get out of it -- especially if you work on multiple VAG cars -- then it's really not all that much in the long run.

Plus buying the genuine stuff supports Ross-Tech.

[AndyP]

I have the HEX-USB/CAN from Ross-Tech which also acts as a dongle to activate the software.

I also picked up a 2x2 adapter for about £15 somewhere online.

Obviously that's the expensive route, but when you think of how much use you'll get out of it -- especially if you work on multiple VAG cars -- then it's really not all that much in the long run.

Plus buying the genuine stuff supports Ross-Tech.

If you're planning on keeping VAG stuff long term, I'd go down this road. If I added up what I've spent on wonky Chinese cables that no longer work, I bet I wouldn't be far off a genuine copy from Ross Come the new year I'm going bite the bullet and buy the real thing.

[bluequattro]

I just want to pick up fault codes, if there are any from the incident testerday(bad bad s4 post)
To see if it's engine or immobiliser related
Whitequattro doesn't have ports, the v6s are running fine, and will be scrapped when they don't and the t4 bus is easy to diagnose if it fails to proceed

[K Simmonds]

If you're planning on keeping VAG stuff long term, I'd go down this road. If I added up what I've spent on wonky Chinese cables that no longer work, I bet I wouldn't be far off a genuine copy from Ross Come the new year I'm going bite the bullet and buy the real thing.

, Me too, it's going to be an Xmas gift to myself. The knock off's never work properly at least not for long.

[Monkeymagic]

My advice spend money and buy the real deal that why you get a licensed programme giving you all options rather than watered down free one. As already said you'll end up getting annoyed with cheap stuff having to change baud rates and other stuff.
What year is the s4. If its a later one it'll give you so many options allowing you to access everything. Only down side you suddenly find you get more mates.

[Dan]

Only down side you suddenly find you get more mates.

Yeah, funny how that happens!

[dobbin]

ross-tech

i had my ross-tech lead stolen from my garage. spoke to ross-tech they dont supply cables on there own so you have to purchase it again. decided to buy software and cable from vag-com diagnostics.com, uk company who are also on amazon under a different name worked twice been waiting for software/driver upgrade now for 2 months cannot get hold of this company . managed to get it sorted last week
by a friend who works with computer software. definitly by genuine software as you get no problems at all and the latest ross-tech works on almost all cars

[mcandmar]

If your work on cars in general on a regular basis buy the vagcom cable. Works on just about anything OBD so your not limited to just VAG stuff. I've even used it on Fiat/Afla cars using software for Marelli systems, worked fine. I do want an updated version that supports CAN bus for the more modern stuff, more than happy to buy the upgrade from rosstech. As above if we dont support them they will go out of business, and i for one wouldnt like to see that happen.

[bluequattro]

Sorted after Xmas
My local specialist garage who I ve used for 20+ years has vag com and 2+2 cables and will check the codes
Thinking now of hall sender still

[Monkeymagic]

I have a collection of cables and the 2+2 cable. I bought a handheld reader that Will talk to abs engine air bag and traction control cost about 30 quid with adaptor cable its a stand alone unit so powers off car. Very basic but great to keep in car. Made by autel called VAG scanner. If all you want to do is pull and clear codes it is perfect