Airbag Light On - 3rd time in the Shop
Thread Starter
Club AutoUnion
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 832
Likes: 332
From: West Michigan
Yes there are stories, tons on this board alone.
VCDS is specific to VAG vehicles (Audi, VW, SEAT, Skoda, etc), is more than just OBD II, and the cable is more than just wires.
Ross-Tech is also more than just a freeware hobby - it is a business and they provide support to licensed users.
I also strongly recommend purchasing a Bentley manual.
It will make it easier for you to work on the car and/or avoid getting ripped of by incompetent or greedy workshops.
There are several sources where you can get them for less than retail.
VCDS is specific to VAG vehicles (Audi, VW, SEAT, Skoda, etc), is more than just OBD II, and the cable is more than just wires.
Ross-Tech is also more than just a freeware hobby - it is a business and they provide support to licensed users.
I also strongly recommend purchasing a Bentley manual.
It will make it easier for you to work on the car and/or avoid getting ripped of by incompetent or greedy workshops.
There are several sources where you can get them for less than retail.
If Ross-Tech is the only option, that's fine, but sometimes the best software comes from just one or two people is as good or better, which is why I asked.
If my AIRBAG light comes on again, then I'll consider the purchase.
Thread Starter
Club AutoUnion
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 832
Likes: 332
From: West Michigan
Going back to my original post, if an airbag throws a fault, wouldn't it trigger a code right away?
I'm not sure I buy the argument that the car goes through a diagnostic cycle only so often.
I'm not sure I buy the argument that the car goes through a diagnostic cycle only so often.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
From: Northern California, USA
I appreciate the feedback and I don't mean to be argumentative by this next statement, but the fact that Ross-Tech is a company means nothing to me. For the European motorcyle market there are two sources: TuneBoy and TuneECU. With TuneBoy one buys the product, but the support is terrible and the product is not as good as TuneECU, which is free.
If Ross-Tech is the only option, that's fine, but sometimes the best software comes from just one or two people is as good or better, which is why I asked.
If my AIRBAG light comes on again, then I'll consider the purchase.
If Ross-Tech is the only option, that's fine, but sometimes the best software comes from just one or two people is as good or better, which is why I asked.
If my AIRBAG light comes on again, then I'll consider the purchase.
I don't know if there is another source of the equivalent software, whether open source, freeware or a cracked version that works with the Chinese cables.
I bought the Ross-Tech cable and software and so have most of this board so if there is a free/cracked version, we do not know of it nor have any experience with it.
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,831
Likes: 27
From: Vancouver, Canada
I believe Ross-Tech software contains DRM that requires their cable (with contains a key or mechanism to validate with the software) in order to unlock the full software functionality. Not sure if the Chinese knock-offs try to bypass this or not but it sounds like if you use them you don't get full functionality.
I don't know if there is another source of the equivalent software, whether open source, freeware or a cracked version that works with the Chinese cables.
I bought the Ross-Tech cable and software and so have most of this board so if there is a free/cracked version, we do not know of it nor have any experience with it.
I don't know if there is another source of the equivalent software, whether open source, freeware or a cracked version that works with the Chinese cables.
I bought the Ross-Tech cable and software and so have most of this board so if there is a free/cracked version, we do not know of it nor have any experience with it.
Wouldn't be so sure that somebody around doesn't have a better solution.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
Completely disagree with the statement. Pricey? For $350 you get what Mercedes, BMW and other brands owners can only dream about. The closest thing to this for MB owners is a $1,500 bootleg system that you need special hardware and a specific IBM laptop in order to work. Ask me how I know.
[Ross-Tech reading OFF] This thing is an absolute BARGAIN! And just check out their support! VAGCOM is not the easiest thing to understand, but if there is anything you have a question on, they are more than willing to help out. [/ON]
Cheers
Edward
[Ross-Tech reading OFF] This thing is an absolute BARGAIN! And just check out their support! VAGCOM is not the easiest thing to understand, but if there is anything you have a question on, they are more than willing to help out. [/ON]
Cheers
Edward
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,831
Likes: 27
From: Vancouver, Canada
Completely disagree with the statement. Pricey? For $350 you get what Mercedes, BMW and other brands owners can only dream about. The closest thing to this for MB owners is a $1,500 bootleg system that you need special hardware and a specific IBM laptop in order to work. Ask me how I know.
[Ross-Tech reading OFF] This thing is an absolute BARGAIN! And just check out their support! VAGCOM is not the easiest thing to understand, but if there is anything you have a question on, they are more than willing to help out. [/ON]
Cheers
Edward
[Ross-Tech reading OFF] This thing is an absolute BARGAIN! And just check out their support! VAGCOM is not the easiest thing to understand, but if there is anything you have a question on, they are more than willing to help out. [/ON]
Cheers
Edward
Actually it is easy to understand. Accessible part of it. For the rest I got sorry answer. Polite and nice but sorry.
Thread Starter
Club AutoUnion
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 832
Likes: 332
From: West Michigan
Thanks for the feedback and don't get me wrong - I have no issue paying for software that works and solves a problem for me. The issue I have here is that $250 - $350 is a lot of money for software that I'll only use when my car throws a fault. I have the airbag issue now, but assuming that gets fixed (which might not be a good assumption right now), I might not have another issue for years (or ever).
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,831
Likes: 27
From: Vancouver, Canada
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Thread Starter
Club AutoUnion
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 832
Likes: 332
From: West Michigan
You have piqued my interest. What types of tweaks can one make?
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,883
Likes: 5
From: NC USA
The VAGCOM yahoo group is a veritable treasure trove of information and the Ross-Tech folks participate daily there and in the forums on this and many other sites.
If you consider it compared to an A8 at:
$100K new it amounts to 0.35%
$20K used, it's 1.75%
That is 20% of the cost of a new set of tires and a one time cost.
We have an A8, an A6, and I'm looking at a VW as a third car next year.
Unless something drastic happens we'll always own VAG vehicles so this is a one time multiyear investment.
That's why I bought a netbook for it, installed an SSD, and keep it in a custom Pelican case that goes with me on any road trip.
Turning off the seatbelt chime was worth the cost of admission
[/Rant ON]
Not directed at OP, just a general statement:
I'm always fascinated that some folks who get expensive and complicated vehicles are so damn cheap about things and then bitch about how much an indy or dealer charges.
You have to pay to play with any of the luxury brands and VCDS is my insurance policy.
Same applies to the Bentley manual.
[/Rant OFF]