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Frequently Asked Questions -- Page 1
1.1
Will VCDS work with my car?
VCDS
and VCDS-Mobile
will work with most Volkswagen and
Audi models sold
World-Wide 1994
through the current model year. It will work with some cars all the way back to model
year 1990. It will also work with most late-model
SEAT, and
Skoda models sold in markets other than North
America. If your VW or Audi has a
16-pin "OBD-II
style" Data Link Connector, VCDS will definitely
work. If your car has the old "2x2"
Data Link Connection, check if there is a wire going to each pin, as
shown in the picture. If there are four wires, VCDS
should work with any diagnostics-capable modules that are present. If there are only three
wires, then nothing in the car is diagnostics-capable.. Please see
these Application Charts
where you can select your model and see which modules can communicate
with VCDS. Also see the Issues page for a few things that may not work as
expected. If in doubt,
e-mail us.
1.2
Will VCDS work even if my car is "chipped"?
Yes. If it doesn't work in a "chipped" car, the chip-vendor did
something seriously wrong! Chips from reputable vendors do not interfere
with diagnostic functions so if the factory scan tools can "talk" to the
ECU, then VCDS should be able to as well.
1.3 What functions are included in
the current release?
Please see the Function
Chart for the current feature set. We strive to keep VCDS
updated to work with the latest vehicles and functions. The objective is
to allow users to perform the same diagnostic functions that are
performed by the VW/Audi factory scan tools, using instructions found in
the factory repair manuals.
1.4 What are the computer requirements?
VCDS requires a computer running Microsoft Windows (the HEX-NET can be used with VCDS-Mobile on other platforms but that use is still in beta testing).
A Laptop is most convenient but a desktop PC can also be used.
We recommend a PC running Windows 7, 8.1, or 10 with at least 2GB of RAM (single-core Atom™-class processors are no longer recommended).
Screen resolution of at least 800x600 is recommended.
If you are using a power supply for a laptop, it should be one specifically designed for that purpose, NOT a "universal" adapter.
Systems running Windows in a virtualized environment (for example Virtual PC on a Mac) are not supported. See also Question 1.8.
1.5
Should I get a Serial or a USB interface?
This depends primarily on the PC
you're planning to use:
If you're using a modern PC running
Windows XP or newer, then you should probably get a USB interface. Although USB interfaces are no faster than
serial versions, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find new PCs with serial ports, so a USB interface is more
future-proof.
If you're using a PC running an
older version of Windows or with a CPU speed of less than 1GHz, we
recommend a Serial interface. Obviously a serial interface
requires a Serial Port
which looks like this:
 
Observe the port we surrounded with
the GREEN
oval. Notice the 9 male pins? That's a Serial port. Observe the port circled and crossed in
RED.
Notice the 15 female pins? That is a Monitor port and will not work!
Many generic USB<->Serial converters are
unable to handle the baud rate and timing requirements that are
demanded by some control modules using the VAG protocols. If you
wish to use a USB<->Serial converter, we recommend that you get one with
an FT232B or FT232R chipset.
It is essential to configure the virtual COM port that it creates to be
in the range of COM1 to COM4, and to set the Latency timer to 2.
See this screen-shot as a guide
to configuring these devices. Please understand, this is a
recommendation only; if you purchase your own USB<->Serial converter,
please do not expect us to support it.
For registered users with HEX-COM or HEX-COM+CAN interfaces,
we can supply a modified FT232B based
USB<->Serial converter, which is
compatible with the "Direct" drivers provided
with VCDS version 10.6 and newer, and is fully
supported by us. Once "married" to your
interface, these converters provide the exact
same functionality as our HEX-USB or HEX-USB+CAN
interfaces. However, this "marriage" requires a
revised license to be loaded in the interface,
so the initial installation is not just
plug-an-play. This makes us reluctant to put
them in our web-store. If you are registered user with
a HEX-COM or HEX-COM+CAN interface and no longer
have a PC with a serial port, please
contact our Sales
Department.
1.6 What if the PC I wish to use with VCDS doesn't
have Internet access?
Except for the Pro-Kit,
our software is provided to you via our download
page, rather than a disk, so you will need a way to
transfer the Self-Installing EXE file
to the PC that you will be using with VCDS. The file fits easily on a
removable USB drive and can also be burned onto a CD-R or CD-RW. Make
sure that you do not run the EXE file until you have copied it onto
the PC where you would like VCDS to be installed. Since software
updates are provided only through our website, you should plan on
repeating this transfer process to keep current. You do not need to be
connected to the Internet while using VCDS.
1.7
Can I use VCDS on a desktop computer?
Yes, but you
will probably need an extension cable for your interface if the PC
is more than 6 feet from the car's diagnostic port..
We stock
Serial extension cables 15' (3m) length. You can extend a Serial
interface up to 50'. See the Accessories
section of our Store for pricing.
We stock a
16-ft Active USB Extension.
You can extend a USB interface up to 32' with two of these.
We do not sell or support any other brands or models of USB
extensions. If you have problems with a different brand of USB extension, the first thing
we're going to tell you is to eliminate the extension.
1.8 Will
there be a Mac or Linux version?
There will be no "native" Mac or Linux versions. The time and effort
required to "port" VCDS to these platforms would
never be worthwhile. VCDS works fine on Apple
Mac computers that have Intel processors (all modern Macs) when Windows
is installed on them using
Boot Camp.
Most computers that are used to run Linux can also boot Windows.
If you do not wish to install Windows, we now offer a
platform-independent version of VCDS called "VCDS-Mobile".
1.9 Will there be a
version for iPhone/iPad, Android, Blackberry, or Windows Phone?
We have no plans to make
a native "Application" for any of these platforms. Instead,
we are have created a platform-indendent version of VCDS called
"VCDS-Mobile". It can be used on modern versions of any of
the above smart-phones and tablets.
1.10 What's the difference between VCDS and an OBD-II Scan-Tool?
OBD-II is a government mandated diagnostic protocol that is primarily
aimed at diagnosing emissions-related problems. An OBD-II
scan tool will work in many different brands of cars. VCDS uses
VW's proprietary diagnostic protocol and is only designed and supported
for use in VW/Audi vehicles. Although you can use an OBD-II Scan Tool in an OBD-II
compliant (1996 or newer) VW or Audi, an OBD-II Scan Tool can only talk
to the engine, not the numerous other "intelligent" systems in
the car. Want to reprogram your central locks or your
Radio? Diagnose a problem with your ABS, Airbags, or Automatic
Transmission? Re-align your Immobilizer after swapping
ECU's? Reset your Service Reminder Indicators?
Communicate with a pre-1996 model (not OBD-II compliant) car? An
OBD-II Scan-Tool can't do any of these things. Please see our
OBD-II Page for information on
using the Generic OBD-II function in VCDS. Want some reasons to
choose VCDS
over a generic OBD-II scan tool? See this
Real World Comparison.
1.11 Can I use VCDS to roll back my electronic odometer?
No.
VCDS cannot be used to change odometer readings, with one exception:
The odometer reading on a brand new instrument cluster (with less than
100 km / 62 miles on it) can be increased, one time only. Of course, this assumes that the
instrument cluster is new enough cluster to be "diagnostics capable";
as a general rule most 1998 and newer instrument clusters are.
1.12 Can I use VCDS to "Flash" the chip in my ECU?
No, we have
investigated flashing, but found that there are several different
methods of encryption for various VW/Audi vehicles, as well as delicate
licensing issues to overcome. Therefore, we do not intend to pursue
flashing any further at this time. You cannot alter boost, timing,
fueling, rev limiter, or speed limiter with VCDS. You should contact
a chiptuner if you wish to have those parameters altered.
1.13 Is there anything else I need to make full
use of VCDS?
Yes.
A good Repair Manual containing the the "Native"
Scan-Tool procedures for your car. VCDS is a tool, not an
on-line service manual. We could not possibly document everything you
can do with it in every year and model of VW/Audi that VCDS can be
used with.
In the USA, VW/Audi provides
online fee-based factory repair information through the
following sites:
Volkswagen:
erwin.vw.com
Audi:
erwin.audiusa.com
Since the above
sources of repair information only applies to US/Canadian vehicles, if your car is
European-spec or from the rest of the World, they may be of little use
to you.
For Rest-of-World VW,
Audi, and SEAT manuals, check
erwin-portal.com
For Rest-of-World
Skoda manuals, check
erwin.skoda-auto.cz
1.14 What versions
of Windows does VCDS work on?
Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 are considered "supported".
VCDS will probably still work on Windows XP and Vista, but we are no longer testing
it on these outdated versions. Windows versions older than XP
(95, 98, ME, NT4, or 2000) almost certainly won't work.
1.15 Will VCDS work on
Windows 10?
Yes, all current versions
of VCDS and VCDS-Lite are fully compatible with Windows 10.
If you're using an old version of VCDS or VCDS-Lite that isn't, please update.
1.16 Will VCDS work on Microsoft Surface tablets?
There are two versions of
these tablets, "Surface" and "Surface Pro". The regular
"Surface" tablets are based on
ARM
CPUs running "Windows
RT" and have no compatibility with normal Windows
"Desktop" programs.
The regular Windows-based version VCDS will not
work on these, but
VCDS-Mobile does. The "Surface Pro" tablets
use Intel CPUs and
Windows 8 Pro, and
VCDS will works fine on them.
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