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What is CAN and why is it important? 

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. 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.

What Cars Use CAN for Diagnostics?   (Click on the links of info on each vehicle)

•  All Golf-5 platform cars (A5 platform) including:

  • 2003+ VW Touran (1T chassis)

  • 2004+ VW Golf/Rabbit/GTI (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/GLI (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)

• 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)

• 2009+ Seat Exeo (3R chassis)

• 2010+ Skoda Yeti (5L chassis)

• 2010+ Audi A3 (8P chassis, FM VIN - North America only)

• 2010+ Audi A4/S4 (8K chassis, FL VIN - North America only)

• 2010+ Audi A5/S5 (8T chassis,  FR VIN - North America only)

• 2010+ Audi A5/S5 Cabriolet (8F chassis, FH VIN - North America only)

• 2010+ Audi A6/S6 (4F chassis, FB VIN - North America only)

• 2010+ Audi A8/S8 (4E chassis, FA VIN - North America only)

• 2010+ Audi Q5 (8R chassis, FP VIN - North America only)

• 2010+ Audi Q7 (4L chassis, FE VIN - North America only)

• 2010+ Audi R8 (42 chassis, FG VIN - North America only)

• 2010+ Audi TT (8J chassis, FK VIN - North America only)

• 2010+ VW Eos (1F chassis, AH VIN - North America only)

• 2010+ VW Golf/Jetta (1K/5K chassis, AJ VIN - North America only)

• 2010+ VW Passat/CC (35/3C chassis, AN VIN - North America only)

• 2010+ VW Tiguan (5N chassis, AX VIN - North America only)

• 2010+ VW Touareg (7L chassis, A9 VIN - North America only)

 Does VAG-COM work with cars that require direct CAN access for diagnostics?

Yes!  We have integrated CAN compatibility since the Release 404.0 version of VAG-COM, but obviously, an interface capable of communicating via CAN is required.   The professional HEX+CAN series as well as our our new Micro-CAN interfaces have are capable of communicating via CAN.

Do the CAN-Bus Interfaces also work with older vehicles that use the k-line?

Yes!  The professional HEX+CAN series interfaces are fully backwards compatible with older vehicles that use either single or dual K-lines as well, so they work with all VW/Audi/SEAT/Skoda from 1996-2008.    

However, our low-cost Micro-CAN interfaces are not backwards compatible with older cars.

I am an existing Ross-Tech customer. Can I upgrade my Interface to work with the vehicles using CAN-Bus diagnostics?

Yes!  Please click here for the Interface Upgrade Section of our Store.

I am not a Ross-Tech customer. How do I buy an Interface and software to work with the vehicles using CAN-Bus diagnostics?

• See our Interfaces Page to learn more about our different hardware.

• Click here to purchase a VAG-COM system in our Store.

A 1K Chassis Golf-5 connected to VAG-COM using a
prototype HEX-USB+CAN Interface -- February 2004

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