Vag-com is it worth it?

I keep thinking about getting a vag-com lead to use on my mk4 tdi with a PD engine, but is it worth getting the free version? or can i do sweet fa with it? my main reason is that my cruise control doesn't work and it stopped working when the last owner had it and the eng light came on, he turned the car off and back on again and its never happened since but id like the cruse control to work as its the only thing that doesn't

also if it worth getting a lead where's best to get one from? pref somewhere within the UK, and even better if its somewhere like maplins,

 

i have the free version, got my lead off eBay.

its ok for reading and erasing some codes, and for 15 quid which is what i paid it tells you whats wrong before taking it to your garage . (helps if a garage tries to have your pants down.

I recently fitted some new springs to my car , the abs light came on. Plugged in the lead, it directed me to the connector i had disturbed. saved a load of time going through them all . Great easy product to use.

I am lucky having access to proper diagnostic equipment at work. so wont neeed to buy the full licenced version.

 

any idea if it will help me with my cruise control fault code?

 

I have it and wouldn't like to be without it. My lead was off someone called Mediasave off e-bay.

 

god.. i dont know how i lived without it

without it, to find a fault youd have to trace all the wiring in the loom to check for any breaks. then measure the votlage at each connector to check that was ok

then measure each sensor etc to see if that was ok

... or just plug a lappy on.

plug you can do stuff like log data

 

And look at the vag scope graphs. They look great even if you don't know what they mean.

 

Right finally ordered one off the bay, whats the best free software I can use for it and where can I get????

 

You can get it straight from http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/download/.

 

Ta muchly!

 

do you ever look at yours whilst driving, shout 'danger to the manifold?', then slam the laptop shut? lol

 

fast and furious

 

If it's not a 'proper' Ross Tech cable you'll have to use the old version of the software.

 

I used to do it all the time in my mk2 VR6. I got some great looking graphs but **** knows what they were all about

 

I have the professional lead, & program it works fine

cruise control can be inop from clutch, or brake switch fault- easy to diagnose with VAG com- check engine FAQ for vagcom users

 

right ill take the plunge, point me in the right direction for a lead etc to get me up and going, as i want me cruse control working and it may even help me sort out my low fuel ecconomy since the head gasket change.

 

It 15 its more a trip than a plunge.

 

great software and very useful! use it every week to check my seat babies!

 

Alright well ive taken the trip and ordered one from medisave on ebay as it was USB one and they are UK based. should be here soon so i can start palying and see if i can cure my cruse control and poss my poor economy.

 

Right I've got my lead and it works, how do I unlock the ross-tech software for full functionality. Luckily today my birds epc light came on on her Polo GTi and I can't actually find out whats caused it coz I need to activate my software???

 

Found out why my ABS light was on with it.

Found out why it was cutting out with it.

It's loverly.