VW -diagnostic scanner for Mark 4

[Twentyfour7]

Hi All

I have a few electronic faults on my old MK4 1998 Golf. Is it right only the dealers who service VW cars hold the genuine diagnostic scanners ?
I am having an issue with the central locking and immobilser in particular and would like to check for other coding errors . I am in London so looking for best place to go to have a genuine check performed

Thanks for any advice

[Warby80]

VCDS can do pretty much every you could possible need to do on the generation of VW including full fault code scan and module coding etc, and is free to download/use if you pick up a cheap OBD lead (Cheap leads can be a little hit and miss but if you are only using it once/twice then its probably worth the risk if you can find one with good reviews).

https://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/VCDS.php

The full version of VCDS including the cable is significantly more expensive but is worth it if you have multiple/newer VAG cars as with the updates it will work even on all the newest stuff.

https://www.gendan.co.uk/vcds-hex-v2.php?gad_sourc...

It is a must own in my opinion for anyone owning older VAG cars as it makes home diagnostics so much easier, and cheaper!

[Twentyfour7]

Warby
This looks very interesting but I don't think the Ross Tech would work on my car as it is an S Reg (pre 2000) - ie year 1998

[TooLateForAName]

Twentyfour7 said:

Warby
This looks very interesting but I don't think the Ross Tech would work on my car as it is an S Reg (pre 2000) - ie year 1998

vcds will work. Your car is just pre-canbus so you need an interface that supports K line. Genuine interface specs are available on the vcds site https://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/old-interfaces/d...

On a 1998 car you might find that the really simple interfaces wor with the free version of the software.

I certainly used vag-com (as it was then called) with R plate audi a4 and vw passat. think I had the hex-com interface/


On cars of that generation the pump on the central locking used to fail and the coil for the imobiliser chip reader also failed.