Ross-Tech VCSD on 64 plate Golf

[bubz00]

Afternoon,

New to the forums.

I've spent some time searching and gathering what information I can on this but looking to get some more relevant feedback from the forums. My other half and I currently share a 64 plate Golf GT 1.4 TSI and it is needing rear pads and discs. I've always done this sort of work on my own but have learnt that the VCSD is required to retract the electronic handbrake *hmph*.

I'm trying to weigh up sending it to a local VW garage to have the labour done (£100) vs buying the Ross-tech 3 vin cable. I'm weary on how many times I will actually use this cable aside from some toying around (gauge sweep etc). Girlfriend says she will keep the car for at least a few years and even then will most likely swap for another VAG car. I suppose two sets of rear pads would almost pay for the cable but...

I am also on the fence whether or not to buy BM or Audio this coming summer - if Audi this would make the cable more beneficial I imagine?

What can this cable really do for us home mechanics aside from read/clear codes and retract a hand brake +/- the toying about?

Would greatly appreciate any feedback from other people in similar position to me.

Cheers

[Drive Blind]

Even if you don't end up using it much they hold on to their value well, the genuine ross tech ones.

I bought a genuine ross tech vcds cable 5 years ago. Think it was £250. Going by posts I see on forums and ebay they still fetch £200+

Last 3 cars have been diesels so vcds used to prime the fuel system after the diesel filter has been changed.

.

[AJB88]

Not sure if it does brake releases but OBD Eleven can do a lot of stuff that VCDS can, might be worth looking at that first. £50 vice £250.

[Emanresu]

AJB88 said:

Not sure if it does brake releases but OBD Eleven can do a lot of stuff that VCDS can, might be worth looking at that first. £50 vice £250.

OBD II(2, not eleven). And that is just for basic diagnostics, not programming.

You can change the brakes by removing the motor and winding back manually. Computer isn’t necessary. Makes things easier though and makes you feel like a mechanical god

[AJB88]

Emanresu said:

OBD II(2, not eleven). And that is just for basic diagnostics, not programming.

You can change the brakes by removing the motor and winding back manually. Computer isn’t necessary. Makes things easier though and makes you feel like a mechanical god

not for programming? so why did I long code stuff using the OBD Eleven app on my MK2 Leon Cupra R and MK3 Leon Cupra 280.

And... yes... it is called OBD Eleven, even their own website says its called that.

https://obdeleven.com/en/

[A900ss]

OBD Eleven (yes it is Eleven) can release the handbrake for changing pads.

You’ll need an android phone/tablet and the dongle.

You can go to the android play store and download the app to see what else it can do on your car (of course you can always long code it if it isn’t one of the apps) for free before you buy the hardware.

Good luck

Edited by A900ss on Sunday 6th January 20:08

[AJB88]

Really decent tool, I sold mine as it doesn't work on my MK2 Golf (with MK3 ECU) or my Porsche

[bubz00]

Great advice on the OBDeleven tool, looks the tits! GF carries an Android so no worries there and for the £40 delivered seems worth a punt.

Re: manual effort on the caliper, I saw this on youtube and was going to be my initial approach to the job but I just don't like the idea of opening up the 'sealed' unit in Glasgow weather. F*&% knows what moisture/rain will do to the mechanism inside. Unfortunately I don't have a garage to do the work in just yet.

Thanks all very much for the advice.

[AJB88]

I'd ignore the manual advice above, I mean his OBD Eleven argument was shot down in seconds.

Do it how its intended to be done before you end up having to buy new parts due to damage.

[Maccles]

I've had loads of DIY use out of my RossTech VCDS, it has been well worth the money. I've used mine to:
- Change the service reminder to every 10k (I like to change my oil every 10k)
- Tell the car when it's been DIY serviced (every 10k)
- Calibrate the speedo to make it accurate
- Reprogram the ECU to run cruise control when I bought and fitted an OEM cruise control stalk
- Reprogram the car when I updated the stereo to an OEM one with DAB
- Diagnose faults when the engine threw a code / warning light. I've found that having the fault codes and searching the web always gives me a far more accurate diagnosis than a local garage can provide. This has saved me thousands.

[Murph7355]

AJB88 said:

Not sure if it does brake releases but OBD Eleven can do a lot of stuff that VCDS can, might be worth looking at that first. £50 vice £250.

This.

Nice bit of kit/software.

[GVK]

Another shout for OBD 11 (eleven) handy tool providing you have an Android device to use.

How to vid here on Golf 7 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFod6KI8Zks

I have the pro version, not sure if the cheaper one will do the same stuff.

Edited by GVK on Friday 8th February 00:12

[rottenegg]

OBDEleven being cloud based, does that mean it has to connect to their servers before it can do anything? It does look great for the money, but being Android only, it cuts out half the market, which is a strange business strategy, imo.

I still prefer VCDS but I cannot recommend their HEX-NET. The mobile 'app' (just a browser pointing to 192.168.0.1) is absolutely awful and the Hex-net device is clunky and fickle. Stick to their cheapest USB cable option, but be mindful every car you connect it to will consume a license if you do anything other than basic fault code reading.

What VCDS is best at is data logging up to 12 measuring blocks for as long as you like. The output of which you can feed into Excel or Power BI et al to make some pretty graphs. With direct injection engines, it's invaluable.

[SHutchinson]

I'm a tight git, when I did my rear pads on my S5 I used a 12v battery wired to the terminals of the handbrake motor to wind them back.

But, I'd quite like a copy of VCDS.

[AJB88]

rottenegg said:

OBDEleven being cloud based, does that mean it has to connect to their servers before it can do anything? It does look great for the money, but being Android only, it cuts out half the market, which is a strange business strategy, imo.

I still prefer VCDS but I cannot recommend their HEX-NET. The mobile 'app' (just a browser pointing to 192.168.0.1) is absolutely awful and the Hex-net device is clunky and fickle. Stick to their cheapest USB cable option, but be mindful every car you connect it to will consume a license if you do anything other than basic fault code reading.

What VCDS is best at is data logging up to 12 measuring blocks for as long as you like. The output of which you can feed into Excel or Power BI et al to make some pretty graphs. With direct injection engines, it's invaluable.

Not sure of the "actual" numbers but Apple is less than 50% of the market more like 12% of the world wide Mobile OS market.

You do need some kind of connection for it to work as it logs into an account.

[rottenegg]

AJB88 said:

rottenegg said:

OBDEleven being cloud based, does that mean it has to connect to their servers before it can do anything? It does look great for the money, but being Android only, it cuts out half the market, which is a strange business strategy, imo.

I still prefer VCDS but I cannot recommend their HEX-NET. The mobile 'app' (just a browser pointing to 192.168.0.1) is absolutely awful and the Hex-net device is clunky and fickle. Stick to their cheapest USB cable option, but be mindful every car you connect it to will consume a license if you do anything other than basic fault code reading.

What VCDS is best at is data logging up to 12 measuring blocks for as long as you like. The output of which you can feed into Excel or Power BI et al to make some pretty graphs. With direct injection engines, it's invaluable.

Not sure of the "actual" numbers but Apple is less than 50% of the market more like 12% of the world wide Mobile OS market.

You do need some kind of connection for it to work as it logs into an account.

Possibly. I just googled Android vs iOS market share and found some chart, which indicated 50/50 for 2018. Who knows with the internet.

Thought so, which isn't useful if you break down in a cellular dead spot!

[davebem]

You should use the vw approved method, but all the diags does is wind in the motor for you, you can still do it manually, take the usual precautions, then turn the car off without the handbrake, unbolt the motor assembly from the caliper and gently wind the motor spline all the way in clockwise with a female torx socket, compress the piston, change the pads, refit the motor, pump the pedal, start the car, apply the handbrake, the first time you apply the handbrake it will auto adjust. You can also reset the service lights by holding in the trip reset as you turn the ignition on.