VCDS

[AliGTI]

Evening all. I see loads of posts about using VCDS. I'm somewhat novice when it comes to tampeing with cars. What is VCDS and what can it do for my GTI?

[ROH ECHT]

Does so much...too much to do a write-up.
To condense...it allows you to see data collected and reported to the ECU by all sensors such as boost pressures, low and high fuel pressures, timing pull, intake air mass, lambda and much more...see Groups: http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/m_blocks/. Allows you to adjust some convenience functions. View reported error codes and what might be the cause. Calibrate and adjust things like throttle position, steering assist, headlight aiming, daytime running light configuration, intermediate wiper speeds/delay...etc..
Visit Ross-Tech's site and look there:
http://store.ross-tech.com/shop/cat/VCDS.html
http://www.mkv-gti.net/wiki/index.php/Settings_to_open/close_power_windows/sunroof_with_the_remote
http://www.mkv-gti.net/wiki/index.php/How_to_disable_DRL_with_VAG-COM
http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=167848
http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/VW_Golf_%281K%29_Headlight_Aim_Control_%28Xenon%29

See VCDS/Vag-Com sections of forums: http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/board,17.0.html

[AliGTI]

Right so it pretty much is the software used to program the car you could say? Bloomin heck!! Thank for that :)

[pudding]

Think of it as a monitoring / diagnostic tool as it can only read from the ECU, not write to it.  Well, it can change certain data bits such as the options you've got in the highline MFD (footwell lighting, seatbelt chime, emergency braking flash etc etc) but it can't change any engine parameters.

[jackday1986]

Whats the best things to do on it??

[ROH ECHT]

The best thing to have it for is to collect data from fuel, timing, boost, lambda, wg duty cycle and much more. Plus it will allow you to graph and see the comparison of actual and specified...and read and clear error codes. If not into knowing what is going on with it...pass on owning one for yourself...and just try hooking up with someone that does own one if you feel you need it at some point.
But it is nice to change other functions...which lights you want as running lights, whether to keep fogs on during high beam operation, allow windows up and down with the key FOB, and more.

[CarlW]

This might be daft or it might be very helpful but you can pick up a non-genuine one for £40.. rather than £260ish.. My friend has just got one of these non-genuine ones and he's over the moon with it and it seems to work well from what i've heard off him...

Would this not be worth a try maybe?

Just thought i'd mention it as the guys that know more about these things could tell you the do's and don'ts of why to get one or why not to get one..

[AliGTI]

This might be daft or it might be very helpful but you can pick up a non-genuine one for £40.. rather than £260ish.. My friend has just got one of these non-genuine ones and he's over the moon with it and it seems to work well from what i've heard off him...

Would this not be worth a try maybe?

Just thought i'd mention it as the guys that know more about these things could tell you the do's and don'ts of why to get one or why not to get one..

Where did your friend get this cheaper option from? I fancy having one to "play "with

[CarlW]

i think he sells them on eBay and other forms but i found out through Instagram so if you have that, go follow diagnostic_cables and just message the guy through IG to find out payment details etc. Thats how my mate got his