Those cheapy code scanners on Ebay, anygood?

[Lewo]

Such as something like this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Konnwei-KW809-Car-Diagnostic-Scanner-CAN-OBD2-Code-Reader-Tool-VW-Audi-VS-VAG405-/221638141140?hash=item339aa9a4d4:g:GZwAAOSwBLlVAQsp

[RetroRaz]

They will give you error codes if any but wont be able to go into modules to program things. if that's what you're after then save up for a vcds cable. If you just want to read faults then this one's ok

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[slix]

I have one of those cheap scanners that I keep in the car in case of emergency. For example if a coil pack or plug goes you can tell which cylinder it is. But you have to Google the codes so takes a bit of work. And it doesn't clear all codes, also not all things are scanned, mainly engine gearbox and abs.


I have VCDS too for the bigger things.

[4ndy]

Have a look at this one  https://www.gendan.co.uk/product_FXNT200.html  bit more expensive

[r5gtt]

Vcds all the way 

[Ricky123]

Code readers are OK for engine management lights only. They won't come up with anything unless your management light is on. You'll also have to search google with the error code to get an answer to what it is most of the time.

The cheap eBay Delphi diagnostic kits you can get on eBay are ok for engine management lights, airbags, abs, electronic handbrake caliper rewind and a couple of other bits but won't let you access and modify like vcds.

[Lewo]

Guessing that a VCDS is a fair bit of dosh?

[slix]

Code readers are OK for engine management lights only. They won't come up with anything unless your management light is on. You'll also have to search google with the error code to get an answer to what it is most of the time.

The cheap eBay Delphi diagnostic kits you can get on eBay are ok for engine management lights, airbags, abs, electronic handbrake caliper rewind and a couple of other bits but won't let you access and modify like vcds.

Not true. My handheld comes up with my gearbox code with no dash lights on.

And in the past detected a evap code fault too.

[Lewo]

Which one have you got slix?
Just seen how much the 'proper' ones are and £300ish is more than what I need it for, at the moment anyway and can't justify the expense.
Sometime soonish I need to take the driver seat out to get repaired/replaced so will need to be able to do the airbag code and maybe the seatbelt code the other day the seat belt warning came up for a few seconds but not appeared since.

[slix]

Which one have you got slix?
Just seen how much the 'proper' ones are and £300ish is more than what I need it for, at the moment anyway and can't justify the expense.
Sometime soonish I need to take the driver seat out to get repaired/replaced so will need to be able to do the airbag code and maybe the seatbelt code the other day the seat belt warning came up for a few seconds but not appeared since.

It's was only about £15 I think, it's orange if that helps lol.

[Ricky123]

Code readers are OK for engine management lights only. They won't come up with anything unless your management light is on. You'll also have to search google with the error code to get an answer to what it is most of the time.

The cheap eBay Delphi diagnostic kits you can get on eBay are ok for engine management lights, airbags, abs, electronic handbrake caliper rewind and a couple of other bits but won't let you access and modify like vcds.

Not true. My handheld comes up with my gearbox code with no dash lights on.

And in the past detected a evap code fault too.

Which one do you have?? I've owned and used a lot of different cheap ones and they have never brought up any faults unless the engine light was on, that's not just on vag cars too.

[Ricky123]

Which one have you got slix?
Just seen how much the 'proper' ones are and £300ish is more than what I need it for, at the moment anyway and can't justify the expense.
Sometime soonish I need to take the driver seat out to get repaired/replaced so will need to be able to do the airbag code and maybe the seatbelt code the other day the seat belt warning came up for a few seconds but not appeared since.

If you disconnect your battery prior to removing the seat and leave it disconnected until you reinstall the seat then you shouldn't have any errors.

[Dan_77]

The cheap readesr can be a bit or miss to be honest I had a couple of cheaper ones that got returned ending up getting a more expensive one and had it for a few years and used it countless times on a multitude of different car brands and its always been spot on. http://www.lasertools.co.uk/product/5091

vcds is good if your only ever going to have a vw etc , im sure if you just need to check a code there will be someone on here local to you who would help out, it only takes 5 minutes to check

[Lewo]

Which one have you got slix?
Just seen how much the 'proper' ones are and £300ish is more than what I need it for, at the moment anyway and can't justify the expense.
Sometime soonish I need to take the driver seat out to get repaired/replaced so will need to be able to do the airbag code and maybe the seatbelt code the other day the seat belt warning came up for a few seconds but not appeared since.

It depends, if i get the seat repaired it will be away for a few days so don't want to leave battery disconnected for that long but if I managed to find another drivers seat cheaply then I'll try that trick.

Off to look for a £15 orange reader on Ebay 

If you disconnect your battery prior to removing the seat and leave it disconnected until you reinstall the seat then you shouldn't have any errors.

[Ricky123]

You'll be fine leaving the battery off for a few days.. I left the battery of my last mk5 for well over a month while it was having work done and had no issues. The radio won't lose its code or anything like that.