Vcds??

Connorg115

Active Member
Aug 29, 2017
397
66
United Kingdom
Hey guys what’s the cheapest/ easiest way to get VCDS, I’ve seen that VCDS lite but is that free?

Also do the cheap eBay cables work?

Don’t really wanna spend much money on it tbh!

Also do you know of any video guides to help a complete noob like myself?

Thanks guys and gals
 

Muttley

Catch that diesel!
Mar 17, 2006
4,987
31
North Kent
You should ask in the VCDS section, really. When I got mine, I got a cable from an approved supplier and downloaded VCDS from Ross-Tech, which allowed me to look at some parameters but not make any changes (as far as I remember). I then paid a registration fee to Ross-Tech which gave me VCDS-Lite, which allowed me to make changes to some parameters, enough for what I needed to do on my old Mk.2 Toledo, which is not a CANBUS car. To work on CANBUS (as on my current Altea) would need full VCDS.

However, I think the available options are different now, and I've not checked them out properly yet.
 

Connorg115

Active Member
Aug 29, 2017
397
66
United Kingdom
You should ask in the VCDS section, really. When I got mine, I got a cable from an approved supplier and downloaded VCDS from Ross-Tech, which allowed me to look at some parameters but not make any changes (as far as I remember). I then paid a registration fee to Ross-Tech which gave me VCDS-Lite, which allowed me to make changes to some parameters, enough for what I needed to do on my old Mk.2 Toledo, which is not a CANBUS car. To work on CANBUS (as on my current Altea) would need full VCDS.

However, I think the available options are different now, and I've not checked them out properly yet.



Apologies I wasn’t aware there was a VCDS section haha

How much did the registration fee cost you? If you don’t mind me asking
 

chriswales6

Active Member
Mar 2, 2016
294
47
I got VCDS lite working for £10, using an old windows 7 laptop and a cheap cable from Amazon.

Used it a couple of years ago to enable the cruise control stalk I fitted. That was with the free version of VCDS lite. I could also read fault codes and have nose around at things like the coolant, air inlet and fuel temperature.

I then wanted to check/adjust my TDI fuel pump timing, this can’t be done with the free version of VCDS lite. So I sourced a suitable version of VCDS lite and sorted out my cold start problem.
 
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