School me on VAG-COM (VCDS)

NYSpeed Automotive
1

Newer to the VW/Audi world. I could use some help.

Do I buy the expensive Ross-Tech cable and DL software onto my w7p PC, or can I go cheaper?

What I want to do:
-Clear engine maintenance warnings (none yet, but oil will pop up in another 5k)
-fiddle with settings, gauge sweep, notifications on dash, etc.

Consider this thread a general sounding board to help me better understand! The car is out of warranty now (8p a3) and I don’t feel like asking for VCDS favors from the dealer now that it’s not covered. It’s just a hassle and I want to do this myself.

-Paul

2

Get the Ross-tech cable. Anything else youll need to hack to make work etc (at least you used to). Seems like more of an assache than its worth.

Its awesome re-coding. I did my GTI the first week I had it.

I used this thread as a guide, it may or may not be similar for the A3…

http://www.golfmk6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36478

Dan

3

Either borrow or buy the Ross Tech cable then just download the software from their site.

http://www.ross-tech.com/vcds/download/index.php

Your other option for occasional changes is the Carista (ios) or obdeleven (android) apps and a cheap OBD adapter for your phone. A week of “pro” access is $10 on Carista and I haven’t really looked into obdeleven. If you’re going to use it once to tweak things like windows up/down from remote, DRL’s, gauge sweep then basically be done with it that’s a way cheaper option. Carista does do some things for free but I’m not sure if the Audi service reset is one of them. I can reset the service indicator on my CC right from the MFI menu though so I’m guessing you can from the Audi too since they’re basically the same MFI. PM me if you want to stop by some time and try the Carista app on your car. I have the wifi obd adapter that works with Apple devices.

Carista will not allow you to disable TPMS (legal BS). I just bought summer rims so I could leave my snows on the stock 17’s and was too cheap to pay over $100 each for the damn 433mhz sensors the CC uses so I ended up coding TPMS off using VCDS. Not only manged to turn it off but even removed it entirely from the MFI display. It’s pretty cool how deep you can drill down in the computer of VAG cars.

4

I have a FWD 6MT 8P A3, so probably very similar to your car. Appreciate the response and thread link.

I’m IOS so i’ll look into Carista, thanks. I am however eyeing up a VW as my next car, so a Ross-Tech cable may be something that I get some use out of down the line. I’ll keep researching. Not in a huge rush.

Also, I appreciate the offer to stop by, but it’d be a long drive. (in CA now for work :))

Edit: I forgot to add that I cannot reset service reminders in MFI on my car. Needs VCDS/VAG