VW/Audi Wrenching Attempts

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joyRidaz

joyRidaz

10 Year
Joined
Mar 11, 2013
Threads
57
Messages
1,170
I was wondering if anyone local has a vagcom code reader for a vw/audi?

I'm keenly aware this is a landcruiser forum, but I'm not looped in on any vw/audi forums or clubs.

My odb2 code reader can't get a deep enough reading to whatever is plaguing my over-engineered daily driver.

I keep fixing stuff to get this thing back to daily driving status but just can't seem to get it reliable again.

The good news is now I have it to where it starts and runs. Sometimes it stalls after idling a bit or while on the road or stop lights. Kinda scary! Previous to some of the attempts below, it wasn't starting very well.

Recent attempts/"fixes":
- new fuel filter
- new battery
- new engine speed/crank sensor
- new mass airflow sensor
- new fan control relay

A few month back:
- new coolant temperature sensor
- new coolant flange
- new valve cover gasket

I previously was trying to avoid the stealership service center, but I'm close to giving up and paying for a two minute $100 diagnosis for a vagcom reading.

I'm thinking I need a new fuel pump, but it's expensive and a messy diy, and need to confirm diagnosis before doing that.

Any help appreciated. I think the vagcom is basically a USB to odb cable that plugs into the laptop with some vagcom software to read the codes and output.
 
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Plan B: I guess I should ask if anyone has a good independent vw/audi specialist?

My car is fairly modified and the dealerships seem to blame that as the root of all evil as opposed to faulty plastic stock parts that actually are broken.
 
I am in Matthews, I have a RossTech Cable somewhere for VCDS, I think is 2005-current. Dont have my laptop with me with the software but if you have a laptop, you can download it for free from RossTech, they only charge for the cable. Email me direct if you want to borrow it to izzyandsue@yahoo.com, we just got back from vacation so running around.
 
Awesome! Let me start to download the software etc, and also investigate if this will work on a 2003.

I'll hit you up to coordinate, nothing urgent, since I've made my 60 my daily driver for the time being.., kinda fun!
 
image.webp
This is the version I have
 
What 2003 over-engineered daily do you have @joyRidaz and what motor does it have ? Laura has a 1.8t MK4 Jetta and @lt1fire has a TDI MK4 Jetta. There are some german enthusiasts here as well.
 
It's a 2003 Audi A4 1.8t Quattro, has a stage 1+ chip and a cat back apr stealth exhaust. Only in the mid 93k range for miles.

It's been a lot of fun, but recently has been playing the role of a fancy paperweight.

I'm down to a couple theories, either the fuel pump or fuel pump relay is getting old and cutting out intermittently, or maybe one of the valves is stuck open (pcv, diverter etc)

Having trouble starting it once hot, after driven a bit. And also has been stalling randomly even while driving.

@Izzyandsue - I'm still researching, but I think my car is 1 or 2 yrs too old to be compatible with your cable. Still trying to understand the ross tech compatibility chart.
 
Sounds like an old '78 Scirocco my wife had in College (Senior year 1985), we called it the s***rocco. Fuel pressure would drop and can only be turned on once a day. Fuel pump and injectors problems, not ignition.
 
izzyandsue said:
Sounds like an old '78 Scirocco my wife had in College (Senior year 1985), we called it the s***rocco. Fuel pressure would drop and can only be turned on once a day. Fuel pump and injectors problems, not ignition.
Click to expand...
HiJack: I had a buddy in college who LOVED his s***rocco. It also had the "It only starts like once per day" issue, but he loved it nonetheless. It met a strange demise; it caught fire one evening after he went to bed and burnt to the ground. HiJack over.
 
I'm very confident it will once again be roadworthy for many many more miles, the previous owner is a close friend and a big time car-guy who cared for it dearly.

With that said, the DIY route is made very difficult intentionally. Seems like every project require some bizarre tool that can only be had for a pretty penny.

Once I figure out the root cause I'm feeling confident I can fix it up, hopefully to get her back on the road for a long time.

I probably sounded too negative earlier, just was a bit frustrated. I really do love this car. It handles great and highway entrance/exit ramps are fun since it grips and the turbo lag never disappoints...

Now back to cruisers...
 
This is the official sub VW thread now, heck with it. Ross-Tech has the MKIV cable for $250, and they claim is different from the one I have. But it was worth the money for me to make all the changes to the car. This is my second GTI, first was a pretty much track car, I fooled with a lot of code, aftermarket stop fast/go fast, sway bars, harness, etc. It was a 2008 (mk5) and I had that puppy within 2 seconds of my fastest lap on an E46 M3 dedicated track car. They are an absolute blast to drive fast and I found easy to work on. Worse thing was the FSI engine thermostat, long day but doable. I did most of my work, don't have place I would recommend to take it. I use VW South, mainly due to business to business deals I made there. And APR is a great company to work with as a consumer. Got to love the 100 octane program on track days.

Is it throwing any codes? The 1.8 was the predecessor to the 2.0 FSI, just a tad smaller if I recollect. Hope it shows something.
 
@joyRidaz
Give Duncan at Touring Car (Matthews) a call and see if they're willing to look into it. They specialize in German stuff and do lots of race prep. Tell him Sarah and I sent you. I think they have a guy who specializes in Audi, but they're more into Porsche and BMW.

http://www.touringcarinc.com/contact.php
 
That's right John, forgot about them, not far from my house. They used to have Wednesday night open bays, bring your car to work on, bring libations, etc. BMWs mostly.
 
I have a shop here in Raleigh that did a headgasket for my MKII 1.6 diesel that I'd trust to do work on any german vehicle, http://www.westgerman.com/.

I've been able to do all of the maintenance necessary on my MKIV with a $15 bluetooth OBDII reader hooked up to torque on my phone. What's the fuss with these fancy diagnostic connectors?
 
It sounds like the vag-com cables coupled with the free vcds software from rosstech, provide codes that the odb2 readers don't. Which is kinda where I'm at, my odb2 reader isn't finding any codes, even after stalls etc.

Figured I'd see if there are some mysterious findings somewhere in there.

Apparently with the cable/software you can make key-fob customizations to open windows etc.

This kinda reminds me of the lux features of my 60, I can automatically leave my lights without remembering, or keep my doors unlocked etc.
 
If your CEL is not on, then I doubt you'd find any codes with any kind of reader. If you do, then I'll buy a vag-com cable right away.
 
Depending your your intestinal fortitude, you can reprogram the whole car with the Ross-Tech. If all you need is the code reader, then yeah, too much. But the cable allows for not only customization of features, but really getting into the ECU and changing a lot of parameters, more for performance driving I guess. The main thing to do is to print the current settings so you can always go back and un-fubar whatever you do. You can also turn features on and off that a dealer would tell you are impossible to do. Some dealers would charge $75 to do minor changes, so the cable for me paid for itself, and I have used in over a dozen vehicles. But only MK5-6 so far.
 
@JohnVee there is a place on Monroe right by your shop that could read it. It was the only shop in all of charlotte that could read my boss's defender 110 that had the 5.0 ltr BMW diesel in it they were also able to get unobtainium parts for that motor. Blue colored building im remembering
 
lt1fire said:
@JohnVee there is a place on Monroe right by your shop that could read it. It was the only shop in all of charlotte that could read my boss's defender 110 that had the 5.0 ltr BMW diesel in it they were also able to get unobtainium parts for that motor. Blue colored building im remembering
Click to expand...
You mean Import Connection at Sharon Amity/Monroe Rd? It's near the cemetery, but it's not blue. Probably the largest import shop on our side of town. There's also 2 places tucked away closer to me - one on each side of Wendover at Monroe Rd (on my side of the street)- that have signs indicating German stuff. I never payed attention to them. I'll look for the blue building and try to get the other names today. There are 2 blue buildings that I know of - tire shop and brake shop.
 
@lt1fire Could it be a purple building? There's a place with a BMW sign behind the purple Grateful Pets building. "Something Something" Experts... If @joyriddaz gets bored maybe he can search fu it or call GP and ask the name. I forgot it in the 40 seconds it took to pass it and get to my place.

Google Map 3735 Monroe Rd 28205 and see if you can read the sign. Street view.

I'll look again when I leave to try to find the other place - it's got a Mercedes star on the sign.


...via IH8MUD app
 
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