obd software

[Toddkenyon]

I am looking to purchase a cable and software for my vehicles. I have a Jeep, Chevy Tahoe, and the 04 passat. It looks like vcds/vag com is VW/Audi specific while elmscan5 with obdwiz is not. I do not need the full version of vcds. I only want to check and remove codes. No reprogramming, or tuning is desired. Can anyone describe what I may or may not be missing out on?
Thanks!
T

[Steve in Chicago]

I do not need the full version of vcds. I only want to check and remove codes. No reprogramming, or tuning is desired.

An entry-level generic OBDII scanner should be able to get trouble codes from the engine computer and clear them on all those cars (depending on the year). More advanced scanners (more expensive) can provide more information (emissions readyness status, live data reads). VCDS can also talk to all the other computers in your VW/Audi, provide live reads of engine data, show readyness codes, recode some module settings and operate in a generic OBDII mode to scan some other cars.

My 94 Jeep didn't have an OBDII port (too old) but my 2000 does. My VCDS is able to scan some other makes/models in generic OBDII mode, but not all. Even though OBDII is a standard, there are several protocols used and VCDS is not compatible with all of them. For instance, my VCDS in generic mode won't scan my buddies older OBDII equipped Chevy Suburban but my cheepo $60 generic scanner will.

[forcedfx]

If you have an android device the Torque Pro app is pretty cool. Though I have found it is unable to pull pending error codes from an 00 Passat that the VCDS software can pull. It shows sensor readings, MIL codes, readiness status, etc.

[godsspeed]

Isnt there a Vagcom lite (or something like that) that is free to download?

[Toddkenyon]

I looked up that torqe pro app. Looks really cool, and easy to use. Would the bluetooth "dongle" also work to run vcds light, or does it have to be the 409kk cable? Hmm.... off to read up at Ross tech.

[forcedfx]

No it won't run that way to my knowledge. However the developer is actively working on a vag com interface for the software.