Diagnostics

[hotshot 0]

I know this is covered all over the place on this site but trying to the pull the pieces together is hell!!!

It appears as though quite a few members have or have access to VAG-COM equipment. My VR6 is very ill and requires imediate consultation with a diagnostic guru.

I thought it would be a good idea to start a thread that peoople could reply to who have vag-com and who would be prepared to loan/hire/exchange for beer etc.

The idea being that they say what area of the country they live and the best method of contact and anyone in desperate need can find a local member who might be able to help...what do you think?

[ingham 5]

what year is your car ,odb1 or 2,miles ?+ where are u ?

[hotshot 0]

The car is late '97 registered with a WW chassis number (1998). To be honest i am not sure how you tell if its ODB1 or 2 (any help on that greatly appreciated). I live on the Berkshire Wiltshire border between Hungerford and Marlborough. I work in Hungerford and i frequently travel to London and Manchester.

[jcorallo 0]

ok - 97 - its OBD2

I'm in Essex - Billericay and Basildon, and regulary travel to Blackburn, Manchester area and Liverpool...

Jules

[Mangold 0]

I have the relevant equipment, I'm located in Surrey.

[DundeeDub 0]

anyone in scotland??

[acf8181 0]

anyone near maidenhead have it?

[wilko-vr6 0]

my car desperately needs looking at!i'm in sussex or surrey!car's leaving black spots on the tailgate and soot all round the exit of the tailpipe!!!!07770746231 if anyone local can help!

[Mangold 0]

Wilko I'm always at no-rice, shame it's just been and gone I could have brought it along with me. That's probably not what you wanted to hear thinking about it....

[VRmonster 1]

ha ha, i have exactly the same problem, i think is burning oil and over fuelling thats casing my sooty build up. anyone near middlesbrough?

[Geastb 0]

I also get a sooty build up and some poor running &| - anyone near Swindon? Mines an early VR - 1993 (obd1 i assume)

[Eat this 2]

my exhaust goes black but the car seems to run fine only cleaned the zorst a few days ago and its startin to go dark doesnt seem bad though

[VR6Rich 3]

I work for a diagnostic tools company so can get access to dealership stuff (1551) + our own tool.

Located in Bristol and work in Wiltshire.

On the VR6 you should have a big d-type 16-pin connector behind a cover above the cigar lighter. Need to remove the ashtray to get to it.

[FishWick 21]

I've got VAG-COM and am willing to scan/help anyone in the East Anglia region.

Your black tailpipes should clear up after a long, hard run. The deposits should be dry and not stain your finger. If the deposits are thick and won't easily wipe off your chosen digit, the engine is running a tad on the rich side. Wet deposits when the engine and exhaust are fully up to temperature spells trouble.

They're not hard and fast rules as sitting in traffic jams all day long will soot up the exhaust too.

And lastly, since the demise of leaded petrol, most exhausts are black now anyway. It seems to be the way unleaded burns.

I remember the good old days of 4 and 5 star leaded. A indicator of a healthy engine used to be light grey deposits in the exhaust. Now you can't tell easily anymore

[acf8181 0]

On the VR6 you should have a big d-type 16-pin connector behind a cover above the cigar lighter. Need to remove the ashtray to get to it.

apart from early (pre '94) OBD1 cars, the have two two pin plugs.

[VR6Rich 3]

apart from early (pre '94) OBD1 cars' date=' the have two two pin plugs.[/quote']

Thought that was the case, just wasnt sure so didnt say. :-)

[hotshot 0]

What are the rules when using Diagnostic equipmet, should the engine be running or not? I am looking for a potential MAF fault but i am aware that these are a barstard to track down because the ECU only lists fault codes for MAFs that are totally knackered (or the MAF wiring) a MAF operating slightly out of range appears to the ECU as a good one!!

[FishWick 21]

You can check the ABS ECU and the Engine's stored fault codes with the engine off but ignition on. Engine speed sensor (G28) and vehicle speed sensor (G68) will both come up as faulty with the engine off. Ignore those as it's a bug in the ECU's firmware. Obviously if the crank and Final drive aren't rotating, there won't be a signal.....well done Bosch!

With the engine running, you can do more thorough checking of the Idle valve (N71) adaption values, inlet temperature, coolant temp, O2 activity, idle speed, injector pulse times, fuel adapation limits etc etc. As you say, the MAF (G40) will only be coded if it's shorted to ground or the signal is so weak the ECU considers it dead.

[ Edited Thu May 20 2004, 07:15PM ]

[ Edited Thu May 20 2004, 07:16PM ]

[hotshot 0]

VR6Rich, where abouts in Wiltshire do you work?

Is it 5 days or week? or are you around on Saturdays as well?

[Heardy 0]

I've got VAG-COM and can help anyone out.I'm in Sheffield

[andy 0]

whats the price of VAG-COM and where have you guys got them from?

[FishWick 21]

I got mine shipped in from www.ross-tech.com for £140 all in. Not sure how much it is now though.

There is also www.vag-com.co.uk but they took 2 weeks to send me a 2+2 lead for my mate's G60, so they're a bit pants tbh. Ross tech sent me my lead next day. You download the software from their site.

K