Pre-Requisites
- A PC (of the WinTel variety running Win9x or
NT) with a serial COM port, sufficient memory and disk space to support
VAG-COM. Check out the FAQ on the
VAG-COM website
for details on any recommended minimum specification for the VAG-COM
software.
- An "ISO-COM" adapter, to optically
isolate the electronics in the car from the electronics in your PC. Reason
being that the voltages used on the vehicle's diagnostic system have the
potential to frazzle the internals of your PC. When you purchase the full
VAG-COM package this adapter is included along with cables for the PC and
the car.
- Note that the serial cable supplied,
along with the ISO-COM adapter, by Ross-Tech for the VAG-COM package is of
the 9-way D-Type variety, so you will need an adapter if your PC doesn't
have the matching connector.
Click here for a picture of the basic connection kit
.
- The ISO-COM adapter, along with the
standard 16-pin ISO9141-2 diagnostic cable assembly, are available from Ross-Tech
- the manufacturers of VAG-COM. This connector is compatible with the OBD-II
connector in modern vehicles.
- You will also need another adapter
cable to interface the 2x2 pin diagnostic connectors from the S2 into the
VAG-COM package. You can order this from your local Audi dealership as a
VAS5051/2 or a number of other suppliers, but I took the option of sourcing
it directly from Ross-Tech.
Click here for a picture of the 2x2 adapter
.
- If you just wish to use the limited functions
of the freeware version of VAG-COM then you will be very pleased to see that
you can build your own opto-isolator with the info posted at the
OpenDiag
site. There is also information on cables and adapters that can be used
with the opto-isolator. If you decide to take this route, be advised that
the ISO-9141 connector is not actually used on the S2 so it is perhaps better
to grow your own vehicle side adapter from a suitable length of 4-core cable
with miniature spade terminals that connect to the car's 2x2 black and white
OBD plugs. More details on this to follow...
Installation
- I found this to be trivially easy. Simply download
the ZIP file from the VAG-COM website and create a directory you wish the
VAG-COM software to install into. The installer does not create a shortcut
for the VAG-COM executable, nor does it create an entry in your 'Start' menu
but that's no biggie...
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