Getting your hands on a diagnostic tool for your Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, or Skoda doesn’t have to break the bank. An Ebay Vcds Cable offers a budget-friendly solution for accessing your car’s onboard computer. This guide will walk you through setting up and using your eBay VCDS cable with the free, legal demo version of VCDS software on Windows 2000/XP.
Getting Started with Your eBay VCDS Cable
So, you snagged a VCDS cable off eBay. It probably arrived with minimal instructions, leaving you wondering where to begin. Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. First things first: do not plug the cable into your computer yet.
Installing the Correct Drivers
Before connecting your eBay VCDS cable, you’ll need to install the necessary drivers. Download the official FTDI drivers from the following link and save the zip file to an easily accessible location on your computer:
Once downloaded, extract the files from the zip folder. Now, you can connect your eBay VCDS cable to your computer. Windows will automatically detect the new hardware and prompt you for drivers. Direct Windows to the location where you extracted the FTDI drivers.
Configuring the COM Port
VCDS software only communicates with specific COM ports. To ensure compatibility, we need to check and potentially adjust the COM port assigned to your eBay VCDS cable.
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Navigate to Start > Control Panel > System. (You might need to switch to “Classic View” in the Control Panel).
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Select the Hardware tab and click on Device Manager.
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Expand the Ports (COM & LPT) section. You should see your eBay VCDS cable listed as “USB Serial Port” or similar, along with its assigned COM port number.
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If the assigned COM port is higher than COM4 (e.g., COM18), you need to change it. Double-click on the “USB Serial Port” entry, go to Port Settings > Advanced.
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In the COM Port Number dropdown menu, select a COM port between 1 and 4 that is not currently in use. If all four are in use, you’ll need to disable some devices in your computer’s BIOS. Click OK until all windows are closed and restart your computer if prompted.
Testing Your eBay VCDS Cable with VCDS Software
After restarting your computer, download and install the free demo version of VCDS software from the official Ross-Tech website: http://www.ross-tech.com/
Launch VCDS, click the Options button, and select the COM port you assigned to your eBay VCDS cable. Click Test.
If the test is successful, you’re ready to start using the VCDS demo to diagnose your car! While the demo version has limitations, it’s sufficient for reading and clearing basic fault codes.
Conclusion
Using an eBay VCDS cable with the free VCDS demo software offers a cost-effective way to perform basic diagnostics on your VW, Audi, Seat, or Skoda. By following this guide, you can successfully install the necessary drivers, configure the COM port, and unlock valuable insights into your car’s health. Remember, always use the official Ross-Tech website for legitimate software and support.
