Finding the Right VAG COM VCDS on eBay: A Beginner’s Guide

Purchasing a VAG COM VCDS (VAG-Com Diagnostic System) on eBay can be a cost-effective way to diagnose and troubleshoot issues with your Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, or Skoda vehicle. However, navigating the various options and ensuring compatibility can be challenging. This guide provides a step-by-step approach to using a VAG COM VCDS cable with a free, legal demo version of the software on Windows PCs. This guide focuses on Windows 2000/XP systems.

Setting Up Your eBay VAG COM VCDS Cable

Many eBay VAG COM cables arrive without clear instructions or drivers. This guide will walk you through the initial setup process.

Installing the Correct Drivers

Before connecting the cable to your computer, download and install the correct drivers. You can download the necessary drivers from the official FTDI website: FTDI Drivers. Unzip the downloaded file to a memorable location on your computer.

Now, connect the VAG COM cable to your computer. A dialog box will appear, prompting you to specify the driver location. Navigate to the folder where you unzipped the FTDI drivers and select it. This will install the necessary drivers for your cable.

Configuring the COM Port

VAG-Com software only communicates with specific COM ports. To ensure compatibility, you need to verify and, if necessary, change the assigned COM port for your cable.

1. Access Device Manager: Navigate to Start -> Control Panel -> System. In the System Properties window, select the Hardware tab and click on Device Manager. (You may need to switch to “Classic View” in the Control Panel to see the System icon.)

2. Locate Your Cable: In Device Manager, expand the Ports section. Your VAG COM cable should be listed as “USB Serial…” or similar.

3. Check COM Port Assignment: If the assigned COM port is 1, 2, 3, or 4, you’re good to go. If it’s a higher number (e.g., COM18), you need to change it.

4. Change COM Port (If Necessary): Double-click on the “USB Serial…” entry, then navigate to the Port Settings tab and click Advanced. In the Advanced Settings for COM port window, locate the “COM Port Number” dropdown menu.

Select an available COM port between 1 and 4. If none are available, you may need to disable other devices using those ports in your computer’s BIOS. Click OK until all windows are closed and restart your computer if prompted.

Testing with VAG-COM Demo Software

After restarting, download the free VAG-COM demo software from the official Ross-Tech website: Ross-Tech Website. Once installed, open the software, click the Options button, and select the COM port you assigned to your cable. Click Test.

A successful test will confirm your setup is complete and you can now use the demo software. While the demo version has limitations, it allows for basic diagnostic functions like checking error codes.

Conclusion

Successfully setting up a VAG COM VCDS cable purchased from eBay requires careful attention to driver installation and COM port configuration. Following these steps will allow you to utilize the free demo version of the VAG-COM software for basic diagnostics on your VW, Audi, Seat, or Skoda vehicle. Remember, using a legitimate version of the software is crucial. This guide only covers the basics and more comprehensive information can be found on the Ross-Tech website.