DPDISXR4Ti

I'm looking to pick up an OBD2 scanner of some sort, and I'm a little confused. I see some scanners marketed as Audi-VW specific, such as the one below:

http://www.ecstuning.com/stage/edpd/pagebuild_v2.cgi/?html=learnmore.html&productID=9950

Is there anything to this, or is it just marketing fluff? Do you actually get anything more with a scanner like this vs. a "universal" OBD2 scanner? Can you use a scanner like this on a NON-VW/Audi vehicle?

Appreciate any input.

Bronze

All OBS-II scanners can work on our cars. However, they will only have detailed information on the SAE standard codes. Any OEM specific codes won't be in them, although they can still ready the code and display it.

I'm not familiar with the ECS Tuning reader. I'd recommend you call them and ask what is displayed for both SAE standard codes (example: P0301 is a cyl 1 misfire code, whereas P1301 is an Audi specific code). SAE codes are P0xx and P2xx for powertrain. P1 and P3 are OEM specific and vary from brand to brand.

DPDISXR4Ti

So hopefully this (or any other Audi/VW scanner) would pull both the SAE AND Audi/VW specific codes. But that's what I'll ask.

I guess something like this (MaxiScan® MS509) would cover (in theory) all the various manufacturer-specific codes:
http://www.auteltech.com/ms509.htm

DPDISXR4Ti

Here's a link that might help...<ul><li><a href="http://www.alpha-bid.com/page12.html">http://www.alpha-bid.com/page12.html</a</li></ul>

Bronze

For years, I've wanted a tool that reads all codes and givces some brief description, SAE and OEM, but without the data logging and other features of the Ross Tech VAG-COM that makes it &gt;$400. I don't need those features, and don't want to pay for them.

Thanks for the link.

DPDISXR4Ti

I'm not sure, but I *think* even the $48 "VAG305" will read/reset the "universal" SAE OBD2 codes as well as the Audi/VW-specific ones. The $129 "VAG405" definitely does that.

If you want something that will read most all of the different manufacturer OEM codes, I think that's only found in the high-end units costing hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

DPDISXR4Ti

Okay, been doing some more reading, and here's what I've found....

If you're looking to get a "universal" ODB2 scanner - one that will read pretty much ANY '96+ ODB2 vehicle - you need one which will read all FIVE of the protocols used, as follows:

1) SAE J1850 - PWM
2) SAE J1850 - VPW
3) ISO 9141-2
4) ISO 14230-4 - KWP 2000
5) ISO 15765-4 / SAE J2480 - Controller Area Network (CAN)

#5 above (sometimes called CAN-BUS) is the newest ODB2 protocol, which all manufacturers must standardize on going forward. But for any vehicles manufactured between 1996 and 2008, any of the five protocols might be used.

Ignore what I suggested about the VAG405 and 305 - they don't support ALL the protocols - they're missing SAE J1850 VPW &amp; SAW J1850 PWM, used on many domestic vehicles. That said, so far, I haven't been able to find any scanner that supports all five protocols AND has the Audi/VW-specific knowledge. It's tough reading through the marketing fluff to find real answers on some of this stuff though.

Bronze

some descriptive detail, or just show the code.

DPDISXR4Ti

For the B6, at a minimum you need one that will support the ISO 9141 and KWP 2000 protocols.