VAG-COM Micro-CAN USB Interface Package

Will VAG-COM work with my car?

VAG-COM will work with most Volkswagen and Audi models sold worldwide from 1994 to 2006+. It will work with some cars as early as 1990. It will also work with most 1996-2006+ SEAT and Skoda models.

Certain 2003 and newer models (see below) do require the CAN-enabled interfaces (HEX-COM/HEX-USB), whereas earlier cars only require the KEY-COM/KEY-USB interfaces.

If your VW or Audi has a 16-pin OBD-II style Data Link Connector, VAG-COM will definitely work. If your car has the old '2x2' Data Link Connection, please check the wiring to the connectors: if there are four wires, VAG-COM should work. If there are only three, it won't.

Please see these Application Charts where you can select your model and see which modules can communicate with VAG-COM. Also see the Ross-Tech Issues page for a few things that may not work as expected.

What is CAN and why is that different to the earlier cars?

CAN stands for Controller Area Network. CAN is a new means of communicating with the car for diagnostics used by the latest generations of VW, Audi, SEAT, and Skoda vehicles (certain models from 2003). Unlike the older ISO9141 system which used a single K-line for diagnostic communications, the new CAN-Bus system uses a twisted pair of wires with differential signaling. CAN is considerably faster than ISO-9141 (500 kpbs vs. 10.4 kbps). Both new hardware and new software are required in order to communicate with cars using CAN for diagnostics.

Which VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda cars use CAN for diagnostics?

Some examples of the newer cars that require the CAN-enabled interface are:

• All Golf-5 platform cars (A5 platform) including:
  
  • 2003+ VW Touran (1T chassis)
  • 2004+ VW Golf (1K chassis)
  • 2004+ VW Caddy (2K chassis)
  • 2004+ Audi A3 (8P chassis)
  • 2004+ Seat Altea (5P chassis)
  • 2004+ Skoda Octavia (1Z chassis)
  • 2005+ Seat Toledo (5P chassis)
  • 2005+ Golf Plus (5M chassis)
  • 2005+ Seat Leon (1P chassis)
  • 2005.5+ Jetta (1K chassis)
  • 2006+ Eos (1F chassis)
• 2003+ Audi A8 and A8L (D3 platform, 4E chassis)
• 2005+ Audi A6 (C6 platform, 4F chassis)
• 2005+ Audi A4 ("B7" platform) (some control modules)
  Requires VAG-COM version 500.0 or newer!
• 2005.5+ VW Passat (B6 Platform, 3C chassis)

Will a HEX-COM or HEX-USB interface work with the earlier non-CAN cars?

Yes. The HEX interfaces support the earlier non-CAN cars as well as the later CAN-enabled cars.

How do I access the earlier cars with the 2x2 diagnostic connector or the VW LT Van with the round Mercedes connector?

You can purchase the 2x2 extension cable for just £20 (inc VAT and delivery) or the LT Van adapter for just £49.95 (inc VAT and delivery).

What are the computer requirements?

A PC running Windows. The minimum recommended spec is:

• at least a Pentium-100 (or AMD equivalent)
• 16MB of RAM
• Windows 95 or newer.

VAG-COM may work on some lesser PC's, but anything less than the above recommendation is unsupported. Windows 95, 98, ME, NT4, 2000, and XP are all fine. Available disk-space is a total non-issue, VAG-COM requires less than 1 MB.

To use one of our Serial Interfaces (KEY-COM or HEX-COM), the PC must have an available RS-232 Serial port. Otherwise, you'll need to choose one of our USB Interfaces (KEY-USB or HEX-USB).

The KEY-COM and HEX-COM interfaces will not work successfully through a USB to serial converter.

For a full list of Frequently Asked Questions, please also visit the Ross Tech website.