Had a look about and can't find a thread on this specifically. Looking for a fault code reader to take care of my family's car when we do the odd bit of work on them. We have in the family: MK3 ABF 16v Mk4 V5 Touran 05 2.0 FSi 99 Passat TDi AFN 07 Passat B6 1.9 TDi MK5 R32 DSG Been looking at the handheld units on eBay, 20 - 30 seems to be about right, anyone had any experience of a good (for the money) unit ? Cheers. Noel
As non of my VW cars run a self diagnostic set up. I have got a selection of code readers. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Maxiscan-Diagnostic-Scanner-Reader-MS300/dp/B001LHVOVK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1373229383&sr=8-2&keywords=code+reader is actually really quite handy and it reads any codes which my parents SAAB's may throw up. http://www.amazon.co.uk/MaxiScan-MS509-Diagnostic-Scanner-Vehicles/dp/B006JXYH0G/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1373229383&sr=8-5&keywords=code+reader this is really good and picked up a silly intermittent fault on a mates Mk5 which the other one did not pick up. And just for a something to try out I got one of these shipped in on Friday http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bluetooth-Diagnostic-Scanner-Engine-READER/dp/B004KL0I9I/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1373229383&sr=8-6&keywords=code+reader to link into the PC in the garage but not yet had a chance to test it or load the software to the PC.
The problem with some of the cheaper code readers is that they won't always read intermittent or non present fault codes. Also a lot of the cheaper ones are all the same but rebranded and knocked out at different prices. I have the vgate vs890 and its a pretty good piece of kit to use at home, it has a built in dtc code lookup with possible fault causes, it's not the cheapest unit out there but it's very similar to the vgate mb880 which it replaced and the mb880 is half the price now so is worth a look
