OBD Connector Issue

[mkb]

----- Original Message ----

From: Huw Powell <audi at humanspeakers.com>
To: Tony Hoffman <auditony at gmail.com>
Cc: mkb <mkb125 at yahoo.com>; quattro at audifans.com
Sent: Saturday, March 7, 2009 4:59:44 PM
Subject: Re: OBD Connector Issue

Good point - neighbor's GTI thing was never solved properly (there was a grey wire that was supposed to not be connected, but it didn't fix things).  So once a year he unplugs the stereo to make the OBD work for the state inspection.

Tony Hoffman wrote:
> First question is, is there an aftermarket stereo in the car? Ran into
> that more than once on the later model German cars. The problem is in
> the adapter between the stereo and the factory connector. Trace one of
> the feed wires (blue, I think) and you will see where it goes to two
> connectors. Cut it, and the problem vanishes. The connector
> manufacturer did that so it would work for several cars.
> 
> Tony
> 

Just to follow up on what I did today.  Printed out the procedure for checking the OBD connector from Ross-Tech (Thanks Bob!).  Stopped by RadioShack and got a couple 1k ohm resistors.  Stopped over friends house and plugged in the VAG-COM.  Red light on the connector but the software (shareware version as of now) was able to read some codes.  Connected the resistor between pin 4 and 7 on connector.  Didn't heat up, so I figure the K-line is OK.  Did have a voltmeter with me but it was giving me real wacky readings.  Figure the battery must be dead on my voltmeter.

So the red light on the VAG-COM indicates that there is a problem with my OBD port on the car but should I still be able to read codes from the car?  

Tried pulling the radio so that I could disconnect it but was having problems getting the radio out.  BTW, it is a stock radio.  The PO had it replaced and also had the alternator replaced a few years back.  Reason was that the radio wouldn't come on unless you pulled the fuse and put it back in again (apparently that didn't fix it, because he still had to do that).  Got a code for that - 00668 Supply Voltage Terminal 30 07-10 Signal to Low-Intermittent.  Did some searching on that and it seems to relate to the alternator going bad, but as I mentioned previously, this item has been replaced.

Anyway, plan is to try and pull radio and disconnect and see if I get a green light on the VAG-COM.  Appreciate all the help.

--
mohammed
99 A6 2.8q Avant
97 A4 18tqa