[s-cars] Misfire Diagnostic Help
JC
jc at j2c3.com
Mon Jan 16 11:49:09 PST 2012
Mike -
Tom nailed it for most part. There is varying quality of the internal
construction of the different Chinese vendors, and since I mod some of
these cables to use w/ BMW factory software, that's important to me
where I'm fussy about PCB quality and layout. However they all seem to
work fine with the early basic VW/Audi products so not much concern
there for our 1990's technology cars. They all use the same 2 or 3
FTDI brand RS232-to-USB IC chips and I'm sure they've all ripped off the
same circuit design but have just routed their own PCB layouts.
Key points for the Chinese cables Tom already nailed mostly:
- No won't work on cars from mid-2000's on because those cars are
CAN-BUS and these aren't CAN-BUS capable.
- As Tom says, for our old cars, paying more doesn't get you too much
more. I have the full legal expensive Ross-Tech cable and yes the new
version does operate a little slicker and give you nicer code
translations and things, but for our cars the functionality is super
limited anyway so no significant gains. You CAN pay Uwe $100 for the
updated Lite version of software to work w/ generic Chinese cables but
it still is subject to the restriction above...
- I have seen one situation with Marc Swanson where we had trouble
getting cables recognized to work properly with Motronic 7 tuning tools
(aka Lemmiwinks / Unisettings) but that software is specifically for
later version cars aka 1998-2005 or whatever it is, and eventually I got
it working on my machine with a driver cleanout. I think this is
mainly an issue for guys like him and I who have plugged dozens of
cables in and out of the same PC and it's gotten drivers confused or
corrupted. (if anybody is having this problem I'd like to hear about it
and can offer some tips that worked for me by the way). But any of the
basic cables should work fine with our 'old dumb' cars.
FYI Marc may have some VAG-COM cables and 2x2 adapters FS I think -
specifically the ones I 'approve' for BMW mod use. You might want to
give him a ring if you haven't pulled the trigger yet...
On 1/16/2012 1:46 PM, Tom Green wrote:
> Yes, those cables should work fine Mike. Download the VAG-COM lite
> software from ross-tech.com for free and you are ready to go. The
> windows XP laptops work best IMO, but likely because I bought a cheap
> netbook to use with my full version. This system works fine for the
> UrS cars even without paying the activation/registration fee. You can
> see the comparison on the web site to see what you get with each
> version to judge whether it is worth the trouble to activate. You
> don't get much support with the lite program either way, but you
> shouldn't need anything unless you activate and then your hard drive
> fails.
>
> I know this stuff looks so cheap and it takes a long time to get it,
> and these people don't speak much english and so don't answer
> questions, but they are the real deal. Just don't go getting the idea
> that paying more will get you something better. If you have a 2005 or
> later VW/Audi/Lambo/Bugatti, you need the full featured version
> directly from ross-tech. But, for the UrS, this lite system gives you
> almost as much as the full system.
>
> JC on the quattroworld forum travels frequently to China on business
> and knows a lot more about the various suppliers of these cables. His
> email is linked to his screen name there if you want more info. My
> thoughts are you won't be investing so much money here that you need
> to worry too much.
>
> Tom
>
> On Jan 16, 2012, at 11:44 AM, Mike Claire wrote:
>
>> Sorry for digging up this old post, but Tom says we can run Ross Tech
>> software on our older cars for nearly nothing? I need to know more.
>>
>> Tom, you said "you can buy one of those cheap cables on ebay and the
>> 2X2 adapter available there also." Here's a couple of eBay
>> listings. Am I looking at the right stuff?
>>
>> 2x2 adapter
>> http://www.ebay.com/itm/Audi-2x2-OBDI-OBD2-VAG-COM-Diagnostic-Adapter-USB-Interface-/280806767500?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&vxp=mtr&hash=item4161633b8c
>> (pretty sure I got this one right).
>>
>> USB to ODB2 adapter
>> http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-OBDII-KKL-409-1-OBD2-VAG-COM-Car-Scan-Cable-Tool-/160714910434?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&vxp=mtr&hash=item256b5aeae2
>> IS THIS "one of those cheap cables"?
>>
>>
>>
>> Mike
>> '93 S4
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Dec 12, 2011 at 6:50 PM, Tom Green <trgreen at comcast.net> wrote:
>> I don't know that I can point you directly at a solution, Chris, but
>> perhaps you will stumble on it. You probably know about Scott
>> Mockery's business web site <http://www.sjmautotechnik.com/> since it
>> is the most common source for learning blink codes. If not, shame on
>> you, go there now. Anytime you read codes, clear them after
>> recording them. You did not mention the CEL or MIL as Audi names
>> it. You should run the output tests to check that the injector
>> functions electrically. Your post reads like you are doing most of
>> your own maintenance. As Wyley suggested, clean the MAF connector
>> plug and see that the MAF and air intake are clean also. Deoxit from
>> Radio Shack or online at Caig Labs is a good electrical
>> cleaner/enhancer and cheaper than Stabilant 22. Swab the injector
>> connectors also with some of those electronic store swabs with the
>> little ends.
>>
>> It would probably not be a waste of money to have the injectors
>> cleaned/tested by one of the well-known shops.
>> <http://www.rceng.com/> <http://www.mrinjector.us/> , or
>> <http://fuelinjectorconnection.com/shop/> come to mind, but a
>> local shop could work. It would be nice to know the fuel pressure,
>> but maybe not essential yet.
>>
>> Since you are still blinking after 7 years or more with the 200/20v,
>> you must not need this information often. You are missing out on
>> some information stored by the fault code that you simply cannot read
>> with the blink code. The VAG-COM software is available free in the
>> Lite version that works very well with these cars. All you need is a
>> windows laptop running windows XP maybe (you don't want to be too
>> new, I don't think, but the ross-tech.com web site has details on
>> that, I believe) Then, you can buy one of those cheap cables on ebay
>> and the 2X2 adapter available there also. These will run the lite
>> version for free or registered for $99. Either is fine, but will
>> make diagnosis so much easier, and reset your service codes as well.
>>
>> Wylie mentioned quattroworld.com UrS4/6 forums for help and a great
>> FAQ also. There are several posters in CT on that forum also-some
>> in-person help beats this long distance stuff every time. Someone
>> local might just have a few spare parts to help diagnosis along as well.
>>
>>
>> Tom '95 S6
>> '95.5 S6 avant
>> Knoxville, TN
>>
>>
>> On Sunday December 11, 2011, at 6:42 PM, Chris Hemberger
>> <cehemberger at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Folks - have owned my S6 Avant for ~7 yrs & ck the site from time to
>> time;?have never posted but the time has come..? My car?w/ ~160k has
>> developed a
>> misfire/rough running condition that I'm looking for some assistance in
>> troubleshooting. Car is stock other than a Stage 1 modded-ECU (MTM as
>> I recall)
>> & has had the Apikol coil-conversion for 3yrs; I'm getting a '4411' code
>> indicating a problem w/ the #1 injector. Swapped coils around (and
>> even tried a
>> new one..), pulled the injector connector and the condition worsens
>> which would
>> indicate the injector is functional to some degree?- which leads me
>> to my
>> question: do the injectors experience 'partial' failure which might
>> explain my
>> situation??Selectively disabling each injector on each of?the remaining
>> cylinders?results in degraded operation. Have run out of diagnostic
>> ideas &
>> thought I'd come to the experts - any suggestions/questions welcomed!
>> Thanks,
>> Chris Hemberger
>> Amston, CT
>> '91 200q Avant
>> '95.5 S6 Avant
>>
>>
>>
>>
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