| VCDS | |
|---|---|
| Original author | Uwe M. Ross |
| Developers | Ross-Tech, LLC |
| Initial release | May 16, 2000 (2000-05-16)[1] |
| Stable release | |
| Operating system | Windows |
| Size | ~75MB |
| Available in | English, Czech, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swedish |
| Type | AutomotiveOBD |
| License | Trialware |
| Website | www |
VCDS (anabbreviation for "VAG-COM Diagnostic System" and formerly known asVAG-COM[2][3]) is a Microsoft Windows-based software package,[3] developed and produced by Ross-Tech, LLC since May 2000.[1] It is primarily used for diagnostics and adjustments ofVolkswagen Group motor vehicles, includingVolkswagen Passenger Cars,Audi,Bentley (limited),Lamborghini (limited),SEAT, andŠkoda automobiles,[4] along withVolkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
VCDS will perform most of the functions of the expensive electronic diagnostic tools available only to officialdealers, like the current VAS 505x series diagnostic tools.[3][5] In the past, these dealership-only tools have prevented owners, and many small independent repair shops from performing some fundamental tasks, such as diagnosing problems, diesel ignition timing, modification of convenience options such as automatic door unlocking, coding a replacementelectronic control unit (ECU) or key to the vehicle, and monitoring of many vehicle sensors for diagnosing problems.[5] Unlike genericon-board diagnostics (OBD-II orEOBD), VCDS uses the more in-depth Volkswagen Group-specific manufacturer protocol commands,[4] which allows the user to access all diagnostic capable vehicle systems — even in vehicles which are not covered by generic OBD-II/EOBD (e.g. pre-1996). In general, there are two ways to use this software, either as a package (softwareand hardware) distributed by the manufacturer or their agents, or, by building your own interface hardware and using it with the publicly available but limitedshareware version of the software.
VCDS is also capable of interfacing vehicles which use the generic OBD-II/EOBD protocols. However, the OBD-II and EOBD standards only allow for limited diagnostics, and no adjustments to any of the ECUs.