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Old 01-13-2010, 12:05 AM   #1
cooleys04
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Default Vag-Com cable resource thread

I recently discovered the vag-com cable and decided to try it out. I got the cable on ebay for about $20. Got it from a US seller and recieved it in a couple days. Trying to get it to work has been a looooonnnnngg and painstaking process. It took a LOT of research between here and the lgt forums to get an idea of how to do it. Then it took a LOT of trial and error to get it to work. I'm starting this thread to try and consolidate all of the resources needed to use the vag-com in one place. I'm going to try to keep this short and to the point so here goes.


Things you will need:

Vag-com cable: I recommend ebay seller Alpha-bid

FTDI drivers for your vag-com cable available here.
http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/D2XX.htm

Edit: vista users need to run software as an administrator and manually load drivers!

Complete list of ecuflash releases:
http://evoecu.logic.net/mirror/ecuflash/releases/

Here's a link to ecuflash 1.28
http://project802.net/hosted/ecuflash_setup128.rar

ecuflash 1.29
http://www.mediafire.com/?pmbuuk2pph3rn7l

ecuflash 1.32
http://www.mediafire.com/?266b5ht6xzgumfb

OR

Ecuexplorer available here: (I had to use this)
http://code.google.com/p/ecuexplorer/downloads/list

Romraider ecu editor and logger available here
http://www.romraider.com

Tactrix flash connector available here (for 02/03-05 wrx 16 bit ecu's)
http://www.tactrix.com/index.php?cPath=22

THREADS OF NOTE INCLUDING INSTRUCTIONS

Xluben's thread HERE

pbomer's write up HERE

subi-bartimioli02's thread HERE

qikslvr's thread HERE



Feel free to post what has worked for you and try to keep the OT to a minimum. If you have something useful to add, I'll be happy to put it in the first post. Hope this helps someone.
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Last edited by cooleys04; 03-22-2012 at 10:55 PM.
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Old 01-13-2010, 12:05 AM   #2
cooleys04
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Here's what it took for me to be able to log and flash with the vag-com. Car is 04 wrx, 16 bit ecu.

FTDI drivers, some people have luck with tactrix 1.3 drivers, but not me.

Ecuexplorer, trying to get ecuflash 1.29 to work took forever and it still didn't work. Ecuexplorer worked first try.

I also had to supply 12v to the flash connector as described in subi-bart's thread (listed above).

After that it worked great. I primarily use UTEC for tuning so the vag-com was perfect for me. I only needed to get rid of some choice dtc's and raise my idle for 280* cams. Paying $150 for the tactrix just for that seemed a bit pointless.

Last edited by cooleys04; 01-13-2010 at 12:19 AM.
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Old 01-13-2010, 03:17 PM   #3
SUBIESKI
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Thank you soo such for putting it down neatly!!!

Quick question where did you connect to, to get the 12v to the flash connector?
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Old 01-13-2010, 04:27 PM   #4
cooleys04
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I ran a jumper wire from the battery to the flash block. I'll take a pic of where to connect it. Be back in a bit.

Edit:
Ok, heres a pic. (sorry about the quality, the lock tab is facing upward) I used a lighter and melted the insulation off the wire so I could clip a jumper wire on it with an alligator clip, then ran it to the b+ terminal. I didn't have any problems flashing after that. Some people have said that they had to turn on accessories like the lights or blower motor to avoid a voltage too high error.


Last edited by cooleys04; 01-13-2010 at 04:36 PM.
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Old 01-13-2010, 11:33 PM   #5
ZACKARU
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I thought this was just as easy to get up and running as the old version Tactrix cable.
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Old 01-13-2010, 11:36 PM   #6
ZACKARU
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Maybe something to add, the ebay seller alpha-bid, $23 shipped, fast shipping instead of the cheaper ones shipping from Hong Kong.
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Old 01-13-2010, 11:58 PM   #7
cooleys04
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Iirc, your car is dbw, which would make a difference. It was a serious PITA trying to get ecuflash to read my cable. You got lucky, from what I've read, it can be easy or a nightmare just depending on your car/cable/computer etc. I got my cable from alpha-bid and recieved it on the 3rd day, I would recommend them.
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Old 01-14-2010, 01:12 PM   #8
RacnJsn95
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Anyone have any luck using this cable on an 07 (STi) yet?... From what I've read they have an oddball computer; pre-canbus, but higher resolution than the previous model years... I bought an alpha-bid cable, and keep fighting it on my STi. Using version 1.29a, and the FTDi drivers It seems to have a connection, but shuts down when it does the "kernal read" thing (if that makes sense?)... Figured, "What the hell," and tried it on my Dad's 05 Sti, and his 05 LGT, and it worked great first try... I guess worst case scenario, he gets a working cable out of the deal...

So in short... 05 Sti, using ECU Flash 1.29a, the FTDi drivers, and the Alpha-bid cable, worked for me first try.
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Old 01-15-2010, 04:19 PM   #9
chitownrida
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just wanted to add my info

05 sti
ebay vag com cable
ecu flash v1.42

no problems to date
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Old 01-16-2010, 02:29 PM   #10
MAtwal
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can someone post a link to a vag-com cable good for my 2004 wrx usdm. Ive searched on ebay but alot of things pop up and I dont want to order the wrong item.

and how do we know if our subaru is a can bus ecu system

Last edited by MAtwal; 01-16-2010 at 02:53 PM.
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Old 01-17-2010, 12:10 AM   #11
cooleys04
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Get a cable from seller alpha-bid on eBay. Your 04 Wrx isn't can bus.
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Old 01-20-2010, 01:53 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cooleys04 View Post
I ran a jumper wire from the battery to the flash block. I'll take a pic of where to connect it. Be back in a bit.

Edit:
Ok, heres a pic. (sorry about the quality, the lock tab is facing upward) I used a lighter and melted the insulation off the wire so I could clip a jumper wire on it with an alligator clip, then ran it to the b+ terminal. I didn't have any problems flashing after that. Some people have said that they had to turn on accessories like the lights or blower motor to avoid a voltage too high error.
Cool, thank you! I'm looking to buy the cable in the next day or so. Hopefully it works well for me
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Old 01-23-2010, 02:02 AM   #13
MAtwal
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Man crazy fast shipping. I got my cable in two days after my order shipped to Canada.
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Old 04-13-2010, 01:35 PM   #14
jlogic
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Anyone have luck with an 06-07 wrx? I've tried both the 1.29A and latest 1.42, still cant read the ECU. Logging via romraider is fine. It shuts down right after the kernel read. This is using Win7 (admin rigths & XP compat. mode).
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Old 04-13-2010, 04:53 PM   #15
cooleys04
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I had to use ecuexplorer
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Old 05-27-2010, 09:00 AM   #16
turbo2001rt
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02 wrx
ebay cable for $25 shipped
Romraider tested and working.
ECUflash test coming soon.
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Old 06-21-2010, 11:59 PM   #17
Rescuer
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hmm i've been looking for adding OBD-II to my carputer via USB for some time now.
i think i'll have to check this out.
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Old 06-22-2010, 11:21 AM   #18
WRteXan
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chitownrida View Post
just wanted to add my info

05 sti
ebay vag com cable
ecu flash v1.42

no problems to date
How did you get a vag com cable to work with 1.42? 1.29 was the last version that didn't check cable authenticity.
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Old 06-28-2010, 11:51 AM   #19
jarencibia
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I just ordered a vag-com cable from alpha bid for logging since my openport 2.0 mini usb header broke again. I still have to fix the openport but I figure I can use the vag-com for everyday logging. I saw another seller in china that was selling the vag-com for 1.99 plus 7.99 for shipping from china. It claims it's the 409.1 version, the same as the alpha bid vag-com cable. Has anyone used that cable?
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Old 06-30-2010, 05:10 PM   #20
Rescuer
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Hello.
which cable is it? I'm looking at user Alpha-Bid on ebay, but there is nothing that says "Subaru"
http://stores.ebay.com/alpha-bid/Aut...nterfaces.html

Can you please tell me exactly which thing it is?

I just need the Vag-Com USB cable for my 07 Impreza so i can plug it into my carputer to read OBDII.

Thanks
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Old 06-30-2010, 10:00 PM   #21
JCByrd24
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Hey guys, I have a Rosstech VAGCOM usb cable for my wife's Audi. AFAIK this is more than just a cable, as the rights are hardware controlled, anyone can download their software. Any idea if this cable, in conjunction with software above, will work on my new Sube, or do I need a more generic cable.
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Old 06-30-2010, 10:33 PM   #22
cooleys04
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It should work, you may have driver issues though. Rosstech software is only good for vw stuff.
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Old 07-01-2010, 12:54 PM   #23
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Hoping for the answer to my question above.

thanks all
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Old 07-01-2010, 02:04 PM   #24
cooleys04
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It won't say Subaru because that's not what they're made for. If it says vagcom it's the right one. They're made for vw/Audi, you can make it work for your Subaru.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Rescuer View Post
Hello.
which cable is it? I'm looking at user Alpha-Bid on ebay, but there is nothing that says "Subaru"
http://stores.ebay.com/alpha-bid/Aut...nterfaces.html

Can you please tell me exactly which thing it is?

I just need the Vag-Com USB cable for my 07 Impreza so i can plug it into my carputer to read OBDII.

Thanks
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Old 07-01-2010, 02:46 PM   #25
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that's what i thought, just wanted the reassurance! thanks!
gonna order one and try it on my carputer. just hope it'll still work since i'll have to use a 6" USB extension cable to get it to the trunk.
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