Do you really do all this by yourself? It’s a lot of information there. It takes time to absorb.
How do you connect the diagnose software to the car?
NicMM
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Short of swapping out a transmission, yes pretty much I’ve done just about everything.
The vag-com tool is actually pretty easy to use.
I have an older version that must run on a laptop with a serial port connection. I have not upgraded to the latest vag-com, which could run on any usb interface. I simply haven’t upgraded because I currently don’t own any newer VAG product, which uses a new bus interface.
It’s pretty simple to use frankly. There is a connector inside the car (mines under the left driver footwell… You plug the vagcom in, and you run the software…Then there are about 8 screens you go into (engine, transmission, HVAC,etc)… If you have a check engine light, you go to the engine module. Then you press “read fault codes”, and a bunch of numbers come up with some short text… Then I go to audiworld.com and search for the fault code under B5 usergroup, where more than likely a person(s) already has reported the issue and some discussion has occurred. If it’s something relatively moderate to do, I end up just doing it myself. Otherwise I tell the mechanic I have faultcode X, which probably means the that Y needs to be replaced…Please replace Y.
Vagcom also allows you to reset the faultcodes. If don’t want to buy one, you can also see if you can borrow one frome people. There is a registry somewhere…Just do a search on “vagcom locator”.
In your case, for fault codes, you would be trolling around clubb5.com or pasatworld.com
Directions are for an audi A8, but it applies to just about every other tiptronics transmission. Get the filter/fluid out is not the hard part. Filling it back up and getting the right amount in is the problem. Major PITA…German engineering, of course. Germans also like to use a bunch of nonstandard screws and bolts. I’ve learned about the differences between bolts that are Torx versus Tripple Squares..I don’t know why german car manufacturers insist on making these things so complicated. But in any case, if you need some of the sockets, changes I have have them, because it was cheaper to build my tool collection versus handing my car over to the mechanic… So I do have all the tripple square wrenches and the weird 17mm hex wrench you’ll need to open the transmission fill plug.
For common tools (like to change brakes,etc), you can go to Kragen/Oreilly and they usually have loaner tools you can use for the weekend for free.
For parts, I try to go to two independent parts supplier.
These guys use to be in temecula, but I think they are now in miramar. They supposedly do servicing too, but I haven’t tried their service…Supposedly it’s good.
Older VAG products aren’t bad to work on…Newer VAG products and the latest BMW products are bad to work on…. Mercedes are the worst. I hate the Mercedes C class… Ubber P.O.S.
Anyway, hope this helps. If you really don’t want to deal with this yourself, you really should just get rid of it and not get anything german.
