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| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 49 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
44 of 44 found the following review helpful:
 Cheap but effective Oct 11, 2010
By Brian Bechtold
I ordered this to communicate with my late model Triumph motorcycle ECU. This is the same model as is sold on eBay from various Chinese retailers but I chose Amazon because of the improved return policy over eBay sellers. The item is fulfilled by Amazon which means I received it promptly and in secure packaging.
While the picture shows a translucent blue device, the one I received is solid black plastic, I can only assume this is due to variations in suppliers or manufacturing.
It worked on my first attempt to connect using the free TuneECU software (when using the recommended FTDI drivers not the ones supplied with the device). What can I say more than that? I haven't tested it with a hundred different vehicles, but I do know for my one application it worked perfectly on my first attempt.
EDIT: To those wishing to purchase this who are dissuaded by the negative reviews, please note: This does NOT come with any software. In fact, the driver CD it does come with is worthless. Just download the correct drivers from the internet (FTDI Serial-USB OBD drivers[...] which are direct from the manufacturer. You will still need some sort of software to interface with your car. Do a quick Google search and I can guarantee you'll find something.
Seriously, don't rate something down because you can't figure out how to use it.
8 of 8 found the following review helpful:
Does everything I need it to. Jun 30, 2011
By Adam H
I ordered this cable to interface to my 1999 Triumph Sprint ST motorcycle. I used the excellent (and free) TuneECU software, and after installing the FTDI driver as instructed on the TuneECU website, I was immediately able to download and upload maps to the engine computer, view the different sensor outputs, and even run some diagnostics.
The only thing that was different from the description was that the cable I received was all black instead of a catchy translucent blue. I could care less, the cable works great.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
 Diagnistic cable Vag com 409 Feb 14, 2012
By notfastenuf
Works but installation is more difficult than necessary as a result of poor documentation.
Windows recognizes as USB Serial Converter not as Ross-Tech Hex-USB as described in documentation.
Adjust comm port assignment as necessary, 1-4 work.
The Port test returns a differnt message than mentioned in the instructions, "interface not found" message when not hooked to vehicle is OK. It will work when connected to vehicle. Directions are for Ross-Tech cable and not specific for this generic cable. The software identifies Ross-Tech cable as interface but not the generic cable.
Software is vintage 2003 and is OK for XP. Current Ross-Tech demo software has more codes loaded. Software supplied doesn't work for Windows 7 but you can load VCDS-Lite from the Ross-Tech site and VCP drivers from Ftdichip.com.
Works as it should. Access to more data than OBDII basic scanner but not everything you can access with full paid version of the VAG-COM software.
Have patience, it will work.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
Works as expected Jul 20, 2011
By James
Seems to work fine on my 05 WRX with Romraider for logging and EcuFlash 1.29 for ECU operations. I just got the drivers from FTDI and use it on an Eee pc running Windows XP.
Addendum:
As I said above, it seems to work fine for just logging or reading the ECU, but I couldn't get it to flash the ECU; kept getting a low voltage warning in EcuFlash. Found a forum post with a hack to get it to work, which is really easy to do if you know how to solder. Can't post a link in the review, but you just open up the casing on the OBD connector side and jump pins 16 and 11 on the back of the OBD connector.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
Awesome price/performance!!! Dec 10, 2011
By N. Pavlov
"NoTimeForBS"
The quality of the cable is mediocre, but you are paying less than you'd pay for a burger in Manhattan.
I installed the included Vag-Com software on an old laptop that runs Windows XP. Then I connected the cable to my laptop and installed the driver. Windows updated the driver through Windows Update. Then I went into device manager, then Ports, and configured the USB to COM device to use COM 1 (it must be b/n 1 & 4, mine was 6 by default so I had to change it).
Once you connect the laptop to the car, make sure you start, otherwise, the dongle won't work. That's about it folks.
My mechanic wants $40 every time he resets my car. I had to change the glow plugs of my Jetta TDI, the mechanic wanted $85/glow plug. I bought all 4 for $50. Changed them in 10 minutes, then reset the computer, and I was done. Saved myself $300...
See all 49 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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