ChrisW
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| posted on 31/12/11 at 01:46 PM |
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Audi electric calipers/diagnostics kit
My A6 has been complaining about needing brake pads changed for a while and I think I've ignored it long enough now and should get it sorted.
However, I have the 'electric' rear calipers with handbrake controlled by a button rather than the conventional cable.
A bit of googling suggests that I need to use a diagnostics tool to wind back the rear calipers to the 'pad change' position, but of
course I don't want to have to take it to a dealer to do something as simple as changing brake pads, so I started looking for cheap diagnostics
kit.
That's when I stumbled on 'VAS5054a' tool, which seems to interface with the Audi software (I assume a pirated copy) and do dealer
level diagnostics on the car. However, the kits are about £100, and there seems to be very little 'real world' information out there
about them.
Does anyone have experience of this hardware? Do you get a 'real' dealer level view or is it limited? Can it wind back the calipers for
me? Can I do things like re-code modules? (eg I want to fit DAB at some point, but I have to recode my MMI to tell it I have the DAB radio).
Or would I be better off splashing out on a vag-com? Can that do the caliper wind back?
Any advice gratefully received!
Cheers, Chris
My gaff my rules
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karlak
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| posted on 31/12/11 at 01:59 PM |
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Hi Chris,
I have a VCDS cable (used to be Vagcom) - I think this can do the job - see link here,
http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/Working_on_the_Electro-Mechanical_Parking_Brake_%28EPB%29
You are more than welcome to try it, if you are ever up near Milton Keynes.
I know some of the cheaper non-original diags cables are limited in what they will allow you to do.
Cheers
MK Indy - 2litre Duratec - Omex 600 - Jenvey throttle bodies - ETB DigiDash2
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ChrisW
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| posted on 31/12/11 at 02:36 PM |
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Thanks for that. I did read a similar article about using VCDS (aka vag com, for those not familiar) but it was saying something about needing the
dealer kit. I wasn't sure if that referred to one of the more expensive versions, or whether it was just a way of describing the product.
Guess the best thing to do would be to email ross tech and ask!
Chris
My gaff my rules
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Bart69
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| posted on 31/12/11 at 04:29 PM |
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Snap on diagnostic gear certainly winds back the calipers which a lot of independents use. Not sure if it can reprogram the modules for dab radio tho.
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britishtrident
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| posted on 31/12/11 at 07:05 PM |
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Do an ebay or google shopping search on Autel EST201 --- should be about £50 from a UK supplier.
see http://www.auteltech.com/est201.htm
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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davidimurray
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| posted on 1/1/12 at 12:57 PM |
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Not sure if it much help but a mate of mine runs a garage and regularly hits this problem on new cars. All he does is leave the engine running with
the handbrake off while the car is up on his two-post lift 
Gallery 1 http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.116893465324.130778.601005324
Gallery 2 http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.245243755324.181913.601005324&l=a9831a9319
Gallery 3 http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.440671625324.232627.601005324&l=3f0d42c523
Gallery 4 http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.490098255324.297598.601005324&l=efb083b7df
Gallery 5 http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150244028550325.366987.601005324&l=583fd5cd3a
Gallery 6 http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150550640070325.430417.601005324&type=3&l=fe779b358c
Duratec Engine Swap https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152527759580325.1073741828.601005324&type=1&l=40aae5e72f " target="_blank"> https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152527759580325.1073741828.601005324&type=1&l=40aae5e72f
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ChrisW
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| posted on 1/1/12 at 01:18 PM |
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Thanks for the input, guys.
That £50 box looks like it will do the job, but if I'm going to spend money on a diagnostics tool I'd rather spend a little more and get
something that can do other jobs too. For £50, plus pads, plus my time, I might as well take it to a local vag specialist.
Considering getting a VAG-com, but they are a LOT more money. Would still appreciate any advice about this VAS thing on eBay.
Chris
My gaff my rules
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