B5 S4 2002 New Owner EPC issues

[BC-S4/02]

Hey all,
I recently purchased a B5 S4 with 105k from a local Audi dealership here in VA. The car appears as though the previous owner kept it immaculate which of course is good for me. Must say I'm in love with this car! Wanted to say hello to all the Audi folks here and especially my S4 brothers/sisters.

Couple of questions:

I need a Vag-Com cable any idea where I can pick one up? I know I can purchase one online, but wondered if I could potentially buy one from a store (never seen them so I'm guessing NO) Anyway thought I'd ask. Anyone local to Northern Va selling one or have a spare they want to sell?

I read that Vag-Com is the way to go. If there's another or better route please advise?

Issues:
So when i picked her up, she had just had a brand new ECU put in by the dealership. I guess (and as I have read) it appears they got throttle body codes and the EPC light which led their first attempt at fixing it to just replace the ECU. I have read in several instances that it appears Audi techs first go to fix for this issue.

They (dealership tech) reset the code drove for a day or 2 and the EPC light came back on. No performance issues what so ever and no limp mode as I have read many others have gone into. She runs excellent so I'm not so worried about the light, but I've never been one to have a dash light on and deal with it without addressing the cause - so I must figure it out.

I don't know what specific code(s) it's throwing so I cannot post any more specifics other than throttle body in conjunction with EPC light and that the dealership replaced the ECU. Since I have no Vag-Com I cannot check them. I'm thinking the throttle body needs a cleaning but haven't gone there yet so it's in the plans for this weekend. Anythings else this sounds like to anyone? Any input would be great. As I said, drive ability is not the issue and no limp mode.

[Nanozic]

Pretty sure the only way to get an actual VAG-COM is through Ross-Tech or used classifieds. Never heard of it being at a retail type place. I'd start in the classifieds, people are selling them all the time.

[dubzackvr6]

Make sure they put in the correct ECU for the car: ie. not running an A-Box on an M-Box car. Also, after you get your vag-com from RossTech, see how it's communication with the ECU. You can change the soft coding to make sure that the cluster and ecu are communicating correctly.

ECU Info: http://s4wiki.com/wiki/Generations

And how to recode your cluster: http://s4wiki.com/wiki/Cluster_recode

[BC-S4/02]

Yeah, store wise I was referring too those generic non-Ross Tech cables and thought I may find one of those at a store. You know like the ones you see on eBay etc. Not sure if those are any good though anyway.

[dubzackvr6]

9/10 times they're more of a headache than useful. It's alot to pay for a genuine cable, but it'll pay for itself after you scan your car like 3 times, dealerships charge ludicrous amounts to scan your car. You also have many abilities with genuine vag-com: logs, real-time data, coding, efficiency tests, etc.

[itguy]

http://www.obd2-scanner.com/usb-vwau...0ca41kjj8ao8s3

[ThirdStrike]

Pretty sure the only way to get an actual VAG-COM is through Ross-Tech or used classifieds. Never heard of it being at a retail type place. I'd start in the classifieds, people are selling them all the time.

9/10 times they're more of a headache than useful. It's alot to pay for a genuine cable, but it'll pay for itself after you scan your car like 3 times, dealerships charge ludicrous amounts to scan your car. You also have many abilities with genuine vag-com: logs, real-time data, coding, efficiency tests, etc.

neither one of these posts contains any good information.
Get yourself a fleabay cable and pm me. Ill send you a link to an older, but working version of Vagcom that will scan and datalog our ECM's just fine.
smh sometimes people just jump on threads just to post. I swear.

[dubzackvr6]

I'm sorry but 409.1 pales in comparison to a full version of vag-com. And not everyone has the patience to fiddle around with their computer for hours to try to get an ebay vag-com cable to work.

However, if all the OP wants to do is read codes, than an ebay cable will work, probably not without some headaches, but it may work. I have an ebay cable myself with a version of 409.1. It worked 2 times. Hasn't worked since.
I'm not being argumentative, I don't appreciate someone saying that I "post just to post". I'm trying to be helpful. I'll excuse myself from this. Good luck with your car OP.

[Timtheguru]

I'm sorry but 409.1 pales in comparison to a full version of vag-com. And not everyone has the patience to fiddle around with their computer for hours to try to get an ebay vag-com cable to work.

However, if all the OP wants to do is read codes, than an ebay cable will work, probably not without some headaches, but it may work. I have an ebay cable myself with a version of 409.1. It worked 2 times. Hasn't worked since.
I'm not being argumentative, I don't appreciate someone saying that I "post just to post". I'm trying to be helpful. I'll excuse myself from this. Good luck with your car OP.

Yeah, I've had an ebay cable for 5 years now and it works every time. You probably just got a bad one. The version doesn't really matter, any version will do all you need to do as far as checking/clearing codes and coding clusters etc.

If you want a logging software there are free ones out there that work great with my ebay cable as well.

To each their own.

[Timtheguru]

ps, I would have them replace the throttle body as the motor does go bad in there over time.

[BC-S4/02]

Thanks for all the insight and view points on the Vag-Com. Got your link on the eBay item. You just never know with those products on eBay without asking so I appreciate you taking a moment to comment.

I was thinking that replacing the throttle body would be a good idea, but I believe its likely dirty so figured I'd go that route first. I will post updates to my experiences with the dreaded EPC light so others can review in the future. Knowing that various sensors are built into the throttle body making it impossible to replace them individually if you find a specific sensor fault I'm sort of planning on the replacement anyway, but without the codes at the moment it's all just guessing. Figure the cleaning the TB and ECU discharge then run it a bit and see what happens for this weekend. Luckily as I said before she drives fine - if I where limping I'd be far more irritated!

[ThirdStrike]

I'm sorry but 409.1 pales in comparison to a full version of vag-com. And not everyone has the patience to fiddle around with their computer for hours to try to get an ebay vag-com cable to work.

However, if all the OP wants to do is read codes, than an ebay cable will work, probably not without some headaches, but it may work. I have an ebay cable myself with a version of 409.1. It worked 2 times. Hasn't worked since.

Yes, the sample rate sucks on the older versions, but even with VCDS the sample rate is not terrific. For real data logging you'd want to get something with better sampling, i.e. ecu explorer
.. nevertheless it works...and does the job.
VAGCOM group 11

Ross-tech software is awesome, and you should buy it, but to each his own

[BC-S4/02]

I'll check the ECU box code to make sure they didn't screw that up. That also makes sense to me that it could be a com issue as the car drives perfectly.

[BC-S4/02]

Eurodyne looks awesome but man the price... WOW!

[ThirdStrike]

Eurodyne looks awesome but man the price... WOW!

you get what you pay for, seriously, if you think about it to get a file for custom hardware right you need dyno time and whatever company that writes the file has to be heavily involved and preferrably on their own dyno


I've tried the whole sending my logs off and letting someone else analyze and try to fix my tune, but that shit is for the birds..diy all day

[Nanozic]

I need a Vag-Com cable any idea where I can pick one up? I know I can purchase one online, but wondered if I could potentially buy one from a store (never seen them so I'm guessing NO) Anyway thought I'd ask. Anyone local to Northern Va selling one or have a spare they want to sell?

I read that Vag-Com is the way to go. If there's another or better route please advise?

neither one of these posts contains any good information...
smh sometimes people just jump on threads just to post. I swear.

I assumed he was asking about the specific Ross-Tech version since that's what most people mean when they say vag-com. I'm not an idiot and did read his post and my answer was specific, I thought, to one of his questions.

In my experience, the generic cable and software combos can be a little finicky to get working, as some others have mentioned. I myself use VAD mobile. Seems that Thirstystrike has had other experiences that may be helpful to share.

[ThirdStrike]

thirstystrike ahahahaha

[Nanozic]

Hehe I was trying some humor.

[Melo]

How do you like the Eurodyne stuff? This is the lowest cost option that I've seen so far that provides its end users with software you can interact with. Unless you want to ship logs or drop the coin on stand alone, wouldn't this be a good option

[BC-S4/02]

Ok, so got the Vagcom up and running. Here are the results:
VAG-COM Version: Release 409.1-S


Gateway does not exist or CAN interface required.
Chassis Type: 8D - Audi A4 B5
Scan: 01,02,03,08,15,17,25,35,45,55,56

************************************************** ************************************************** ************************************************** ******-
Address 01: Engine
Controller: 8D0 907 551 J
Component: 2.7l V6/5VT 0003
Coding: 06751
Shop #: WSC 09401
2 Faults Found:
18098 - Malfunction Indication Light (K83): Electrical Malfunction
P1690 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent
18084 - EPC Warning Lamp (K132) Circuit: Electrical Malfunction
P1676 - 35-00 - -
Readiness: 0000 0000

************************************************** ************************************************** ************************************************** ******-
Address 02: Auto Trans
Controller: 8D0 927 156 DR
Component: AG5 01V 2.7l5VT USA 1819
Coding: 00002
Shop #: WSC 63351
No fault code found.

************************************************** ************************************************** ************************************************** ******-
Address 03: ABS Brakes
Controller: 8D0 907 389 E
Component: ABS/ESP allrad D56
Coding: 04397
Shop #: WSC 06435
No fault code found.

************************************************** ************************************************** ************************************************** ******-
Address 08: Auto HVAC
Controller: 8D0 820 043 P
Component: A4 KLIMAAUTOMAT D58
Coding: 00160
Shop #: WSC 63351
No fault code found.

************************************************** ************************************************** ************************************************** ******-
Skipping Address 15-Airbags

************************************************** ************************************************** ************************************************** ******-
Address 17: Instruments
Controller: 8D0 920 981 B
Component: B5-KOMBIINSTR. VDO D12
Coding: 02264
Shop #: WSC 26110
No fault code found.

************************************************** ************************************************** ************************************************** ******-
Address 35: Centr. Locks
Controller: 8L0 862 257 N
Component: CV-Pump, Alarm, RC D16
Coding: 16140
Shop #: WSC 63351
No Faults Found
or DTCs not supported by controller
or a communication error ocurred

************************************************** ************************************************** ************************************************** ******-
Address 45: Inter. Monitor
Controller: 4B0 951 173
Component: Innenraumueberw. D03
Coding: 00101
Shop #: WSC 63351
No fault code found.

************************************************** ************************************************** ************************************************** ******-
Address 55: Xenon Range
Controller: 4B0 907 357
Component: LEUCHTWEITEREGLER D004
Coding: 00012
Shop #: WSC 63351
No fault code found.

************************************************** ************************************************** ************************************************** ******-
Address 56: Radio
Controller: 8D0 035 195 A
Component: Radio D00
Coding: 00110
Shop #: WSC 63351
No fault code found.

End ************************************************** ************************************************** ************************************************** **********************************************

[BC-S4/02]

So any thoughts anyone? I haven't done a TB clean yet, but I am being told by someone else now that its like the issue or I need a new TB. Anything else it could be causing these two errors?

[BC-S4/02]

May have sorted this out. Put in a MTM chipped AA box and found a J box put in by the Audi dealer. Not sure why they put in a J box in a 2002. From what I'm seeing these were in the 01's. We'll see if that's the issue, but the EPC light went away took her for a spin and good god this chip is awesome.

[billh_pa]

Check out this link. I think you have the right box in there now.

http://s4wiki.com/wiki/Generations

[BC-S4/02]

yeah, dubzackvr6 mentioned to check this and I was kind of surprised that it was in fact the wrong box. Audi of Tyson's has issues obviously.

[dubzackvr6]

Glad you got it resolved.

[zrider91r]

free repair by Audi dealer??


****-
I am here: http://tapatalk.com/map.php?jfd23c

[BC-S4/02]

Not sure I have any recourse to recoup any money since the original owner traded it in on a new S4 and I'm guessing he EPC was on. They (Audi techs) diagnosed it as to first replace the ECU. This all prior to me purchasing the car. So if anything the poor knowledge of Audi dealer techs was reconfirmed to me personally. I've heard how terrible and over priced the dealers are but this was a firsthand experience. If it weren't for places like Audizine and the owner forums this could have really been an expensive and time consuming issue. Many thanks to all who chimed in and a big Gold Star to Dubzakvr6!