VCDS Diagnostics/Customisation

26th March 2017

I bought a VCDS Micro-CAN interface from Ross-Tech when I had my Volkswagen Golf Mk 5. It was primarily so that I could check that the car was running ok and diagnose any problems which occurred. It also allowed me to make a few customisations such as fine tune the sensitivity of the Auto Wipers & Auto Lights after a windscreen change and enabling the rear window teardrop wipe.

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Mk 7 fault codes

I thought having VCDS was worth the money whilst I had my Mk 5 but I was pleased to learn I could continue to use it on my Mk 7. Since my Mk 7 was 3 years old when I bought it, I was keen to use VCDS to see if any fault codes were logged. There were a few but nothing major. I cleared them all and only one seems to reoccur:

328196 - Motor for Right Temperature Flap 
B108D 71 [009] - Actuator stuck
Confirmed - Tested Since Memory Clear

UPDATE 19th November 2016: After monitoring this fault code for the last 4 months, I think the problem is that there must be some restricted movement of the right temperature flap which prevents it from being able to completely shut off hot air from entering the cabin. Using VCDS to run one of the HVAC system's output tests appears to confirm this. The fault code only appears to be logged during the summer when the car is started with a really hot interior. Now that we are almost into winter this situation rarely occurs and the fault code isn't logged so much. I will continue to monitor but I could live with this problem if I had to.

Mk 7 customisations

Starting from the Ross-Tech Wiki page for the VW Golf VII it pointed me to a number of forums discussing modifications and customisations for the Golf Mk 7. It sooner became apparent that there were lots but I have verified the following:

• Speedo & Rev Counter Needle Sweep on startup
  This was my first VCDS coding modification on my Mk 7 to make sure it worked. Purely cosmetic. See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyLxCs97xLg. I have since disabled this as I found it unnecessary.
  
  

  Control Module: 17 (Instruments)
  Coding: Byte 1, bit 0 (Gauge Test/Needle Sweep (Staging) Active)
  Set to: 1

• Automatic summer time
  
  
  Automatic summer time enabled.
  The following mod causes the "Summer (DST)" checkbox on the Car -> Setup -> Time and date page of the Infotainment system to be replaced with an "Automatic summer time" checkbox. Check it and no more having to change the clock manually each Spring and Autumn.
  
  

  Control Module: 5F (Infotainment System)
  Adaptation: Summertime-automatic
  Set to: Europe

• Driving Profile reminder in MFD
  You can change the Driving Profile by pressing the button to the left of the gear lever. This brings up a display on the Infotainment System to allow you to view/change the selected profile. However, you can also enable a current driving profile reminder in the MFD:
  
  

  Control Module: 19 (CAN Gateway)
  Coding: Byte 8, bit 4 (Display for Drive Program Functions in Instrument Cluster active)
  Set to: 1

• Fan speed LED's in Auto mode
  
  LED's show fan speed in Auto mode.
  
  When the Climatronic climate control system is in Auto mode, the fan speed LED's are turned off by default. With this mod, in Auto mode the fan speed LED's indicate the current fan speed. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsHqkFDIMFg. I find this a useful feature.
  

  Control Module: 8 (Auto HVAC)
  Coding: Byte 11, bit 6 (Blower status display in auto-mode active)
  Set to: 1

• Enable/Disable control of Daylight Running Lights via Infotainment System
  With the ignition on and the light switch in OFF or AUTO position, the Daylight Running Lights (DRL's) were on. I wanted to be able to turn them off if, for example I was working on the car with the ignition on for an extended period of time. This mod enables me to control the DRL's via the CAR -> SETUP - > LIGHTS section of the Infotainment System:
  
  

  Control Module: 9 (Central Electronics)
  Adaptation: IDE06864-ENG116594-Daytime running lights-Tagfahrlicht Aktivierung durch BAP oder Bedienfolge moeglich
  Set to: active

  
  Other adaptations allow the DRL's to be turned off automatically whenever either the handbrake is applied or if the light switch is in the OFF position.
• Traffic Sign Recognition (in Restricted Mode)
  
  
  Traffic Sign page of MFD.
  Because my Golf Mk 7 has the Lane Assist system I have also been able to enable the Sign Assist or Traffic Sign Recognition feature. This is where the front facing camera located behind the rear-view mirror detects road signs and displays a corresponding reminder on the car's MFD (either in colour or black and white).
  
  The VCDS modifications required to enable this feature are well documented on the internet. I used these instructions from a forum post on briskoda.net.
  
  
  
  Warning message in MFD after
  approximately 3 minutes of driving.
  The system is designed to work in conjunction with the car's built in navigation system so that it can double-check what the camera sees with information stored on the sat-nav's built in speed limit database. Because my car has the Composition Media System (CMS) which does not include navigation, the system detects this after approximately 3 minutes of driving and display a "Traffic sign recognition: restricted" message in the MFD along with an accompanying chime. This warning is well placed because although the camera does read correctly, I'd estimate about 90% of road signs, it does occasionally get things wrong (such as misreading a dirty 30mph speed limit for 80mph or reading the 100(kph) sign off the back of a lorry!).
  
  I was impressed with the system and could have lived with it in restricted mode if it wasn't for the annoying "restricted" warning message, accompanying warning chime, and a warning message on the Vehicle Status screen of the Infotainment System. Consequently, I have now disabled this feature.
• Infotainment System's Developer Mode
  The Composition Media or Discovery Navigation Infotainment System's can have a Developer Mode activated.
  
  

  Control Module: 5F (Infotainment System)
  Security Key: S12345
  Adaptation: IDE02122-Developer mode
  Set to: activated

  
  
  This provides the following features:
  
  - Save screenshots (in PNG format) to the root directory of a plugged-in SD card. Hold down the MEDIA button for approximately 2 seconds until you hear a "dong".
  
  
  
  Test Mode menu.
  - A Test Mode page. Hold down the MENU button for approximately 10 seconds. You can then:
  
  
  • Run tests on the Infotainment System
  • Enable/Disable tracing and adjust tracing parameters
  • Access a "Picture Viewer" which allows you to view any number of photos stored on an SD card, CD, etc.
  • Access a "Green Menu" which allows you to view and change which control modules the Infotainment System interacts with.

Picture Viewer, touch screen controls and Images Setup menu.

Green menu.

YouTube video showing Test Mode.

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As an eBay Partner, I may be compensated if you make a purchase.