Ross Tech or another Tool Instead ?
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 1
Rep Power: 0
Ross Tech or another Tool Instead ?
Hi there 6speeders,
I am new to this forum.
I will just let all of you know what I am now doing regarding my VW analytics tools:
I got sold a Transporter by a main UK Dealer and it had been in a crash. It was 11 months or so old, and would not steer straight. It was used for continental runs, Newcastle to Copenhagen, Oslo, Bergen etc. LONG RUNS !
It was dangerous and wouldn't steer straight, had air-con faults, the doors wouldn't shut properly, had a non spotlight switch fitted so the spots would't come on AND MORE.
Obviously the dealer wouldn't fix anything, and even told me my van didn't have spotlights, so they can't be switched on. They became quite spooky when pushed to correct the faults or replace the van. The good old UK motor trade !
This forced me to take advice and get a Ross Tech unit. It cost a small fortune.
I got my I.T. Degree in the 90's and found that old style software had few clear user friendly interface features. Lotus Notes and Word Perfect were good examples, and users needed to have read-up, been shown or have had experience of the package before they can use it. Use of Function Keys, No navigation bar, and Vague input protocols were just a few of the non-ergonomic weaknesses that such packages display.
I also learned that Apple Macs were good, LINUX was, OK and Microsoft were the "Evil Empire". Therefore if you get any diagnostic or engineering kit, make sure it is stand alone or bluetooth, with parity checked updating. A facility to completely wipe the unit and make a fresh download is also essential. Bugs exist, so minimise the vulnerabilities.
After spending £100's on the Ross Tech unit (the one allowing multiple vehicles), I found that it was a bit of a banger in terms of all the above IT issues I hate. However I decided I would give it a fair chance. Ross Tech is the professionals choice and it is very powerful and intrusive, it gives quite raw but immensely useful data to the experienced mechanic. It is however not to be used by a novice unless they have assistance. The package appears to have grown as VW have expanded their empire, and all the add-ons that VW have included as they marched forward taking over many other manufacturers, have had to be added to by Ross Tech in the same unfortunate unstructured way. Those who used it or a similar VW interface in the last century will have been able to expand their knowledge as the years progressed, but with so unhelpful an interface it is an awkward tool for the beginner.
It is not easily updated, I have problems on most occasions, it needs to be used on a Microsoft Laptop, as problems have been repeatedly posted by Mac users. It crashes during updates even on a Microsoft machine and the laptop I got never seems to be able to get its own updates right, so that also makes the function of the Ross Tech unit somewhat suspect. If there was ever a case for a stand alone unit, vehicle diagnosis is a good one.
The scan facility is good and can be sent to a VW workshop for them to decide what to do next, but if you use a Mac you have to get the scan off the laptop somehow and via bluetooth or USB you need to get the thing printed or emailed etc.
I have detected a jammed throttle pedal from a low voltage fault, and continual central locking errors exist when door mechanisms are damaged or forced, but the unit has been of little use to me simply because there is no training, and despite the reasonable backup from the USA, the interface in some cases wants an ASCI string put in on your keypad to do things as simple as telling it that you upgraded the battery from a 70 to an 80 Ah !!! Other tools give you an easier input interface, allowing a choice of battery values and advising what they judge as the standard and where they deem upper and lower limits to be.
I do not wish to make this post any longer than it need be, but the response to these concerns listed above has been so poor on the Ross Tech Forum, that I am looking around for a more suitable diagnostic tool.
Any suggestions ?????
I am new to this forum.
I will just let all of you know what I am now doing regarding my VW analytics tools:
I got sold a Transporter by a main UK Dealer and it had been in a crash. It was 11 months or so old, and would not steer straight. It was used for continental runs, Newcastle to Copenhagen, Oslo, Bergen etc. LONG RUNS !
It was dangerous and wouldn't steer straight, had air-con faults, the doors wouldn't shut properly, had a non spotlight switch fitted so the spots would't come on AND MORE.
Obviously the dealer wouldn't fix anything, and even told me my van didn't have spotlights, so they can't be switched on. They became quite spooky when pushed to correct the faults or replace the van. The good old UK motor trade !
This forced me to take advice and get a Ross Tech unit. It cost a small fortune.
I got my I.T. Degree in the 90's and found that old style software had few clear user friendly interface features. Lotus Notes and Word Perfect were good examples, and users needed to have read-up, been shown or have had experience of the package before they can use it. Use of Function Keys, No navigation bar, and Vague input protocols were just a few of the non-ergonomic weaknesses that such packages display.
I also learned that Apple Macs were good, LINUX was, OK and Microsoft were the "Evil Empire". Therefore if you get any diagnostic or engineering kit, make sure it is stand alone or bluetooth, with parity checked updating. A facility to completely wipe the unit and make a fresh download is also essential. Bugs exist, so minimise the vulnerabilities.
After spending £100's on the Ross Tech unit (the one allowing multiple vehicles), I found that it was a bit of a banger in terms of all the above IT issues I hate. However I decided I would give it a fair chance. Ross Tech is the professionals choice and it is very powerful and intrusive, it gives quite raw but immensely useful data to the experienced mechanic. It is however not to be used by a novice unless they have assistance. The package appears to have grown as VW have expanded their empire, and all the add-ons that VW have included as they marched forward taking over many other manufacturers, have had to be added to by Ross Tech in the same unfortunate unstructured way. Those who used it or a similar VW interface in the last century will have been able to expand their knowledge as the years progressed, but with so unhelpful an interface it is an awkward tool for the beginner.
It is not easily updated, I have problems on most occasions, it needs to be used on a Microsoft Laptop, as problems have been repeatedly posted by Mac users. It crashes during updates even on a Microsoft machine and the laptop I got never seems to be able to get its own updates right, so that also makes the function of the Ross Tech unit somewhat suspect. If there was ever a case for a stand alone unit, vehicle diagnosis is a good one.
The scan facility is good and can be sent to a VW workshop for them to decide what to do next, but if you use a Mac you have to get the scan off the laptop somehow and via bluetooth or USB you need to get the thing printed or emailed etc.
I have detected a jammed throttle pedal from a low voltage fault, and continual central locking errors exist when door mechanisms are damaged or forced, but the unit has been of little use to me simply because there is no training, and despite the reasonable backup from the USA, the interface in some cases wants an ASCI string put in on your keypad to do things as simple as telling it that you upgraded the battery from a 70 to an 80 Ah !!! Other tools give you an easier input interface, allowing a choice of battery values and advising what they judge as the standard and where they deem upper and lower limits to be.
I do not wish to make this post any longer than it need be, but the response to these concerns listed above has been so poor on the Ross Tech Forum, that I am looking around for a more suitable diagnostic tool.
Any suggestions ?????
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post