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List Price: $89.99
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It's difficult to say for sure whether this Xtool VAG401 is capable of functioning as a competent substitute for a VW/Audi version VAG 1551/1552 professional diagnostic aid, mostly due to its Instruction Manual laden with self contradiction, misstatements, and omitted crucial procedural steps for the so very few operations presented within it. Unless the intending user is well experienced and proficient in using a variety of such diagnostic aids, it's quite likely, he or she will experience great difficulty and frustration attempting to utilize this tool effectively, to say the least; and in the very worst case, may inflict irreparable damage to their vehicle's Electronic Control Module/Unit (ECM/ECU), at the risk of crippling or disabling its functionality completely.
For instance: On the first page following the Table of Contents, under the heading titled "Safety Precautions", one is immediately cautioned in bold print, "...do not use the VAG401 before reading this manual". Farther down on that page (paragraph-2, sub-paragraph-6) it states, "Connecting or disconnecting test equipment when the ignition is ON can damage test equipment and the vehicle's electronic components." Reading on (bearing in mind that first stated rule of safety), one finds under the "Operation Instructions" heading (page-7), in section-2: "Connect the VAG401", directly conflicting with the aforementioned warning, it plainly states "Turn the ignition ON" prior to instructing the user to connect the VAG401.
There are also issues regarding the STRUCTURE of the manual. Most notably, on the LAST PAGE (page 21), explaining where to find and identify the "Data Linking Connection" (DLC). It makes better sense to me, to provide that information to the user in the section mentioned earlier, on "Connecting the VAG401", NOT on the last page of the manual.
By now, most of us have gotten used to the common typographical errors, and the sometimes-unavoidable original meaning "being lost in translation", but this kind of error is nothing less than inexcusable. I addition to errors such as this, there are, located throughout the manual, at least a few omitted steps crucial to fully accomplish, what few of the MANY, functions this device may be capable of performing.
While there seems to have been "no stone unturned" in their effort to warn a prospective user of every possible, and even the more remote likelihood of injury or damage that could result from the misuse of this tool, and disregard to the numerous hazards involved in working on and around an internal combustion engine and/or motor vehicle drivetrain. (I'm assuming, to free themselves of virtually any and all liabilities), it's almost sad, in a way, to have a diagnostic device, as potentially capable and sophisticated as this may well be, furnished with a manual as UN-sophisticated (almost comic-book-like) as this.
One can only hope that some department within the company directly involved in the production of this tool, right now is working on a MUCH more thorough, user-friendly, American/ENGLISH-language "Instruction Manual", in "downloadable" (.pdf?) format, for the existing (and even future) owners of this tool to easily obtain, in the not-too-distant future. For now, we'll just have to make do, searching the web for instructional videos (i.e. "you-tube") and chat forums, to "fill in" the missing pieces.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
Purchased this tool specifically to perform idle adaptation procedure on a customer's car as it clearly says it will do in "special functions" description. Upon receipt and first use, it would not perform this procedure and vehicle had to go to dealer anyway. Tool says "function not available". I emailed amazon and xtool. Amazon ignored me and here's xtools response: Dear buyer ,
Sorry for the poor English express in the device.
VAG401 does support throttle adaptation on 2009 VW Jetta.
I will conduct our engineer and inform you how to do it.
Best regards!
Xiangyu Jin
I never heard back from the company or amazon. This tool is falsely advertised junk. The limited instruction book is in very bad English, the display is poor, the screen transitions are painfully slow and there is zero support when it doesn't work. If all you want is a code reader, this may work however, there are better ones out there.
Best Deals for New Arrival Xtool Vag401 Vag Auto Scanner for Vw/audi/seat/skoda on
This does everything I could want it to. Recoded my radio to turn back on aux input. Diagnosed and later cleared my airbag light. Reads real time data, etc.
Essential tool for working on vw without laptop and vcds interface. Used it on my 2008 vw jetta Wolfsburg.
Honest reviews on New Arrival Xtool Vag401 Vag Auto Scanner for Vw/audi/seat/skoda on
It works perfectly with my Audi. My husband use it all the time and it comes in handy when the engine light comes on. I will recommend to anyone
