What is
CAN and why is it important?
CAN stands for
Controller Area Network.
CAN is a new means of communicating with the car for diagnostics used by the latest
generations of VW, Audi, SEAT, and Skoda vehicles. Unlike the
older ISO9141 system which used a single K-line for diagnostic
communications, the new CAN-Bus system uses a twisted pair of wires
with differential signaling. CAN is considerably
faster than ISO-9141 (500 kbps vs. 10.4 kbps). Both new hardware and new
software are required in order to communicate with cars using
CAN for diagnostics.
What Cars Use CAN for
Diagnostics? (Click
on the links of info on each vehicle)
-
With very few exceptions*,
all 2008 and newer VW/Audi Group cars require CAN
-
All Golf platform cars (Mk5/Mk6/Mk7) including:
-
2003+
Audi A8 and A8L (D3
platform, 4E chassis) (2010+ models may also have
FA in the VIN)
-
2005+
Audi A6/S6/RS6 (C6 platform,
4F chassis) (2010+ models may also have FB in the VIN)
-
2005+
Audi
A4/S4/RS4 ("B7" platform) (some control modules)
-
2005.5+
VW Passat (B6 Platform,
3C chassis) (2010+ models may also have AN in the VIN)
-
2006+
VW Crafter/LT3
-
2006+
Audi Q7 (4L chassis) (2010+ models may also have
FE in the VIN)
-
2006+
Multicar Tremo (only engine is diagnostics-capable)
-
2007+
VW Touareg
(7L6 chassis) ("facelift", built
after Nov.
30 2006) (2010+ may have A9 in VIN)
-
2007+
VW Phaeton (3D chassis) ("facelift", MY 2008+)
-
2007+
Audi R8 (42 chassis) (2010+ models may have
FG in the VIN)
-
2008+
Bentley Continental GT/Flying Spur (3W chassis)
("facelift", MY 2008+)
-
2008+
Audi A5/S5 (B8 platform,
8T chassis)
(2010+ models may also have FR in the VIN)
-
2008+
Audi A4/S4/RS4 (B8 platform,
8K chassis) (2010+ models may also have FL in the VIN)
-
2008+
VW Passat CC (35
chassis) (2010+ models may also have AN in the VIN)
-
2008+
Seat Ibiza (6J
chassis)
-
2008+
Skoda Superb (3T
chassis)
-
2008+
KTM X-Bow (requires special KTM adapter and only
Engine "talks")
-
2009+
VW Scirocco (13
chassis)
-
2009+
VW Golf
Mk.6 (5K
chassis)
-
2009+
Audi Q5 (8R
chassis) (2010+ models may have FP in the VIN)
-
2009+
Seat Exeo (3R
chassis)
-
2010+
Skoda Yeti (5L
chassis)
-
2010+
Audi A5/S5 Cabriolet (8F/FR chassis),
(North America models may have FH in the VIN)
-
2010+
VW Amarok
-
2010+
VW Polo (6R
chassis)
-
2010+
VW Transporter T5 facelift (7E/7F
chassis)
-
2011+
Audi A1 (8X chassis)
-
2011+
Audi
Q3 (8U/FS chassis)
-
2011+
Audi A7 (4L/FC chassis)
-
2011+
Audi A8 (4H/FD chassis)
-
2011+
Seat Alhambra (71 chassis)
-
2011+
VW Sharan (7N)
-
2011+
Bentley Mulsannee (3Y chassis)
-
2012+
Audi A6 (4G chassis)
-
2012+
VW Passat (NMS) (A3
chassis)
-
2012+
VW up! (12
chassis)
-
2015+
Skoda Superb III (3V chassis)
-
2015+
VW Passat B8 (Rest-of-World) (3G chassis)
* The New Beetle continued to
use the older k-line diagnostics only incorporating CAN
for Generic OBD-2 in 2008 as mandated by the EPA. Other
holdover models such as the 7V Seat Alhambra, 6L Seat
Ibiza/Cordoba, 6Y/5J Skoda Fabia, 1U Skoda Octavia, 5J
Skoda Roomster, 3U Skoda Superb and others may have
continued to use the older k-line diagnostics into and
past 2008. In doubt, contact Ross-Tech via email.
Does VCDS work with cars that require direct
CAN access for diagnostics?
Yes!
We have
integrated CAN compatibility since the
Release 404.0
version of our software, but obviously, an
interface capable of communicating via CAN is
required. The
HEX+CAN,
the Micro-CAN,
and all of our current
interfaces have are capable of communicating via CAN.
Do the CAN-Bus
Interfaces also work with older vehicles that use the k-line?
Yes!
The HEX+CAN and
all of our current
interfaces are fully backwards compatible
with older vehicles that use either single or dual K-lines as
well, so they work with all VW/Audi/SEAT/Skoda from 1996-current.
However, our low-cost
Micro-CAN interfaces are
not backwards compatible with older cars.
I am an
existing Ross-Tech customer. Can I upgrade my Interface to
work with the vehicles using CAN-Bus diagnostics?
Yes! Please
click here for the Interface
Upgrade Section of our
Store.
I am not
a Ross-Tech customer. How do I buy an Interface and software
to work with the vehicles using CAN-Bus diagnostics?
A 1K Chassis Golf-5 connected
using a prototype HEX-USB+CAN Interface -- February 2004
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