Anyone found a non VDS-Pro / serial port dongle way to talk to the CCM?

[Vince Waldon]

Lugging a double-bass around all day the default rear hatch behaviour on my 2006 Jetta Wagen is really starting to wear thin.

Would like to re-code the CCM so that the hatch unlocks the same way the rest of the doors unlock.

The two approaches seem to be:

1) run a jumper with diode between the door module signal and the rear hatch signal, per Pencilnck:

http://4130-products.com/step/hatch/index.htm

2) reprogram the CCM using VDS-Pro, an old laptop with a COM1 port running DOS, and a serial port OBD2 adapter:

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=161339

I've done the jumper and it works fine, except that because the hatch thinks it's unlocked every time the doors are unlocked the car alarm won't arm unless you physically open the rear hatch and then close it again.

Thus I'm investigating the CCM reprogramming option... EXCEPT I have to track down an old laptop with an actual 9-pin serial port and a eBay-special serial port dongle... probably 50-100 bucks worth of stuff, assuming I can find the right serial port adapter in the sea of eBay offerings.

Hence my question: has anyone ever found a more modern way to talk to the CCM? VCDS won't, Vag-Tacho won't.

 

[wonneber]

EXCEPT I have to track down an old laptop with an actual 9-pin serial port and a eBay-special serial port dongle...

If the laptop has the DB9 connector why do you need the 'serial port dongle'

Maybe just a USB OBD2 cable?

Rich W.

 

[Vince Waldon]

VDS-Pro will only run under DOS, and as far as I know will only talk to a legacy serial (9 pin) interface on COM1. By "dongle" I mean OBD2 connector. Like this:

http://r.ebay.com/HMatVY

At least, that's my understanding from the research thus far. Hence this thread.

 

[djrhetoric]

Vince,

I used this cable:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007UKTW8E/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

In all of my research on VDS-Pro, I don't think anyone was able to get a USB to DB9 serial dongle to work on a more modern machine. Like you said, it has to be on a machine with a native DB9 connector.

I was able to get this to work on my Thinkpad X32 (with expansion base and DB9 port). I put a VDS-Pro/DOS image on a bootable flash drive and it worked flawlessly to change the CCM coding on my wagon and a friend's wagon.

 

[Vince Waldon]

Thanks very much for your reply... good to hear from someone that actually got it to work... gives me hope.

Just to double check...because this is the one detail I'm still trying to clarify... the cable you've linked with specifically says it's NOT an interface and not intended to connect directly between the laptop and car:

QUOTE:
"Note: This is an ADAPTER CABLE not an interface cable. It should not be attached directly to your laptop - you will need an interface between your cable and laptop"

The more expensive 9-pin serial cables seem to be actual interfaces... some even have an LED in them, like a genuine Ross-Tech cable does. The cheap ones all say "Not intended... ".

No offence...just double-checking so I don't blow anything up: for sure the dumb cable "not an interface" is the one you ordered?

I can't get that specific one on Amazon.ca... so have to cross-reference a bit.

Thanks again for your help,

Vince

 

[djrhetoric]

Good catch, Vince. I bought two cables last year when I did this, but I don't think I ever tried the Amazon version. This is the one that I got on eBay that I know works.. this IS an interface cable:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Serial-OBD2...366947?hash=item3d1d775d23:g:DIMAAOxy~g5Ruonw

I remember having to make some adjustments in my BIOS for the serial port in order for it to connect, but once it connects you're in. Just be 1000% sure the bits you are changing are correct before you save...

 

[Vince Waldon]

OK great... thanks for the extra clarification.

A shopping I will go!