Gauge Cluster KSC Key Retreival

touaregv10tdi

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2006
Location
Fort Lauderdale - Florida
TDI
2013 Beetle TDi,2000 Beetle TDi, 2016 BMW X5 Diesel, 2004 Touareg V10 TDi,2015 Beetle TDi, 2005 Jetta TDi
Hello TDIers,

I need to retrieve my KSC security key from my cluster (2000 Beetle TDI)
I have tried all kinds of software but no luck as of yet. Vag commander, did not communicate with my cable, Vag-Tacho neither.
Any advise how can get that KSC Key?

Thank you.
 

Mozambiquer

Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Mar 21, 2015
Location
Versailles Missouri
TDI
2004 VW Touareg V10 TDI, 2012 Audi Q7 V6 TDI, 1998 VW Jetta TDI. 1982 VW Rabbit pickup, 2001 VW Jetta TDI, 2005 VW Passat wagon TDI X3, 2001 VW golf TDI, 1980 VW rabbit pickup,
Hello TDIers,

I need to retrieve my KSC security key from my cluster (2000 Beetle TDI)
I have tried all kinds of software but no luck as of yet. Vag commander, did not communicate with my cable, Vag-Tacho neither.
Any advise how can get that KSC Key?

Thank you.
Kw1281test software found right here: https://forums.tdiclub.com/index.php?threads/kw1281test-a-free-vds-pro-vagtacho-alternative.509151/
I've used it many times and it works great! You will either need an older unlimited vin vcds cable running vcp drivers or a kkl cable for it.
 

touaregv10tdi

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2006
Location
Fort Lauderdale - Florida
TDI
2013 Beetle TDi,2000 Beetle TDi, 2016 BMW X5 Diesel, 2004 Touareg V10 TDi,2015 Beetle TDi, 2005 Jetta TDi
I can make my VCDS connect to vag tacho or vag comander, but when I try to connect to the car, it does not work.
 

touaregv10tdi

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2006
Location
Fort Lauderdale - Florida
TDI
2013 Beetle TDi,2000 Beetle TDi, 2016 BMW X5 Diesel, 2004 Touareg V10 TDi,2015 Beetle TDi, 2005 Jetta TDi
Nothing works, I get no communication with the cable, I even bought vag commander from china, I am still not able to get my KSC key .
Any other alternatives?
 

Mozambiquer

Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Mar 21, 2015
Location
Versailles Missouri
TDI
2004 VW Touareg V10 TDI, 2012 Audi Q7 V6 TDI, 1998 VW Jetta TDI. 1982 VW Rabbit pickup, 2001 VW Jetta TDI, 2005 VW Passat wagon TDI X3, 2001 VW golf TDI, 1980 VW rabbit pickup,
Nothing works, I get no communication with the cable, I even bought vag commander from china, I am still not able to get my KSC key .
Any other alternatives?
Did you try the kw1281test software?
 

Mozambiquer

Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Mar 21, 2015
Location
Versailles Missouri
TDI
2004 VW Touareg V10 TDI, 2012 Audi Q7 V6 TDI, 1998 VW Jetta TDI. 1982 VW Rabbit pickup, 2001 VW Jetta TDI, 2005 VW Passat wagon TDI X3, 2001 VW golf TDI, 1980 VW rabbit pickup,
I have not , I will try it this weekend and post my experience in here.
Thank you.
Its a little bit more techy, but even I who am not a nerd, was able to get it with the help of several of the guys who have already done it.
 

BobnOH

not-a-mechanic
Joined
May 29, 2004
Location
central Ohio
TDI
New Beetle 2003 manual
kw1281test: A Free VDS-Pro / VagTacho Alternative
The fellow who put this together seems to support it as well! Though it's nothing official or commercial.
Notes:
SKC is now referred to as "Secret Code"
Most of the free or pirated VAGtacho software on the interweb are infected.
The FixMy guy down in Georgia rents what you need.
 

touaregv10tdi

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2006
Location
Fort Lauderdale - Florida
TDI
2013 Beetle TDi,2000 Beetle TDi, 2016 BMW X5 Diesel, 2004 Touareg V10 TDi,2015 Beetle TDi, 2005 Jetta TDi
Did you try the kw1281test software?
I tried today no luck, this KW128 is complicated, I managed to get the cable on COM port 2, followed all the instructions on the site, but there is no software to click on I have no idea what to do next, do I run dotnet run from command prompt? I ran steps 1,2, 3 and 4 then there nothing else to do.
I am clueless on this now.
 

Mozambiquer

Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Mar 21, 2015
Location
Versailles Missouri
TDI
2004 VW Touareg V10 TDI, 2012 Audi Q7 V6 TDI, 1998 VW Jetta TDI. 1982 VW Rabbit pickup, 2001 VW Jetta TDI, 2005 VW Passat wagon TDI X3, 2001 VW golf TDI, 1980 VW rabbit pickup,
I tried today no luck, this KW128 is complicated, I managed to get the cable on COM port 2, followed all the instructions on the site, but there is no software to click on I have no idea what to do next, do I run dotnet run from command prompt? I ran steps 1,2, 3 and 4 then there nothing else to do.
I am clueless on this now.
Which type of computer?
 

Mozambiquer

Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Mar 21, 2015
Location
Versailles Missouri
TDI
2004 VW Touareg V10 TDI, 2012 Audi Q7 V6 TDI, 1998 VW Jetta TDI. 1982 VW Rabbit pickup, 2001 VW Jetta TDI, 2005 VW Passat wagon TDI X3, 2001 VW golf TDI, 1980 VW rabbit pickup,
HP Windows 10
Open kw1281test up in powershell and type the command .\kw1281test.exe COM2 10400 17 GetSKC
Assuming your cable is still on com2.
 

touaregv10tdi

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2006
Location
Fort Lauderdale - Florida
TDI
2013 Beetle TDi,2000 Beetle TDi, 2016 BMW X5 Diesel, 2004 Touareg V10 TDi,2015 Beetle TDi, 2005 Jetta TDi
Very helpful video, however it did not work for me. I have 4 different cables including full version of VCDS, I am able to make windows see my cables on COM Port 2, however this KW files does not execute.
I cant find VagTacho or Vag commander to download. It seems so easy when you have the proper software. This dam key is holding me up from doing a lot of things to the car, it is such a PITA.
But thanks for all the insight, very helpful.
 

Rein

Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2023
Location
Hawaii
TDI
Alh
I used a K line cable when I retrieved my pin from my cluster, just make sure your on the right cluster type from the drop down menu. No sure of vcds would work
What software did you use, I bought a cheap ebay kkl alternative and only works up to Windows 7
 

touaregv10tdi

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2006
Location
Fort Lauderdale - Florida
TDI
2013 Beetle TDi,2000 Beetle TDi, 2016 BMW X5 Diesel, 2004 Touareg V10 TDi,2015 Beetle TDi, 2005 Jetta TDi
What software did you use, I bought a cheap ebay kkl alternative and only works up to Windows 7
I bought the same chinese ebay software. It does not comunicate with my PC. I am still trying to figure this one out..
 

BobnOH

not-a-mechanic
Joined
May 29, 2004
Location
central Ohio
TDI
New Beetle 2003 manual
There is a sticky atop our OBDII forum for this common situation. It's a bit involved but doable. May only work with certain years.
OBD
 

touaregv10tdi

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2006
Location
Fort Lauderdale - Florida
TDI
2013 Beetle TDi,2000 Beetle TDi, 2016 BMW X5 Diesel, 2004 Touareg V10 TDi,2015 Beetle TDi, 2005 Jetta TDi
Can't remember if it was VAG tacho or VAG commander. They are similar. One thing I noticed is you need to make sure sure com port is set correctly and cluster type is correct. Otherwise it won't work
Agreed.
My COM ports where ok, I tried all the COM Ports and all available clusters it did not work. It does not communicate then it times out.
My cluster is from a German TDI VW Beetle.
 
Top