Scan tool for NB that works on other CAN bus cars?

[iFixBethsBug]

I understand that on my g/f's 02' NB, there are several tools that will scan engine emissions-based codes with a generic OBD-II scan tool. However, for anything else of interest I need a more specific tool since it uses the CAN protocol for other info (please correct me if I have mis-spoken here, I think CAN is an actual communication protocol, right?).

The VAG COM seems to be the common choice, but is there anything else out there that has similar functionality? The reason I ask is that my new Mazda6 also uses CAN and I'd rather get one tool that works with both vehicles. Mine is still under warranty so not such a big deal but hers is getting up in age and is out of warranty so the repairs are going to begin to get costly if we are always going to the dealer.

All of my other vehicles use "paper clip" code scanners so this is new territory for me.

Thanks,

Bryan

[kcfoxie]

I'm not sure. I think that they'd be different; but i could be wrong. ROSS-TECH sells a USB CAN-based VAG-COM cable and software that would work on her car and any VW/Audi CAN-based car like the MarkV platform Jetta and GTI, but as for scanning your Mazda.. i'd assume you'd need some type of Windows-based ODB Software to make it work. VAG-COM referrs not only to the K-line ODB II enabled connector cable but also the VAG software to enable interaction with the control modules of the ECU like Comfort Control, etc. If the main interest here is ODB II code cleaning and reading, I'd suggest a ODB II reader. Unless she has a 2006 (and even that is iffy, I don't think it's CAN-based) she has a K-line non-CAN system that a $36 cable from ebay can connect to (and they link to the shareware version of the $99 software to enable full ECU access).

[Toad]

Yeah, i'm purtty sure the VW/Audi CAN bus is a differnt protocol than the Mazda CAN bus. And as states above, the NB's dont even have CAN buses, only sstandard VAG bus. SO if you shell out the money for a ross-tech vag+can usb cable, i think your gonna be dissapoined.

I have an obd2 ScanGauge from thinkgeek, and i love it.

[iFixBethsBug]

She has a 2002 model. So you are saying that the NB is CAN-based but technically does not meet the CAN specifications? For 2008, all cars sold in the US are supposed to be CAN-bus, so that is a bit confusing.

Sounds like I can get a nice scanner that will work with my Mazda and pull a least OBD-II codes from her car also. That might be enough for right now. We are going to do a tranny fluid change soon hence looking into the VAG-COM.