Erwin Diagnostic Information?

There is frequent mention of referring to factory information. RFTM

After obtaining over 200 documents from the Erwin VW site, for my 2008 Jetta 2.5, I notice there is virtually no meaningful diagnostic information aside from multiple DTC "definition" tables. The definitions are just the vague OBD2 titles but without much info on the parameters that set them (a few mention voltage above or below ___) or the guided fault finding or other diagnostic. A few emission issues may be generally mentioned under Strategies.

Likewise I was hoping I would see measuring block/field references, basic setting/adaptation info, etc. Once in a while a document randomly has a few pieces of info like that.

Am I missing a critical document or looking in the wrong place?

Joes_Jetta said:

Likewise I was hoping I would see measuring block/field references, basic setting/adaptation info, etc. Once in a while a document randomly has a few pieces of info like that.

Am I missing a critical document or looking in the wrong place?

Click to expand...

For new VW models/platforms after a certain point, let's say in the early 2000s, the factory documentation started to be real bad about referring you to the factory diagnostic tool for this sort of thing instead of actually documenting MVB and basic setting info. There is, however, still some good info for the OBD2 side.

Wiring Diagram Index

Now that I have these documents, I am trying to create summaries and search indexes. Mostly for TSB, TT, and SSP.

I decided to start leafing through the 2,500pg wiring diagram book. I then realized there seems to be no index or reference from service instruction books. So if I wanted to find the wiring diagram for a "left tail light" I have to do a manual [ctrl][f] search and pray that my search term is spot on.

Is this typical? Or is there usually some type of reference index?

If you use the VIN Specific information there is an interactive menu that is a lot better at leading you straight to the place to need because every blob in the diagram is clickable too.

If you register yourself with Erwin, then you can pay for a 1 hour licence, you can save lots of information and save over the 1 hour period.

Erwin 1hr is not available in the US. None the less, I believe I have already obtained all available US Erwin information for my make/model/year (200 files)

That said, it is extremely lacking for a majority of things I would use. Much like a haynes/chiltons but possibly less info. I was kind of hoping the diagnostic sections would include information on measuring block/adaptations, mechanical gauge readings, multimeter specs, diagnostic codes not related to engine/obd2 etc, but it is sparse. As mentioned, if I want to see a wiring diagram, I open up a separate 2,500 page pdf and use [ctrl]+[f] to manually search for the term I am looking for. This process can take an extremely long time, especially if volkswagon calls a component or circuit something different than the rest of the world. There is definitely no link clicking between documents or within the wiring diagram document (excluding the component locator)

So I am checking to see if I have missing documents or there is perhaps a pdf reader/software work around that people are using.

Joes_Jetta said:

Erwin 1hr is not available in the US.

Click to expand...

The minimum is one day, right?

-Uwe-

I believe it is 1 day month or year. At $35, the information for a car is actually priced better than almost all other single make manuals (ie a bentley manual for this make is $130)

These ROW users might be on to something, perhaps ROW erwin can fill in some of the missing blanks, even though NAR is usually cited as having more info.

This forum and the Ross-tech site both have tons more diagnostic information but refer users to the erwin manuals, then Erwin refers you to various VAS diagnostic machines.

An example:
Recent auto scan displays a few ignition switch codes. There are 4 "books" on DTCs. So you manually scan all for books for the codes in question, just to realize non SAE/OBD2 codes aren't really covered. The vcds already told you more than VW will, by giving the code a title.
So you go to Electrical Equip Repair book, take a stab in the dark at what component you think could be bad based on your non existent knowledge. which also mentions the owners manual and wiring diagram book. Consult wiring diagram via a manual search for "ignition switch" to confirm your suspicion that there is virtually no testable wire within this circuit. Go back to equipment repair, and read diagnostics. It tells you to just do a guided diagnostic. You take a stab in the dark to replace it, there is wonderful basic repair (nuts and bolts) info. It then reminds you to code the module, with guided fault finding but leaves it at that.

Yes, sadly VAG has buried most of the DTC trouble-shooting (with the exception of generic OBD codes) in the scripts and "test plans" in their own diagnostic software. They started doing this about a 15 years ago, and it's gotten worse ever since.

That said, erWin is still invaluable for wiring diagrams, component locations, TSBs, as well as mechanical procedures.

-Uwe-