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VAG fault code lookup

Every OBD-II and VAG fault code, in plain English — what it means, whether you can keep driving, and what to check first. Free, no sign-up.

Works with OBD-II P-codes, VAG 5-digit numbers, or plain words like boost, lean or camshaft.

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How to read and clear a VAG fault code

A stored code names the circuit that complained, not the part that failed. That distinction is where most money gets wasted: the definition says “camshaft position sensor”, so the sensor gets replaced, and the fault comes back because the actual problem was the wiring to it, or the oil feeding the adjuster it watches.

Fix the underlying fault first, then clear the code and drive the car so the ECU can re-run its self-test. Clearing without fixing puts the light straight back on, and some modules refuse to clear at all while the fault is still live.

VAG cars report faults twice over: in VAG's own 5-digit numbering and as a standard OBD-II P-code. 17978 and P1570, for example, are the same immobiliser fault. Which one you see depends on your tool. The lookup above accepts either, and shows the P-code beside every 5-digit number that has one.

Reading the code is the easy part

A code names the circuit that complained. What tells you why is watching the sensor behind it while the engine runs — and that is where a code reader stops and a diagnostic tool starts.

VAGPULSE reads your engine ECU's fault codes and the live measuring blocks behind them, and clears the codes once you have fixed the fault. On the engine it also does what a generic OBD reader cannot on a VAG: coding, adaptations, and Stage 1–3 flashing on Bosch ME7 petrol ECUs, with a backup saved every time it reads your ECU.

$249 once. No subscription, unlimited cars. Windows 10/11.

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Software downloads instantly · cable in stock, ships in 3 business days · cable guarantee — refund if it won't connect

Prefer to work on your phone? The VAGPULSE Android app is a free download and its demo mode runs against a sample car with no hardware at all, so you can see exactly what it reads before spending anything. Reading your car with it needs the VAGPULSE cable, which comes with the licence.

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