Dan,
I picked up a generic USB VAG-com cable on ebay for less than $20, I use the shareware version of the Rosstech software (www.rosstech.com), it is VW/Audi specifice and will save you lots of dough in repair costs.  Most of the things that pop up are common to all Golfs/Jettas from that model range and many of the issues are easy DIY fixes.  One thing though, the shareware won't run on Vista...You can buy full versions from Rosstech that will run on Vista and work on newer VW's.  www.vwvortex.com is a great source of info, between their forums and the vag-com cable I've saved probably a grand in repairs by doing it myself, and I am not a mechanic by any means, just a parts replacer.  
 
Ryan> Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2008 14:14:37 -0500> From: dbx@POBOX.COM> Subject: NVC: OBDII tool recommendations?> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> > Folks:> My partner recently bought a 2003 Golf GL, and I'm on the hunt for a> good OBDII fault code reader so I can at least diagnose any problems> that may crop up. I'd love to be able to log diagnostic data on my> laptop, but that's not an absolute requirement. Has anyone had good> experiences with a particular tool that they could recommend? Many thanks!> > Best,> d.> 1990 GL -- "Mudskipper"> > ------------------------------------------------------------> + To unsubscribe from the Vanagon List send an e-mail to> + listserv@gerry.vanagon.com with SIGNOFF VANAGON> + in the body of the message.> ------------------------------------------------------------
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