Canbus or not Canbus?

VAG fool

Member
Is there an easy and foolproof way to identify if an A2 is pre or post CANBUS?
Not just relying on year but a definitive component that nails it.
 
Hi VAG fool,

All A2s use CAN, irrespective of their age. However, the extent of its use varies.
You need to read the VIN. If the number immediately prior to the 'N' is a 2, 3, 4 or 5, the car is what you'd call 'post'. If the 'N' is preceded by a 'Y' or a '1', it's 'pre'.

Cheers,

Tom
 
Also believe pre can bus does not show radio station etc on instrument display only can bus displays on screen with genuine Audi stereos. Also think 2002 MODEL cars were all can bus so perhaps mid/late 2001 was the change over as the 2002 cars reached the dealers.
As Tom states the 2,3,4 and 5 are years (model)
Edited due to timmus confirmation. Thanks Tom.
 
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Also believe pre can bus does not show radio station etc on instrument display only can bus displays on screen with genuine Audi stereos. Also think 2002 MODEL cars were all can bus so perhaps mid/late 2001 was the change over as the 2002 cars reached the dealers.
For the 1.2Tdi, Canbus was a necessity. Maybe 1.2Tdi production coincided with Canbus use? The Lupo 3L had Canbus in 1999.

RAB
 
pre can bus does not show radio station etc on instrument display
No, that's not true. Earlier Audi stereos, such as the first-generation Chorus/Concert/Symphony, are able to display information on the instrument cluster screen. However, it's done over a proprietary protocol rather than over CAN. This functionality is therefore not of use when establishing which side of the divide a particular car falls.

Cheers,

Tom
 
Can and can bus are protocols. Within reason anything that had a diagnostic socket was can. As things developed and more "computerised" or smart electronics were added the can became the can bus. I also think it was the 3Ls that pushed the A2 especially into can bus from can.
CAN = Control Area Network. Sometimes it's referred to as CAN bus. There is no difference between 'CAN' and 'CAN bus' other than 3 extra letters.
The diagnostic socket also gives no indication of anything related to CAN. All A2s have a diagnostic socket and they all have CAN (bus), but the two systems are entirely independent.

Cheers,

Tom
 
Earlier Audi stereos, such as the first-generation Chorus/Concert/Symphony, are able to display information on the instrument cluster screen.
Apologies to the OP for hijacking the thread, but a follow-up q if I may: is it possible to have RDS in 1st-gen radios? The name of the station is displayed but I have no RDS. Do 2nd-gen radios have RDS? Ta
 
Apologies to the OP for hijacking the thread, but a follow-up q if I may: is it possible to have RDS in 1st-gen radios? The name of the station is displayed but I have no RDS. Do 2nd-gen radios have RDS? Ta
My Concert II definitely has RDS.
Mac.
 
I have a year 2000 A2 brochure and even the standard head unit is listed as a Chorus RDS radio/cassette
One feature of early models which don't have CAN infotainment systems is the radio code is not stored and must be manually reset whenever the battery is disconnected

Cheers Spike
 
Apologies to the OP for hijacking the thread, but a follow-up q if I may: is it possible to have RDS in 1st-gen radios? The name of the station is displayed but I have no RDS. Do 2nd-gen radios have RDS? Ta
No worries, it broadens discussion and adds to the knowledge pool.
 
The Chorus II in my TT displayed station names etc, and also did in France, in 2017.
The Concert II in the FSI does too.
Mac.
Cheers Mac
Just to be more specific, I always get station names indeed, I never get current song info though which is what I imply by "RDS"
 
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