'97 questions

My son's '97 Passat has the check engine light on, Can anyone tell me, specifically, which OBD scan tools will work with his car? Also his upper heater hose has burst, its the one with the "T" check-valve. No one around here can get one (O'Riley, Auto Zone, Advance, Car Quest) is there an online source, or am I going to have to buy from a dealer?
And finally, what's up with having to pull the door handles 4-5 times to get the doors to open?
Thanks