Engine 850: B5234T/2.3/20v/T5: DIY flash code reader.

[Matthews 855 T5]

Hello Volvo friends, are there any tips on building this because the one I have made doesn't work.

I followed the instructions: http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=46943

I am stuck as there are no flashes whatsoever, possibly my 12v led isn't working or my obdII isn't working. (I think my electronics skills are naff but I want to learn).

Does anyone have a link to the right parts from Maplins that I can buy to assemble my own reader?

Also does anyone have instructions for using a 12v multimeter to get reading from the obdII port?

Thanks
Matt

[Toplights]

Good evening to all,Matthew I dont mean to hijack you'r thread but the OBD Port on my car is under the armrest it is also a V70 R Reg and the above doese't work for me,is there a simmilar flash code reader i could try on my car,if so any links would be helpfull to me allso thanks matt.

Just had a read up and the only reader that will definatly read my car is the VCR by Ilexa is it? if i knew how to deleat this post i would .

[jeremycolley]

first do a search on this forum to see if you can read the codes from your car using this method. Next, check that the LED is the correct way round. One of the wires is longer than the other, which indicates their polarity (+ or -). I'm not sure which is which, but it wont work both ways. You don't need the resistor either.
Jeremy

[Matthews 855 T5]

Originally Posted by toplights941

Good evening to all,Matthew I dont mean to hijack you'r thread but the OBD Port on my car is under the armrest it is also a V70 R Reg and the above doese't work for me,is there a simmilar flash code reader i could try on my car,if so any links would be helpfull to me allso thanks matt.

Just had a read up and the only reader that will definatly read my car is the VCR by Ilexa is it? if i knew how to deleat this post i would .

No problem, my obd port is under the coin slots behind the gear lever. I didn't realise that 12v leds had different length wire so I've probably got the wrong parts. The earlier models had their own device allowing owners to read codes - why do things have to change?
Matt

[Matthews 855 T5]

Originally Posted by jeremycolley

first do a search on this forum to see if you can read the codes from your car using this method. Next, check that the LED is the correct way round. One of the wires is longer than the other, which indicates their polarity (+ or -). I'm not sure which is which, but it wont work both ways. You don't need the resistor either.
Jeremy

I didn't realise that the led has a longer stem for the + polarity, they both look the same. Will any kind of 12v led suffice? What guage wire is required?

Thanks
Matt

[Toplights]

Originally Posted by Matthews 855 T5

I didn't realise that the led has a longer stem for the + polarity, they both look the same. Will any kind of 12v led suffice? What guage wire is required?

Thanks
Matt

I would use something like an LED Sidelight bulb matt, you only need a bulb within a circuit,nothing special.buy some cheap test leads with crockodile clips
(e-bay) and chop em about ,three paper clips for conecting to you'r obd plug,thats it.

[Matthews 855 T5]

Okay, woke up and took the advice of previous posters above.

I had the led wired the wrong way round. It is so simple when you get the hang of it, more frustrating is getting to the parts behind the dash to fix my heater. Anyway, finally go the hang of it and retrieved codes:

Pin 3: 1-1-1
Pin 13: 1-2-2

I got a huge amount of codes from the ECC (pin 6) so I have started another post showing the codes as I want to fix my heater.

Thanks for your help
Matt

[pillapow]

I too am trying this method but only have a multimeter, I get a reading when i stick the wire in pin 3 like jods guide says but nothing after that, How do you go about reading this on a multimeter, I have the meter set to the position where it makes a beep as a pose to a flash of an led... Am i doing it wrong?

[Chris_Rogers]

Yes, set it to read DC volts.

Flash then = Volts around 10V

Dark = Volts around 2V or lower.

You will be much better off using a LED as it will be very difficult to reset the codes using a digial multimter, it just won't react quicky enough.

[Matthews 855 T5]

Originally Posted by Chris_Rogers

Yes, set it to read DC volts.

Flash then = Volts around 10V

Dark = Volts around 2V or lower.

You will be much better off using a LED as it will be very difficult to reset the codes using a digial multimter, it just won't react quicky enough.

I agree, you can build the reader for a few pence! It just takes a little patience getting the codes out. Worst part is working out how to fix the problem that left the codes in the first place.

Matt