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-   -   If your current OBDII reader won't clear codes read this ... (https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=295734)

CharlesStevenson Jun 15th, 2019 14:45

If your current OBDII reader won't clear codes read this ...
 
1 Attachment(s)
I posted back in Oct '18 about my car, a 1.6 manual X reg 2000 V40, which appeared to be a mk 1.5 since whilst the reader would report I had an error code it wouldn't show me the exact code nor let me clear it.

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=287414

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=287546

The reader I'd purchased was a cable connected model but having recently discovered a possible issue with the car's idle control valve I decided to try to read the codes again and this time I bought a bluetooth OBDII reader, "just in case", and was pleased to find it worked perfectly.

So I was able to read and clear all codes.

I found an old code from months ago P0420 (catalyst / O2 sensor related) which had kept the CEL on, and discovered P0102 too which seems to suggest the issue is with the MAF rather than the IACV.

So if you've tried unsuccessfully to read and clear fault codes on your car I can recommend you try one of these Bluetooth readers. I got mine for £4.09 delivered from the UK in 3 days.

Details as follows
OBD2 ELM327 Car Scanner V2.1 Bluetooth Android Torque Auto Diagnostic Scan Tool

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OBD2-ELM3...72.m2749.l2649

FYI the one that would read but not clear the codes cost £10.95, as below

EOBD OBDII OBD2 Car Fault Code Reader Vehicles Scanner 2 CAN BUS Diagnostic

I've attached a pic of the two readers, you'll find them both on ebay.

HTH someone else

oliverpervasive Jun 26th, 2019 12:39

S/V40 1998 1.6 code reader - software
 
Thanks for the mention of this reader which might work with my model also.

Can you tell me which software worked and where you downloaded it from?

I had a quick look and got confused.

I assume you downloaded it to a phone and connected to this reader via Bluetooth?

Many thanks

OP

CharlesStevenson Jul 3rd, 2019 19:49

Sure.

The red bodied cable connected reader comes with its own (useless software).

For the bluetooth connecting plugin I downloaded Torque (lite) to my Android phone.

Once I'd selected the pass code it connected and immediately showed me the error codes, which I could then clear.

AFAIK there's a premium version of the Torque, but the lite one was perfectly ok for my low-level requirements.

I believe there are quite a few apps available and no doubt people have their own preferences, but this one worked for me.

CharlesStevenson Jul 3rd, 2019 19:51

I noticed your car's a 1998 model, which makes it a S1, so perhaps there might be some issues with reading all the data?

If you look back through some of the posts on here there's been discussions as to what can be read for a S1, S2 etc.

But for the cost of the bluetooth reader it's certainly worth a go.

oliverpervasive Jul 4th, 2019 23:29

VOL-VCR reader etc
 
Thanks for the reply.
I ve been round the houses on this before.

I use to have a V70 TDI 98 ( my baby) - and eventually borrowed the VOL =VCR off Bigfella66= as my cable and laptop would not work but his did for both the 98 V70 and the S40 x reg. You need a XP windows laptop and not just the freeware /software etc

FYI I found a variant on the red one would clear certain codes but not read them on the S40 - a friend of Kev (Bartlett) ( a legend in the V70 world of help) lent his.

It is a bit of a minefield as far as (correct) cables and software and XP laptops so I am bit dubious if this reader overcomes all previous hurdles.

If I spend my fiver I will confirm for others to follow.


Thanks for taking the time to reply.

OP

CharlesStevenson Jul 5th, 2019 20:48

Good luck with the bluetooth reader, hope it works for you & remember to post back on here to say how you got on so others can benefit too.

oliverpervasive Jul 17th, 2019 14:14

OBD11 scanner of ebay
 
I ordered one of these blu tooth OBD11 scanners as per the the ebay link above.

I then looked at the various pieces of software out there - was a bit wary of torque lite as there were a lot of comments how it asks for access to your contacts etc

There are quite a few to choose from - the free ones obvoulsy have in built adverts etc.
I settled on car scanner from the google play store- however being a bit cautious I only downloaded it on a spare phone we have which does not have all my contacts on. I really would advise everyone to be a a bit cautious with these bits of software as they can empty you phone of all sorts of info.

Anyhow - stuck the tacky light weight reader into car - turned on software - you have to pair them first - the scanner did not say what its pin code was - but 1234 or 000 worked. Phone OBD reader software picked up the card and I tried reading the codes. It said there were none. Which was great - or it was nt working. However it did pick up voltage to the OD reader so it was communicating real time with car as this fluctuated. So it appears to work. I think I need to play with the software more to see if it can read anything else . I know from the age of this car that the OBD11/ecu is limited so don't expect all the bells and whistles you get from a modern car.
I plugged it into the Miisus' car - ~Nissan Quash 1.5 diesel - and it picked up a faulty glow plug error code.

On the face of it this seems a great and cheap alternative to having to faff around with an XP laptop and cable and expensive software - although the readings/software were much more intuitive.

To confirm I have an x reg s40 1.6 auto petrol.

CharlesStevenson Jul 18th, 2019 18:00

Glad to see you had some success with the reader.

Yes it is definitively rather tacky looking ... & it gets VERY hot when connected and reading for more than a few minutes so I'd not use it myself on a run, just outside the house.

I do recollect it asked to connect to contacts etc when installing for the first time; I think you can select "no" but I don't remember what I did, just that my phone's still working, so it seems an ok app.

A thought: Assuming your CEL (engine graphic) is working (ie it comes on when you put the key into the ignition position and then goes out when the car's running), then your car currently has no error codes to read, which is good news as such.

For mine, whenever the CEL stays lit the reader will show the error codes & let me clear them.

You said ".. so don't expect all the bells and whistles you get from a modern car." Yes, there are some codes that these tools can't read or reset; AFAIK that includes safety related such as airbags, aircon, some diesel engine codes & stuff that's been set as proprietary to each car make. They've got to get you into their garages somehow!

HalV40 Jul 25th, 2019 00:00

Thanks Charles, I have the same cabled reader and it does not seem to communicate at all with my 2001 1.9TDi Phase II. It reads everything else! I will buy the Bluetooth one and give it a go.
:beer:

CharlesStevenson Jul 27th, 2019 09:50

Hope it works for you too HalV40 as I'd given up when the cabled version wouldn't do what it was intended to do.

Post back on here so others can benefit too.

Thx


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