Engine Management Light/Fault Codes

Traduk,

Chris gave the web addresses of a couple of people who sell the equipment. I have looked at them and it all seems to stack up with the OBDII being generic amongst a lot of new cars.

BTW the replacement MAF sensor hasn't triggered the light yet and the car "feels" like it used to be. :) Fingers crossed...

Steve

[Traduk]

>>Chris gave the web addresses of a couple of people who sell the equipment. I have looked at them and it all seems to stack up with the OBDII being generic amongst a lot of new cars.<<

Steve,

I also looked and one had the notable absence of Volvo and the other didn't bother to give a list of cars covered. Nothing I saw specifically listed post '99 Volvos and I am 99% certain they are no good for our vehicles.

BTW my opinions are not based on conjecture but on information from within the trade and one was from a relative who was MD of a chain of garages which included a Volvo franchise.

Caveat Emptor ;).

Traduk

Traduk

Have a look at www.volvospeed.com, the guy is into running, repairing and advising on 850s and S/C/V70s. He's American, but he does have links to OBD information on his website, which looks like the stuff Chris directed me towards.

As the car is covered under a third-party warranty, which would have covered this if the garage hadn't given the warranty company the wrong info, I'll get most of my repairs done by Volvo or others. This, added to my technical ineptitude, means that I'm unlikely to buy the software as it will just make my head hurt. :(

Thanks for the info/warning and all that, hope to be able to post an update soon if the replacement MAF has done the trick.

Cheers,

Steve

PS Cave Canem

[Traduk]

>>Have a look at www.volvospeed.com, the guy is into running, repairing and advising on 850s and S/C/V70s. He's American, but he does have links to OBD information on his website, which looks like the stuff Chris directed me towards.<<

I have been visiting that site plus many other Volvo sites\forum for years. I had a 960 Turbo for nearly 5 years before buying the T5, 14 months ago. There is a lot of useful stuff there and "bay13" has supplied a great deal of useful information.

I hope that your battery disconnect reset does the job and that the fault does not re-appear. It is not worth persisting with the justification of whether scanners are of any value because I have an opinion and as I thoroughly research any problems before putting my car in a garage it is a tool that I would buy, if it was any good.

I had the MAF sensor and subsequently the O2 sensor replaced at nil cost and as they are high cost items the garage knows that it had better get it right first time :).

Traduk

[Chris_Rogers]

>Chris,
>
>What year is your car?. I am interested because the garage
>where I have mine maintained which is a non main dealer but
>deals with hundreds of used Volvos per year cannot extract and
>decipher codes from post '99 vehicles. Almost every Volvo
>forum I frequent on the web gives answers of up to '98 only as
>you did in your own reply, earlier in the thread.
>
>If you have something which can extract codes and a
>translation which can turn them into something meaningful for
>diagnostics I think a lot of post '99 owners may well be
>interested. I know I would
>
>Manufacturer of scanner and model number would be helpful.
>
>Traduk
>
>

Re: Software from OBD-2.com.
My car is a '99 V70 (2000 Model year) 2.4 LPT. I've also used it on a old shape 2000 V70 2.4 non turbo, a '99 V70 AWD car and a '01 V40 non turbo.
Non Volvo's: '96/'97 SAAB 9000 2.0 T & 2.3 Aero.
Numerous others, Including Nissan Primara and Suzuki Vitara.

But see my earlier reply, this is engine only diagnostics with the carveats I mentioned.

I'm not going to mention other OBDII tools because I have no direct experience of them.

Pre '99 Volvo scan tools will work on some systems on the later cars:
See the autodiagnos web site for details.

Hope this helps.

[Traduk]

Simon,

>>Re: Software from OBD-2.com.<<

That is the one which claims to be able to reset the "service light" which is a massive advantage over turning the key to position 11 and holding the odometer trip reset button in for 9 seconds ;). Perhaps it can do more but I have yet to see anybody claim that it can become a DIY maintenence aid comparable to the scanner uses on pre '99 Volvos.

>>See the autodiagnos web site for details.<<

This one, however well it does or doesn't work poses a small price problem. The pdf price list file gives a starter pack price at 2.5K with module prices at £650. Hardly a DIY price structure but of interest to garages if it does the job.

The mechanics I know who do not have access to VADIS know the voltage parameters of the sensors and the pulse timing characteristics and they can be seen on a scope. It would not be rocket science to convert those into a graphing package on a P.C. screen but it has no commercial value compared with VADIS capabilities. Another factor is the ultra high price of the sensors which need as accurate a diagnosis as possible. I sure would not be happy with anyone taking guesses at £300\400 a pop.

Steve decided that a scanner would give him headaches he does not want
and I see little point in carrying on with this debate. I thank you for your answers but I also have an extended warranty and will have to hope that it keeps my headaches at bay :).

Many thanks, Traduk

Thanks for your help guys.

The engine light has been off for 250 miles, the car is running better and I'm hopeful the new MAF has fixed the problem.

If not then it's probably an air leak somewhere.

Cheers,

Steve
99 S70 T5