Tutorial on OBD2 specific to Volvo V90?

[martin calva]

I'd be grateful to be pointed to a tutorial on how OBD2 works in a 1998 V90.

I'm interested in understanding things like

• Details of the communication protocol (voltage levels and word format, including timing details) used by Volvo.
  
• What pins on the OBD2 connectors are used by Volvo. I believe that different makers protocols use different leads.
  
• What are the reasons that some (at least) post 2001 OBD readers will not work with a 1998 Volvo.
  
• What are the industry standard codes used by my 1998 Volvo.
  
• What are the Volvo specific codes used by my 1998 Volvo.
  
• What software is available for reading and resetting codes for the 1998 V90.

[classicswede]

I use a AEB scan tool and have no issues connecting.

The AEB is a universal reader used by many LPG installers. The pinout is standard as OBD11 is supposed to be

[derek vivian]

I would like to obtain a reader and one that has good instructions how to send details to either smartphone (android) and/or PC. I also would like to be able to clear faults. Can anyone suggest a make and model please? Derek Vivian

[barkster1971]

Have a look on ebay for the bluetooth dongle thing. Worked fine with mine.

[derek vivian]

I quite like the look of the OBD2 version provided by Streetwise. Seems to have all I need. Does anyone know of this model and if it can be recommended? Thanks.

[Piet22]

Unfortunately generic OBD2 readers are only able to communicate with the Motronic 4.4 engine computer of the V90 and not with the transmission, air-bags, electric seats and immobilizer.

Apart from Volvo's own Scan Tool, the only device that is also able to communicate with all that is a laptop with the windows program Vol-Fcr from Ilexa software: https://ilexa.co.uk/diagnostic-tools/vol-fcr.html. Highly recommended!

An interesting document about the Scan Tool and diagnosis in the 700, 800 and 900 series can be downloaded here: https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/fo...56314&start=10

[derek vivian]

Thank you Piet, but how does one get the diagnostic information as this seems to be just the software? What OBD2 device/reader should one use to send the info to the software which I assume can be installed on a tablet whilst sitting in the drivers seat?

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by derek vivian

Thank you Piet, but how does one get the diagnostic information as this seems to be just the software? What OBD2 device/reader should one use to send the info to the software which I assume can be installed on a tablet whilst sitting in the drivers seat?

Depending on what information is given by the software on the laptop or the code reader, this database should help :

https://www.obd-2-codes.com/

https://diagnostictrouble.com/

Second link is another similar with a little more explanation on the front page.

[derek vivian]

I have just received by post an OBD2 reader ELM327 which was not expensive! I assume when I plug this into the socket in my V90 some sort of signal is sent by bluetooth to a computer? I have only a PC in the house so presume I need a laptop or tablet in the car to receive the data? A friend has a small tablet which he no longer wants so I shall get that from him to see how it all works. With the ELM 327 came a small CD which has quite a lot of programs on it. Can I assume I need to install all this onto the tablet? I do have a standalone CD player with USB connection so may be that is all I need. Quite a learning event!

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by derek vivian

I have just received by post an OBD2 reader ELM327 which was not expensive! I assume when I plug this into the socket in my V90 some sort of signal is sent by bluetooth to a computer? I have only a PC in the house so presume I need a laptop or tablet in the car to receive the data? A friend has a small tablet which he no longer wants so I shall get that from him to see how it all works. With the ELM 327 came a small CD which has quite a lot of programs on it. Can I assume I need to install all this onto the tablet? I do have a standalone CD player with USB connection so may be that is all I need. Quite a learning event!

First thing i'd like to point out is i've not used an ELM327 based OBD-II reader on a Volvo so i may be speaking slightly out of turn here. However, i have used them on other cars where the manufacturer has added OBD-II compatibility to an existing system not really designed for OBD compliance and use their own specific protocols, data transfer rates and so on.
For the most part, they have been very unsuccessful. On systems designed with OBD-II in mind from the start, they work fine though.

You'll need to download the relevant app for the tablet such as "Torque" or "Torque-Pro", this is a fairly common app for use with ELM327 based readers. Another app may be recommended by the manufacturer of the ELM327 so check the instructions.

Once downloaded to the tablet, turn the BlueTooth on on the tablet and start the app and plug the reader into the OBD socket, find the section in the app to "Pair a device" or a very similar instruction. The ELM327 and tablet will then pair via BlueTooth and the app can start reading data.

That's the theory of it anyway. Volvos from before 2000 are notoriously difficult to use generic readers such as the ELM327 for the reasons stated above going by the various comments above and elsewhere on the forum - many people have had to resort to using specific readers and/or the Volvo "VIDA" system as outlined further up this thread.

Good luck with it and let us know how it goes.