My 1999 V70 is my first Volvo lemon with numerous electrical problems culminating in the failure of the ABS computor ($800 part ) and the main computor ($1200), that little metal box with the yellow sticker under the motor shroud on the front of the engine. It throws error codes from time to time and the check engine light comes on. The only service here in this part of Florida is the dealership who charges $145 to see what the car is complaining about and deploys draconian billing schemes like charging three tenths of an hour labor if the mechanic lifts the hood. I miss the old 740 and the times we had like driving through Greenwich Village in New York surrounded by dozens of roaring motorcycles of a female gang, and limping across the Mojave Desert with a broken fuel pump. The new Volvos are over-engineered puzzles that Volvo "technicians" scratch their heads over. I digress. Is there a way I can read error codes myself? Is there something that plugs into that socket between the front seats labeled as "OBD II" ? The last code demanded a new air mass sensor and then shut off after I paid the $145. Any tool for reading these at home? Thanks for your time and consideration.

Look out for Toronto area dealers..one of them..the most successful, I think, charges $103.00 / hr for service. ( CDN $ )

I've recently found a non-dealer service guy in Toronto..who has 15 yrs experience with a dealer.

Hisself

Got myself one of these for my 01 V70 T5 recently

http://www.auterraweb.com/

I got the Windows version supporting the newer CAN interface (Figure I might need it for future cars). Got mine on ebay for $210 (from Auterra themselves) incl/shipping. My OS V70 T5 uses ISO interface so I could have purchased the cheaper one (no CAN interface)

http://www.obdii.com/connector.html

The upside is you have the full use of a computer. I can record sensor readings, store and replay them. Big screen providing lots of info. Downside is you need your computer when you do this. To debug check engine lights that goes off after a restart means you need to drag your notebook with you in the car.

Since purchasing this tool, I've learned much more about what all these sensors do. I realize while there are definitely more engineering in the newer cars, the extra engineering is how we are getting more performance over a wider operating range. But it does make it more complex with additional failure points. Mechanical systems providers most mechanically inclined person a similar level of familiarity while electronics + software makes everything more invisible.

I also found this site very educational. While it is for Toyotas, there seems to be lots of similar designs in these modern cars.

http://www.autoshop101.com/
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2001 Volvo V70 T5 ASR Wife says we are Volvo for Life, 1992 BMW 535iA becoming The Ultimate Driving Machine

All you really need to something like an Actron 9125. I just bought one on sale at PEP Boys for $60. You can get them on Ebay for less than that. It works great. Do a search for Actron and you should find some information.

If you have a laptop, go to www.digimoto.com or www.scantool.net(I think this correct) Anywho, digimoto has graphs etc and a big feature you can log all readings on the fly.
cheers

DEANYEL, after the pep boys ACTRON 9125 gives you a digital code, how do you change that into a descriptive text message so you know the meaning of the Diagnostic Troouble Code?

You have to look it up. This site is very helpful for Volvo owners. Hope this helps. Long list of DTC's at the bottom: http://au.geocities.com/ozbrick850/obd2codes.html
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1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic, 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red, Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon. My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.

howard

how is the etm in your car, since its 01 my ?

I thank you all for the advice.After four days the light has gone off but it will be back. What I thought was a small computor was the ETM. Mine died at 117,000 miles and such death caused the car to go from normal to running as if one cylinder were dead and then back to normal. The cost of replacement was $1200. The replacement part was made by some company whose initials are MM. A photo of the mylar tape inside that controversal unit, that conducts the signal, is on this board somewhere.

At 88k now and got the car at 46k. Has yellow sticked ETM so I presume was replaced previously.

Got 3 performance reduced message in a span of about 3 weeks before I had the OBD II a few days ago. Hasn't happened since. Cleaned the ETM after the first performance reduce message but obviously didn't get rid of it.

So I basically can't isolate the problem right now as it is intermittent.

Learned lots so far but hadn't yet figure out how to clearly isolate ETM problem.
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2001 Volvo V70 T5 ASR Wife says we are Volvo for Life, 1992 BMW 535iA becoming The Ultimate Driving Machine

www.vexedvolvo.org
Regards,
MIJ

Also, if your looking for a good reader, buy from off of ebay: Equus Innova 3100. It reads both of our cars...and resets all...very handy! I paid less than $75 with shipping.
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1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic, 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red, Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon. My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.

for this money ($145) buy an OBD II reader
try IPD or suppose many other locations would have this tool

Just FYI, AutoZone will loan an OBDII Reader for a deposite of $200. Just bring it back for a refund when you're done.