posted by
someone claiming to be Gary Learned
on
Mon Feb 19 08:52 CST 2001 [ RELATED]
|
|
I'm afraid I know the answer to this before I ask, but... is there a dealer-less method to reset (turn off) the check engine light on my '97 T5? I know what turned it on... pure stupidity on my part. I disconnected the electrical plug at the outlet end of the air box when I popped the top off to check the air filter, then forgot to hook it back up before I started the engine. Voila! Instant Check Engine Lamp. Naturally, I shut off the engine and reinstalled the plug, but the lamp stays lit. Disconnecting the battery for several minutes didn't do it. What now, Chief?
|
|
-
posted by
someone claiming to be Terry Haywood
on
Tue Feb 20 07:39 CST 2001 [ RELATED]
|
|
I bought EASE OBD-II software and a serial PC interface for $275. It can read and clear _generic_ OBD-II codes. It doesn't give anything like the detail of the Volvo codes but at least I know why the light came on. It has come in handy for resetting an intermittent fault code, but I haven't decided if it was worth the $275. I got it because I live kind of far from the only dealer in town, it saves some time.
There are shareware products on the 'net that can read & clear OBD-II codes, plus instructions for building a serial-to-whatever-the-OBD-interface-is converter or you can buy just the interface and download the software. Depends on how much time you have vs. how much you want to spend.
Have you asked the dealer how much they would charge to reset the light? Probably more than nothing but not a whole lot. At the same time I think they can reset the service light interval for you to reduce that annoyance.
|
|
-
posted by
someone claiming to be Gary Learned
on
Tue Feb 20 13:29 CST 2001 [ RELATED]
|
|
Terry - Thanks for the help... do you happen to remember any specific web addresses for the DIY OBD-II shareware? I also have a '99 Dodge Dakota 318 that is OBD-II equipped, and I tend to keep cars a long time, so I've two good reasons for looking into some diagnostic capability.
No, I haven't talked to the dealer yet, but probably will soon to have him look up the radio code. In the process of screwing with the check engine lamp, I disconnected the battery, *then* discovered I don't have a clue where I wrote the radio code down when I bought the car a year and a half ago. It just ain't gonna be my week!
|
|
-
posted by
someone claiming to be Terry Haywood
on
Tue Feb 20 14:58 CST 2001 [ RELATED]
|
|
Found it:
http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/index.html
This is focused on VW proprietary diagnostics but I think has generic OBD-II included.
And also ve101g.zip from simtel archives, for example at
http://ftp.vse.cz/simtel.net/win3/engin-pre.html. This one is totally free, just build or buy the interface cable.
I haven't tried either of these. Been meaning to but haven't had the time. I've been particularly interested in seeing what the VW software would do talking to my Volvo. Who knows, maybe it'll work?!!?
|
|
-
posted by
someone claiming to be Terry Haywood
on
Tue Feb 20 14:49 CST 2001 [ RELATED]
|
|
OBD-II PC shareware & hardware
Start at http://www.opendiag.org/, this shows how to make the serial-to-ISO circuit and has a link to a discussion group that kicks around how the OBD protocol works. The are very interested in the VW proprietary diagnostics lately, not much discussion about anything else. I haven't gotten much out of the discussion but at least the volume is low so I keep tabs on it.
To me the really neat plan is to put the diagnostics on a Palm Pilot instead of a laptop. That shows up in these discussions somewhere, I can't find it right now. You'll run into it if you look around. That's another one that is not quite there but is looking promising.
Another link discussing PC OBD-II in general: http://www.chipcenter.com/eexpert/mladuke/mladuke008.html
More OBD-II discussion - a circuit diagram and several links:
http://www.planetfall.com/~jeff/obdii/
Of course, I can't find the shareware links. Wish I had kept it more organized. They are in there somewhere.
The recent poster that got the software and hardware for I think $129 has in my opinion found the right package at the right price. I wish I had time to dig into this shareware stuff some more, I have enough trouble keeping 3 Volvos running without having to build circuit boards and configuring software off the net.
Good luck,
|
|
-
posted by
someone claiming to be Vladimir
on
Wed Feb 21 05:21 CST 2001 [ RELATED]
|
|
Terry Haywood wrote:
...
> To me the really neat plan is to put the diagnostics on a Palm Pilot
> instead of a laptop. That shows up in these discussions somewhere, I
> can't find it right now. You'll run into it if you look around.
> That's another one that is not quite there but is looking promising.
Terry, I too looked into the Pilot idea, but came up empty. This seems like a perfect application for the little guy (Pilot, I mean). If anything comes up, please let the forum know. I'll do the same.
As a stopgap measure I bought a unit made by Actron for $150 but it didn't read the 611/612 codes I had (the dreaded gascap/small/lagre gastank pressure leak codes). It simply said "no DTCs", but was able to clear the codes and the Check Engine light. I am not sure if it will be able to read any of the more generic codes, but this is all I got to go on right at the moment.
Cheers.
|
|
-
posted by
someone claiming to be Gary Learned
on
Wed Feb 21 01:41 CST 2001 [ RELATED]
|
|
Terry - Thanks for the info. Meanwhile, I agree... the posting you mentioned with the $129 software/hardware deal would seem to be the way to go. - Gary
|
|
-
posted by
someone claiming to be John O
on
Tue Feb 20 00:19 CST 2001 [ RELATED]
|
|
As it is now, that light being on (code stored) isn't effecting anything other than the annoying yellow light.
If you're planning a trip to your dealer for other maintenance work (not just a trip there to have that code erased) and explain your situation to a service writer, chances are that they'd just reset it for you without charging you anything extra. On the other hand, if you just want the code cleared/reset without spending any money there, and you're not one of their regular customers, they'd probably charge you a minimum amount to clear the code then as they're not in business to do things like that for free.
We see this situation occur fairly often with S/V70s and S80s because sometimes customers forget to install their gas caps, leave them loose or thread it improperly (and they admit it).
|
|
-
posted by
someone claiming to be Gary Learned
on
Tue Feb 20 01:56 CST 2001 [ RELATED]
|
|
John - Agreed, the lamp isn't effecting anything, but I'm not planning a trip to the dealer in the near future, so I'd like to turn it off. If for no other reason than the fact that with the lamp on, I can't tell if something else goes wrong in the meanwhile. I tend to avoid our only area dealer BTW, because this is the place that dinged me over $100 for the 40000 mile service visit... essentially an oil and filter change. Oops! I guess that comment belongs in the Opinions forum. Thanks, Gary
|
|
-
posted by
someone claiming to be Vladimir
on
Mon Feb 19 11:56 CST 2001 [ RELATED]
|
|
Gary, there is good news for you yet. If you go to your nearest AutoZone and ask for OBDII scanners, they should point you to a few of them. I bought an Actron scanner model CP9035 for something like $150 ($199 on Actron website). This scanner WILL NOT read out the codes from your car (it'll indicate no DTCs), but it WILL clear your check engine light if you follow the instructions for clearing the codes in the scanner's manual (I think you hold the "ERASE" button for a few seconds).
Not sure if this is helpful, but you will have a $150 gadget to turn off your CE light off without dealer's help. The reason the codes don't show up is IMO that the OBDII codes nomenclature is not standard, it is a RECOMENDATION that most manufacturers follow. Volvo happens to not follow this recommendation. But since US govmnt requires it CE light will go on for the slightest of reasons. Anyway the Actron unit WILL definitely clear the light for you.
BTW, if you live in Boston area, email me and maybe you can use mine.
Good luck.
|
|
-
posted by
someone claiming to be Gary Learned
on
Mon Feb 19 12:18 CST 2001 [ RELATED]
|
|
Vladimir,
Sure appreciate your help. A couple of trips to the dealer to reset the light will eat up $150, I may just go for it. I also sincerely appreciate your offer, but I'm in Oklahoma City, so using your unit would be a little out of the question.
Spacibo vam bolshoye.
(Hey, it's a long shot, but with a name like Vladimir, maybe you can decipher the transliteration?)
|
|
-
posted by
someone claiming to be Mrsha
on
Mon Feb 19 08:59 CST 2001 [ RELATED]
|
|
Go to volvospeed.com BAY13....
look under reset light... they will show you all the detail how to fix it....
Good luck
|
|
-
posted by
someone claiming to be Gary Learned
on
Mon Feb 19 11:03 CST 2001 [ RELATED]
|
|
Mrsha - Went to Bay 13, thanks for reminding me. Unfortunately, it was nothing but bad news... I'd been there before and this is where I first heard about (and then forgot) the disadvantage of the 1996-98 OBD system; you buy a several hundred dollar electronic tool, or head for the dealership.
|
|
|
|
|
