I recently bought another 850 - a Platinum Ltd. Ed. The problem is that our county has OBD-II emissions checks. The 850, in certain configurations, won't pass because the computer will not show ready. Volvo has issued a service bulletin, but, the testing places can only take direction from the EPA. Has anyone had this problem with the 1996 models?

Apparently, Volvo has been contacting testing centers and asking them to modify their tests (they can't) AND THEY ALSO ASKED THEM NOT TO TELL THE OWNERS OF THE PROBLEM. (I saw the Volvo communication to our county's center - this is no bull.)

Now I'm stuck with a 60 day exemption, and, the dealer says there's nothing that can be done by them. The county says they will keep giving me 60 day extensions as long as I keep pushing Volvo. (Other manufacturers have this problem in their '96 models, but they went to the EPA and got a waiver of the test method.)

Has anyone come across this? I'm going to have to start a major letter writing campaign. I can only imagine how large Volvo's liability is since most of the places that test emissions are going to the OBD-II testing method over the next two years. That is probably thousands of cars which need a new computer.

Thoughts, anyone?