What OBDII Scanner Should I Get?
This topic is in the MVS Volvo Repair Database »
Volvo Diagnostic Code Lookup
-
Cees Klumper
- Posts: 358
- Joined: 28 December 2013
- Year and Model: 2002 S80 T6
- Location: De Luz Heights, Southern California
- Has thanked: 40 times
- Been thanked: 28 times
Re: What OBDII Scanner Should I Get?
According to the manufacturer it should be able to clear all those codes. In my experience, which fortunately has been limited to just a few codes, it did clear each one of those.
My 'limited' experience.
The boss at work was running an ELM 327 bluetooth, which paired fine using the Torque app on his android tablet. We blew it up when we plugged it into a 24v truck.
I purchased the ElM 327 wifi device to pair with my iPhone. I could never get it to pair to my iPhone, iPad, or my bosses tablet which had worked with his bluetooth device. It never worked with 2 toyotas (2000, 2003) or old chooks honda (2006) ... life goes on it was like $15 off ebay.
I decided to go the whole hog, and get an Autel AL539 scanner https://10carbest.com/best-obd2-scanner ($200), seemed like good insurance for buying a newish second hand car, could check the VIN and so on on the scan gauge. Short and sweet, it would work with some vehicles not others. Contacted the seller off ebay, who said update the software, ended up with an expensive brick... Don't buy anything off obd_automotive on ebay. They are a Hong Kong company who say they are Australian, with an Australian warranty, which is all rubbish. Difficult to deal with!! Spoke to the techy at Autel Australia, that's what he told me. He said to raise a paypal claim. I got refunded (by paypal), but a lot of hassle and didn't achieve anything, particularly given that by the time paypal sorted it I had brought the car...
Like I said, my limited experience, but a bad run none the less.
The boss at work was running an ELM 327 bluetooth, which paired fine using the Torque app on his android tablet. We blew it up when we plugged it into a 24v truck.
I purchased the ElM 327 wifi device to pair with my iPhone. I could never get it to pair to my iPhone, iPad, or my bosses tablet which had worked with his bluetooth device. It never worked with 2 toyotas (2000, 2003) or old chooks honda (2006) ... life goes on it was like $15 off ebay.
I decided to go the whole hog, and get an Autel AL539 scanner https://10carbest.com/best-obd2-scanner ($200), seemed like good insurance for buying a newish second hand car, could check the VIN and so on on the scan gauge. Short and sweet, it would work with some vehicles not others. Contacted the seller off ebay, who said update the software, ended up with an expensive brick... Don't buy anything off obd_automotive on ebay. They are a Hong Kong company who say they are Australian, with an Australian warranty, which is all rubbish. Difficult to deal with!! Spoke to the techy at Autel Australia, that's what he told me. He said to raise a paypal claim. I got refunded (by paypal), but a lot of hassle and didn't achieve anything, particularly given that by the time paypal sorted it I had brought the car...
Like I said, my limited experience, but a bad run none the less.
- matthew1
- Site Admin
- Posts: 14463
- Joined: 14 September 2002
- Year and Model: 850 T5, 1997
- Location: Denver, Colorado, US
- Has thanked: 2652 times
- Been thanked: 1240 times
- Contact:
Yikes. Sounds like a mess. Thanks for sharing the warning. And welcome to MVS.
Help keep MVS on the web -> click sponsors' links here on MVS when you buy from them.
Also -> Amazon link. Click that when you go to buy something on Amazon and MVS gets a cut!
1998 V70, no dash lights on
1997 850 T5 [gone] w/ MSD ignition coil, Hallman manual boost controller, injectors, R bumper, OMP strut brace
2004 V70 R [gone]
How to Thank someone for their post

Also -> Amazon link. Click that when you go to buy something on Amazon and MVS gets a cut!
1998 V70, no dash lights on
1997 850 T5 [gone] w/ MSD ignition coil, Hallman manual boost controller, injectors, R bumper, OMP strut brace
2004 V70 R [gone]
How to Thank someone for their post

- abscate
- MVS Moderator
- Posts: 35273
- Joined: 17 February 2013
- Year and Model: 99: V70s S70s,05 V70
- Location: Port Jefferson Long Island NY
- Has thanked: 1498 times
- Been thanked: 3810 times
You can get your codes read for free at most auto parts chain stores
Get the complete list of codes , in format Pxxxx where x are numbers.
Then have them clear them
Start a new thread and post them here for help
Get the complete list of codes , in format Pxxxx where x are numbers.
Then have them clear them
Start a new thread and post them here for help
Empty Nester
A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
Link to Maintenance record thread
A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
Link to Maintenance record thread
- amblerman
- Posts: 509
- Joined: 18 January 2017
- Year and Model: 1999 s70
- Location: Pennsylvania
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 70 times
For just reading and resetting codes, I have been happy with this one.
https://www.amazon.com/Innova-3020-Diag ... 7513402011
However. it's slightly more than your budget. It is a basic reader and cannot read live data. I have successfully used this on my 99 volvo as well as on several newer models across several brands. I can't speak to how it would do on any car older than 99.
As others have said, places like Advanced Auto parts will read the codes for free. If you just need it done once, that would be the way to go.
-
eightfifty2x0
- Posts: 95
- Joined: 6 June 2020
- Year and Model: 1996 850
- Location: Germany
- Has thanked: 10 times
- Been thanked: 3 times
Alright, i got a question. How often does one need to read the codes? Is it worth it to pay some 200€ for an OBD2 reader? Because, it all comes down to long term costs of using it. If used rarely, then, i guess, a mechanic is the best choice. But if i need it once or twice in a year, then i have to invest that amount of money into it.
- abscate
- MVS Moderator
- Posts: 35273
- Joined: 17 February 2013
- Year and Model: 99: V70s S70s,05 V70
- Location: Port Jefferson Long Island NY
- Has thanked: 1498 times
- Been thanked: 3810 times
For a 1996 a basic 25 EURO reader will be fine
Empty Nester
A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
Link to Maintenance record thread
A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
Link to Maintenance record thread
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
- 6 Replies
- 1575 Views
-
Last post by Volvo Tank
-
- 10 Replies
- 2694 Views
-
Last post by hu5ker555






