S80 Emission System Service Required Reset

[S80guy]

Hi, I have a 2000 S80. I have read all the posts regarding the above warning message on this and other Volvo forums, and what concerns me is that some people have spent a great deal of money replacing O2 sensors and Electronic Throttle Modules, only to have the 'Emission System Service Required ' light return shortly afterwards. My own situation is that the car appears to be running perfectly, but the 'Emission System Service Required ' message is being displayed. I am able to reset this message by removing the Engine Management System fuse for about one minute. This removes the message and I can then drive the car for a journey of any distance and the light stays out. However, the next time I start the car the message returns about 10 seconds after I start the engine, whether or not I put it into Drive. So I conclude that after resetting the message some internal error is signalled, and it is only when this error occurs a seond time that the warning message is displayed. My local dealer tells me that he has found a diagnostic code relating to the Front Oxygen Sensor, an expensive item to replace. I am loathe to do anything since the car is running well, and fuel consumption does not appear to have suffered. So my question is, does the fact that the message re-appears on the second engine start up after it has been reset have any definite cause that people are aware of? Thanks very much! :-)

[tech]

There is another computer that stores the code thats why it comes back on like it does.

[S80guy]

Thanks very much for your swift reply Tech., it is much appreciated.

I also read in a forum that disconnecting the battery (in the correct terminal order of course), then connecting the battery wires together for 5 minutes before reconnecting them to the battery would clear all messages in all computers.

1) Is this correct, or could it possibly damage any components or cause any further problems ?

2) Is there an alternative way of easily clearing the other computer which also stores the fault code ?

Thanks very much, I really appreciate your expertise.

[tech]

That method will not harm anything. I have seen times where it will reset the codes. I have seen times where it doesn't.
The pnly way to really clear the codes is to do it with a computer system. Most scanners won't even read all the systems and reset everything.

[S80guy]

Thanks very much for your info. Tech.

I tried the following:

1) Disconnected the negative battery terminal lead for 30 minutes.
This switched off the error message display, but once again the message re-displayed the second time the engine was started.

2) Disconnected the negative terminal, then the positive terminal, then held the two together for about 3 or 4 minutes, taking great care not to touch the battery terminals.
Then reconnected first the positive lead, followed by the negative lead as per the user manual.
Once again this switched off the error message display, but the message re-displayed the second time the engine was started.
Information such as such as radio channels, odometer and trip mileage, were retained, so no doubt a lot of other information was also.

Since the car is running as well as it did when new (current mileage is 87k), and fuel consumption is unchanged, I have decided to live with the 'Emission System Service Required ' message, and from what I read I think I'm in good company :-).

If anyone has any further thoughts please let me know, in the meantime I am very grateful to Tech for giving me the confidence to try this.

[tech]

Im glad I could help!

[Coastal]

S80guy, I'm one of ESSR group, too. An emissions code is a two drive-cycle task. You may clear the code and not see it the entire time while you're running, however, once you shut the car off and restart, if the error is still active it will set the CEL. Unfortunately, like me, you've lived with the problem for so long, we really don't remember when/how it ran when new. The error that triggers the code has certain, in most cases, a substitute value provided by the PCM (ECM). Those valued are mapped out to provide decent performance/mileage, but they are by no means optimal or true. I would be interested to know if you've checked any codes, recently. Or did the dealer record the codes in your service file (if so, maybe you could share them with us)?

Honestly, I'm a tightwad, but it would be worth (with the price of gasoline, these days) the money to replace the oxygen sensor, if they were SURE that it would fix your problem. My problem hasn't been fixed, yet. The dealer and the "crew" there are stiffled. They really care, but they don't know how to troubleshoot, just replace parts (that are NEW).

[S80guy]

Hi Coastal,
I couldn't agree more, as I said originally, I've seen forum entries where people have replaced O2 sensors and ETMs yet still the ESSR message is displayed.

I spoke today to my local independent car workshop, and have arranged for them to check the codes on the 23rd January. In case you hadn't guessed from the way I wrote the date I live in England, in a village near Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare.

The local workshop strongly suspect that the problem is the O2 sensor, however if this proves to be correct (and I trust them), they will get the Bosch equivalent sensor which is probably the same one that Volvo sell, but a lot cheaper. I have been quoted the eqivalent of 500 dollars US by the Volvo dealer to replace the front O2 sensor, which seems a ridiculous amount.

To answer your question, the Volvo dealer did not give me the codes, just gave me a quote for the O2 sensor replacement.

However, I saw on a forum a way of checking which control modules have DTCs set in them, without the use of a scanner, here it is:

(1) Turn the ignition key to position II or start the engine.
(2) Hold down the "read" button on the turn signal arm for a second or two and while still holding it down, quickly (it has to be quick) press the rear fog light button twice.
(3) The message window will display the message "CHECKING DTCS", if you don't get this message, repeat from (1) above until you do.
(4) Within a couple seconds, the message in my car changes to read "DTCS IN VEHICLE"
(5) Now push the read button again to read each of the individual system modules (each push advances to read the next module sequentially).
Here are some examples:
ABS CHECKING
SRS READY
TCM CHECKING
SRS DTC SET (if you are unlucky)

Basically READY has checked OK, CHECKING means that the car needs to be driven for all checks to complete, and of course DTC set means a Diagnotic Trouble Code has been set.

I got DTC SET on:

SRS Safety Restraint System (more of this in a moment)
ECM Engine Control Module
CEM Central Electronic Module
UEM Upper Electronics Module

As far as I can tell, SRS, CEM, and UEM all have battery backup, because disconnecting the battery negative lead for 30 minutes only cleared the ECM.

I am now also the sad owner of a "SRS-AIRBAG SERVICE URGENT" message. I think this may have been caused by me removing the seat belt unlocked warning noise fuse.
I always drive with a seat belt, it's just that there are occasions when sitting parked off road in cold weather I need to keep the engine running for warmth, and don't really want to have to sit there with a seat belt on.
Anyway the SRS message came on about 5 minutes after I starting driving after having removed the fuse. I have now replaced the fuse but I think only a Volvo dealer can reset this unfortunately.

I am considering buying an ISO TekMate USB Diagnostics package, available in the US at http://www.tekmatetools.com/
I spoke to their UK distributor who told me it should work on my 2000 S80, but Tech has already advised us that most scanners will not reset all codes, and here is a quote from the UK distributor web site (where it is more expensive, and out of stock....) http://www.gendan.co.uk/product_TMIS...ct_information

Will this reset the oil and service interval lights?

No, these lights are not covered by the OBDII/EOBD standard. In most modern cars, they can be reset through the dashboard (as shown in the owner's manual). However, some do require specialist tools.

Will this reset ABS, Airbag or Automatic Transmission lights?

No, TekMate is only designed to communicate with the Engine Management and Emissions systems and the 'Check Engine' light. It will not communicate with other vehicle systems or their associated warning lights.

If anyone has tried one of these scanners I'd be very grateful for their opinion of it.

In the meantime the car continues to drive very well, so I'll wait and see what my local workshop says in about 10 days time and let you know what the outcome was, car wise and money wise.

[Coastal]

Having your own scan tool is a good thing. It all depends upon what you want to pay. The one you mentioned seems like a good unit. Being able to view live datastreams and resetting ECM codes will save you money in the long run.

That is a little pricey for the sensor replacement. Roughly split between parts and labor (250/each). I don't recall if you mentioned you mileage, but if you're approaching 160k km, then consider replacing both while they're doing the one. Those sensors have a life expectancy of around 100k miles (160k km). If you're have that mileage then stick with the one replacement--you may have sold it by the time you need the other one.

[S80guy]

My local 3 man workshop got a diagnostic trouble code of P0135, which equates to Volvo ECM-2110 - Front heated oxygen sensor (HO2S), preheating.

I asked them to quote for a new front oxygen sensor, and for a 90k miles service, (this is a major one that includes new timing belt, belt tensioner, and auxiliary belt).

They never came back to me, but I have found another bigger independent place that can reset all Volvo codes, including air bag messages, and they have quoted me:

a) £207-98 or $350 US for the front oxygen sensor replacement

b) £382-76 or $650 US for the 90k service

a) is only very slightly cheaper than the Volvo dealer, because they have to buy the part from Volvo at Volvo prices
b) is £200 or $340 US cheaper than the Volvo dealer. They are also throwing in an annual UK required vehicle checkup (MOT) which costs £40 at no extra charge.

The car is going in on February 27, so I'll let you know the result.