I'm curious is some genuis or former tech has found some way tocrack into or "trick" a factory volvo computer that it's being serviced by a dealer. My biggest issue is when the car needs to be diagnosed or there is a computer issue, I'm locked out and yet again 8 years after Volvo sold this car this is still their way of forcing you to come into the dealer.

This would really save some headache for me, especially because 99 percent of the time I know what is wrong and could repair it, but the blasted computer won't let me know what is acting up because certain functions are dealer only serviced. That and the nearest volvo dealer is an hour away. No dealer or independent volvo mechanics in my area.

I have a program on my laptop and a PC to OBDII connector that bascially tells me everything there is to know about my car's computer. But like I say, almost 3/4ths of it is on a dealer lockout.

Worst case scenario, a local do-it-all shop could actually work on it for once.

Just curious. Mabye it's already been done or discussed before, but I thought I'd ask because I'm curious.

 

Hello Helga,

I've talked to my respected technician in Rutland, Vermont (Jim's Imported Car Clinic). Jim told me that Volvo's diagnostic system has become so complex in the last couple of yearsthat non-dealer shops can no longer touch it without a $20,000 equipment.

My guess is that the data transmission protocol has to match in order to access the diagnostic, but I am not an IT geniushowever Axel of Argentina may know something. Or, you could take some courses at local college's computer science dept andlearn different protocols.


JPN

 

Good info, but the car in question is 8 years old.