Hi everyone. My odometer is broken and I need to find a way to figure out the exact mileage on my car. I know that the 95 and older models have the OBD1 reader and is easy to locate the mileage on.

For the 96 and 97, however, it seems not as easy. The only thing I have been able to find is reading it with an ELM 327. I am not very experienced with working on cars and am unable to really understand how to use it. Does anyone have any simple instructions for users who are less experienced? Or any other ways of getting the mileage of a 96?? Would a mechanic be able to use this or have this?

Thank you for any help!

Katie

 

check out this recent post on the FCP blog:

How to Read Actual Mileage on a Volvo 850 | FCP Euro

 

Thank you - that was really helpful!

 

Are you planning on simply recording the mileage difference between the odometer and the cluster memory or actually changing the odometer. I've replaced the odometer gears on couple of 850s and its pretty straight forward but changing the numbers is a bit trickier from what I've read. I didn't bother (lol, if the car says 184,000 and the cluster reads 183,000 - no big deal) as long as you know how to judge when to do the big maintenance stuff like timing belt etc. How many miles do you think are on the car?

 

My brother and I tried to get a reading from my '96 850R cluster by putting my cluster in his '95. It didn't work, it would not give us any codes. I was super disappointed.

However, we did get his mileage using the OBD1 method which you can find all over. We then used an air gun to "blow" the numbers. It actually worked really well for catching the mechanical gauge up to the computer. When you have it apart it will make sense. Just put the nozzle down at an angle and GENTLY squirt air on the gear. It will spin VERY fast. If you overshoot it simply reverse the direction.

We both wanted to get the mechanical gauge fixed to the correct mileage, but in the end could only get his. For mine I just replaced the gear but did not advance the mileage. I would have if I knew what to advance it too. Having high mileage on these doesn't bother me.