I have a service light come on at start-up for the last week or so. Disappears after a minute or so. Went to my mechanic to see if a code could be pulled and he didn't think a OBD scanner would pull it. Thought it might be triggered by the odometer at a certain interval and an auto electrical place would need a special module to clear it. Volvo 850's aren't the most common vehicles here so he might not quite know what he's saying. Anyone have a clue what the usual culprit is for those lights and how to turn it off?

 

There are no codes for a service light, it is just an interval that the car tells you it's time to service. And he's right, you just have to use an OBDII scanner to clear it, or if your 850 is either a 94 or 95 you can use the DTC box under the hood by the ECUs.

 

It is a 95 and the code came on at roughly 197000km and change. Odd interval. I don't have an obd2 scanner. I'm pretty sure every mechanic would however my mechanic said he didn't have the tool to do it. How do I use the DTC box to clear it? Tools required?

Cheers

 

You don't always need the OBD2 to cleat that code on the 96-97.. There are also small scanner "tools" that will do the same. I have seen them on ebay for 40-50 bucks.. I believe the interval is every 5k.

 

right, either way, you need a scanner to clear it. but since it's a 95 there's a write up how to do that in one of the stickies at the top of the page.

 

i figured the cheapy tools would do it so i'm a bit confused why my mechanic wouldn't have the tool to do it.

 

He probably thought that since it was a 95 it wasn't OBDII when the 94 and 95's are actually OBDII, so maybe he meant that he couldn't clear it because he could only clear OBDII cars....just a thought.

 

Not all Volvo mechanics will have that cheapie tool. They aren't as readily available as the OBD2 ones are. I have seen them on a few forums for sale from other Volvo owners that are getting rid of their Volvos. I only know one person that has one (TECH) and that was how I got mine cleared. Most dealers will clear the code for free, you just have to go there.....Mosty people just wait for the light to go off after the 20 seconds. It annoyed me, so I had it cleared, but if it doesn't bother u, then let it be.

 

I told him it was OBD2.

Do I have to clear a code every 5000km regardless of whether the car needs a service or not? That seems silly.

 

Yes it comes on that often. It is a reminder light that tells you when it is due for an oil change.

If you have OBDI then you can clear it through A 7 the code is 4 1 5 1.

 

It's just a gentle reminder.

 

Is it just me who thinks it could get annoying for a consumer who does their own oil changes or perhaps goes to places like jiffy lube for a quick service and has to have the code cleared? What if your oil change rotation is not exactly when it comes on but before. Extra trips and inconvenience. Seems silly to me although it may be helpful to some perhaps.

 

Welcome to Volvo ownership. Great cars, great reliability but some things just make NO sence!

 

agreed