Info trip computer question
 

Ok where exactly is the vehicles trip computer? Is it inside the speedometer cluster?. Ive searched the forum and found that Volvo can download a software to activate the function but I heard its pretty expensive. Im asking because recently I had to replace the speedometer cluster in my car, and to my surprise the new cluster has additional information on the display but next to the time instead of having the temperature as in my original cluster I have a "DISC" message. Im assuming this means that the switch is disconnected or something. So my question is, if I buy an info switch will I be able to use this function or do I still have to go to volvo for the software upgrade, or is this cluster equipped with the necessary software?

Heres a picture of a cluster (not my cluster but just so you get the idea). The info inside the red circles shows up but the info inside the yellow circle simply says DISC.

Attachment 19630

It's worth a try. slap a switch on there and let us know. I tried it with our cluster but got nothing. We didn't have the other info though.

Your car has the trip computer, but either someone took out the switch, or someone put in a cluster from a car that had the trip computer and didn't add the switch. All you have to do is add the switch. "DISC" simply means the switch is disconnected.

One thing to note: if the cluster has been changed, your odometer is inaccurate. Also, it's possible that the speedometer reads fast, as cars with bigger tires had a different calibration for the speedometer. There's 2 calibrations out there- one for the smaller tire/ wheel sizes offered on the base and GLT models, and one for the larger ones offered on T-5, T-5R, and Cross Country models. I have the opposite problem- I have the wheels from a T-5 on my car, which is a GLT, so my speedometer reads slow. I actually got a ticket a couple weeks ago. I was going 86 MPH, though the speedo read 80. Even at 80, I was speeding, but 86 was a worse ticket- $195 as opposed to $150.

Ok thanks, I just installed the switch today and it works like a charm. One question, how does the MPG display work? When I switch to MPG all I get is two dashed lines(--). Anyway its working pretty well.

You must be on the instant MPG setting. It only works when the car is in motion. You can look it over in the owners manual. You can also see the manual on-line.
https://www.customers.volvocars.com/...98sv70_000.htm

https://www.customers.volvocars.com/...0_027.htm#pg28

Carrotts, he did say that he swapped the cluster.

As for the speedo error, all of these cars go faster than the needle indicates. I use my gps to check them out and the only one I found correct was my 960. They all read slower than they are actually going and the faster you go the worse it gets. Our S70 which has the stock tire size, 195/60-15's is actually going 65 when the needle says 62. So if you're a 79 cruiser that wants to stay under 80 in a 70 you are likely going 82 or 83, ticketville. I was thinking about cracking mine and seeing if there was a way to calibrate it (part of my personal issues :) ). I thought all of these tires were the same height/circumference? I thought my 195/60=15's were the same height as my 205/45-17's. I have swapped them around on all of my cars and didn't know the difference (as I was trying to put some good rubber under my T-5R). I have actually had the S70 and 960 wheels on my T-5R for a short period of time in the past year.

I think I'll try to get a trip cluster for our S70 since that works. Our cluster has been changed before we got the car, I think to roll back the miles. That was one of the only things I didn't like about my 960, had no trip computer. That's why I purchased that Scan Gauge. I'm running it in our S70 right now, the Scan Gauge.

The GLT, as you know, has a stock tire size of 195 60R15. The S70 T-5 gets 205 55 R16, which has a larger circumference. They also rub very slightly when you turn the wheel to full lock, which I've seen on a lot of 850s and S70s If I were to run 205 50 R16s, the circumference would be just about the same. But I don't think I'd like the ride. I do know that there are 2 calibrations for the speedo, and that GLTs get the "small tire" calibration while T-5s and XCs get the "large tire" calibration.

Oh, and I realize this has been talked about before, but if you have a 1998 S70, the only things necessary to add a trip computer are: get a switch, and have someone turn the function on. No software necessary- that's on 99 and up models. My problem has been that the Volvo dealers near me all say "you have to add this kit that costs $350!" even though the kit consists of nothing but the switch, which I already have. And I don't yet have a scanner capable of doing activation on a Volvo. So I'll either wait until the tools budget allows for that, or until I find a cluster with the trip computer and mileage that is acceptably close to mine.

I installed a switch in our S70 and nothing happened. As you said, the stealer wanted over $350 to activate it so I passed as well.

I wonder if there is a way to calibrate the speedo manually? I see a set of screws in there but have never cracked display myself. The crazy thing is that the computer (ECU) DOES put out the proper speed. I hook up my ScanGauge II and read the speed at 65 and the dash says 62-63.