What are you planning to use of for? Have a Vida license?

I got one on wish... planning on doing some wire shark / sniffing to see what’s open...


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No I don't have a license. I understand you can get a 3 day access for like $75. Then you can download software. I wanted to acquire the software for the trailer module that I recently added. It appears it will cost me about the same amount of money whether I do it myself or have the dealer do it. I thought it would be interesting to tie in to the car and make changes. Not sure I understand what you meant by saying I got one on wish...? Are there other sources? Do I need that connector versus a standard obd2 reader?
Thanks

 

Obdinnovations contacted me and sold me the connector. So once I get it I will try and go online and see how well it works.

 

Can't wait to see if you can do anything with it.

 

Interested in this as well, love having a diagnostic interface for my cars like the Vag-Com and Durametric I already have.


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I understand this specific connector is recommended for use by independent Volvo repair shops. The ethernet connects to your laptop and provides a fast pathway for the downloading of software to the car. As I understand it, I cannot save the software to a location on my computer. The system must be connected and read by Volvo VIDA. Only then will it allow a download to that specific car. Kind of a smart way to avoid stealing software and then selling it. I would think a lot has to do with the type of equipment you have with respect to information available. You can acquire a lic to perform diagnostics on the car. This is the only setup that works with the second generation XC90 cars. I have a generic OB2 connector and a simple software program. It allowed me to identify error codes and to erase them from the system. However, to download software probably will not work with that generic connector. I found a local repair shop (the only one in Santa Barbara City) that has the VIDA computer setup. They offered to download the software and program my trailer module for $100 plus the cost of the software. I got two quotes, both dealers said they would charge me one hour of labor $200+ and the cost of the software around $45. I thought that seemed somewhat high. I did not ask them for a discount or coupon. Perhaps I could get around10 to maybe 20% off. So the price this independent shop gave me is worth while. I won't receive the connector for a 3 to 5 days. While I have played with setting up my computer, I found that it is easy to get access to the Technical Journals or Safety Journals, etcetera. However to get access to the software requires that you first pay for a subscription (like 3 days at around $70+) Then apparently Volvo will send you an email with a password which is good for a short period of time. You then log on and can decide when you want to invoke the beginning of the 3 days. Once you start the 3 days there is no stopping. You can post problems and they will assist. So in order to get a subscription I will need to spend that initial amount of money. Then I can decide what to do there after. You can access the newer (second generation information via the subscription). You can also decide on what software you wish to purchase or not purchase. I will try it out and then report back. I really enjoy the process of investigation and love the technology.

 

Just a FYI, to anyone who actually does this on their own.... You should always have an AUX power source (battery charger, etc) on your vehicle when doing updates. Last thing you want is to lose 12v before an update finishes.

 

Not just some stupid charger or maintainer. It must be CLEAN power!!!! If I remember correctly off my head, it must be 60-90 amps of clean power. That is why I own a Snap On $900 charger that has a specific "flash program" feature https://store.snapon.com/Battery-Charger-Plus--Battery-Charger-Plus-trade--P891753.aspx. Regular charges can spike voltage and bye bye computer modules if this happens during software. Not warranty of course.

ALSO... not only is there a VIDA license to pay for, you must pay for the software. We bill out all software we use as Volvo bills our parts department.

 

Yes that is an excellent point. When they downloaded my software they also had a small power supply hooked up to the car under the hood throughout the process.

 

From your post above I thought you were going to install the software yourself... did you end up taking it to a shop?

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Yes, I took it to the shop. I had yet to receive the unit in the mail. I also wanted to see how it was done, first hand. So I will probably get around in the next week or so to try and hook it up myself and see what I learn.

 

It seems strange to me that you drain the car battery with any software update or diagnosis. The car battery has a big capacity (with lights off, etc). It should keep alive for many hours, I don't think any update may take so many ours, doesn't it?

 

If I had a dollar for every time a young technician thought a battery was strong enough for software but dropped voltage after 5-10 minutes of software causing the vehicle to go "upside down" and dead.

 

This whole issue with the SPA vehicles and VIDA has me irritated and been a strong disincentive to purchase a newer Volvo. My wife's new V90CC is a CPO car so I won't have to deal with maintenance issues for a few years, but I dread after the CPO warranty expires. I purchased a genuine DICE unit a number of years back because I own a number of Volvos (5 plus servicing my sister in-laws V70CC) and the VIDA software allows me to do a lot of routine and easy services without traveling 40 miles to the dealership and wasting a whole day. Example is lubricating the roof on my 2007 C70, an easy job if you know all the lubrication points which VIDA supplies. I don't mind paying for information, but a $75 dollar charge for every 3 days is excessive for owner maintenance. I don't need the software updates, I let the dealer do that stuff. The annual charge is even more ridiculous to access servicing information. A loyal Volvo owner may have to switch brands if a more equatable solution is not offered to access information.

A more recent example illustrates my point. Several months back, I lost my entertainment system on my 2010 S40. Hooking up to VIDA I resolved the problem in 10 minutes as the diagnostic progression led to to a CAN bus re-interrogation.I initiated this easy process and the entertainments system was back. A simple computer glitch which was easily fixed and I was still a happy Volvo owner. If this happens to my wife's V90CC in 7 years, I will have to take it to the dealer waste a day and pay at least $200 to resolve the same problem. I then would not be a happy Volvo owner. Yes I could pay the $75, but if it was something more serious, it would still go to the dealer and I would be out the $75 plus whatever the dealer cost would be to resolve the problem.

Maybe a solution would be if Volvo reimburses the $75 on related maintenance costs or just lower the cost to say $25 per day and no software update capability.

 

This whole issue with the SPA vehicles and VIDA has me irritated and been a strong disincentive to purchase a newer Volvo. My wife's new V90CC is a CPO car so I won't have to deal with maintenance issues for a few years, but I dread after the CPO warranty expires. I purchased a genuine DICE unit a number of years back because I own a number of Volvos (5 plus servicing my sister in-laws V70CC) and the VIDA software allows me to do a lot of routine and easy services without traveling 40 miles to the dealership and wasting a whole day. Example is lubricating the roof on my 2007 C70, an easy job if you know all the lubrication points which VIDA supplies. I don't mind paying for information, but a $75 dollar charge for every 3 days is excessive for owner maintenance. I don't need the software updates, I let the dealer do that stuff. The annual charge is even more ridiculous to access servicing information. A loyal Volvo owner may have to switch brands if a more equatable solution is not offered to access information.

A more recent example illustrates my point. Several months back, I lost my entertainment system on my 2010 S40. Hooking up to VIDA I resolved the problem in 10 minutes as the diagnostic progression led to to a CAN bus re-interrogation.I initiated this easy process and the entertainments system was back. A simple computer glitch which was easily fixed and I was still a happy Volvo owner. If this happens to my wife's V90CC in 7 years, I will have to take it to the dealer waste a day and pay at least $200 to resolve the same problem. I then would not be a happy Volvo owner. Yes I could pay the $75, but if it was something more serious, it would still go to the dealer and I would be out the $75 plus whatever the dealer cost would be to resolve the problem.

Maybe a solution would be if Volvo reimburses the $75 on related maintenance costs or just lower the cost to say $25 per day and no software update capability.

I guess after several years when SPA cars go out of warranty, local Volvo clubs will start some VIDA hookup party to social, download software and diagnose their cars if needed.

 

I have full warranty through 2021 assuming I can keep the mileage appropriate. So It is not likely that I will attempt to do much with downloading of software. Other than the module for trailering, I don't foresee adding anything else that would require a software download (other than the routine Map and other stuff available to all). It may be that the generic OBD2 reader I have is sufficient for when I want to check something out. My motivation was never to save money but to have access to additional information. I may end up with a tool that just sits in my toolbox. That is ok. I am still getting use to the car. Thus far I like the way it was put together. Well thought out. As for technical ability, I believe I can learn what I need by utilizing this forum and doing appropriate searches. As for programing expertise, back in the 1970s while with Atlantic Richfield they trained me to be a systems analyst in Cobol. I programed for the credit card side of the business for a year to two while in graduate school. 2000 was the last call for that language of any significance. Also with advanced degrees in Chemistry and Business I really don't think of myself as a Joe Blow and will try to be careful in what I do with anything I pursue.

 

I don't understand the point of this fear mongering about using factory tools to do standard updates. All of these modules are built with the capability to be restored in case an update fails. It might be a bit more time consuming than a navigation map update, but it's not a big deal.

If the $75 gets you support if things go wrong, that's a great deal.

 

I don't understand the point of this fear mongering about using factory tools to do standard updates. All of these modules are built with the capability to be restored in case an update fails. It might be a bit more time consuming than a navigation map update, but it's not a big deal.

If the $75 gets you support if things go wrong, that's a great deal.

LOL, no they dont, and no it doesn't.

 

I think gunshow was voicing a general concern from the manufacturer/service tech side of things -- not necessarily directed at anyone specific or their level of understanding/experience.

With each advancement in automotive technology, there are changes made in the manufacturer side that allows for the "dealer only" service requirements. These are regulated by ISO and SAE standards, which also require specific relationships and abilities available to aftermarket companies.

SPA cars, FlexRay, and other recent changes in the Volvo world are no different.

When the VCT 2000 was replaced by the DiCE unit, it was not made readily available to consumers -- by design. CAN advancements, MOST, as well as many other technological changes on the "computer" side of the vehicles, were meant to be "serviced by the professional". This allows for a certain return on investment for the manufacturers, however, due to limitations, these things become available to aftermarket companies, and thus, the end consumer.

As has previously been stated, by the time these cars are all out of warranty and the aftermarket has caught up, I'm sure many, many possibilities that now seem far fetched to the present day "I have to take it in for everything" consumer.

Any technician that lived through the SPA car debut will naturally be hesisitant about untrained individuals doing VIDA only tasks on these cars.

 

Knowledge is power for sure. But my independent mechanic is WAY more qualified than every mechanic at our Volvo Stealership. Much better, much more honest, much more capable, much more ability give us time. Not pinned down by the requirements of a dealership. And yes, it is up to a certified Volvo dealership to correctly fix problems that others cannot fix. I have had MANY times where I have fixed my Volvo's my self with VIDA or without WHEN the Volvo dealership has failed---and still charged me. Granted, I most often take my Volvo's to the deanship and it is not a pleasant experience half of the time---forget the money. My independent is 50 miles away so he is not convent either. I do not take them every to a "regular" garage. I get it. As per my recent service they did not fix the problem, they said the did, I was able to tell they did not after having the car back for 2 minutes. I have to go back at everyone's expense.

YES good certified VOLVO mechanics are priceless! But too much in this tread, to me, is just like many other DYI threads where the experts say "stay away" from xy and z. This is very true, but often not the truth.

 

I don't understand the need for affirmation from an internet forum that you're qualified to work on the car. When I work on my car, I decide if I'm qualified for the task at hand and assume any and all risks for doing so. You don't need our permission to do whatever you want with your car, just be prepared to accept consequences.

 

^^^ That said, I'd love to hear your experience with using the cable to update via third party

 

I'm not saying you dont, I just know my local dealer has cars shipped to the indy on a weekly basis. These customers arent broke, they just arent stupid.

Also, not sure what you are calling aftermarket parts, but a good indy will source the OE supplier like INA, Bosch and etc and use those at a fraction of the volvo price. That's an advantage over the dealer for the same quality of part.

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Sorry to revive the post, but I am looking for the same cable as well and obdinnovation seems to be out of stock. I emailed them and sent them a form on website and didn't get any response

Does anyone know if any other cable would work? I found one on Ebay and one from Volvoparts online(I assume this one would be OEM?)
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/VOE-OBD-to-...-Ethernet-Adapter-for-Volvo-SPA-Platform-Vehicles-9513108-9513062-/202651656981

https://www.volvopartswebstore.com/products/Volvo/Voe-adapter/12589279/9513108.html

 

Yeh the second one looks like OEM. Prefer it to ebay one.

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Buy it direct from Volvo at the link below. Just go to the upper left and search for 9513108. Just FYI, you probably won't need the Volvo USB unless you do a big software load then it's required. I haven't needed to use it for any of the standard updates yet.

https://www.volvospecialtools.com/

 

What do you use if not the Volvo USB?

 

Everything requires it on a spa car.

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I know some dealership can update it over WiFi but won't it need some proprietary equipment?

 

A laptop can do that. People bought subscription also do it over WiFi with a laptop and the OBDII-Ethernet adapter.

 

Uh, what? The two things you just mentioned are distinct technologies and NO, no one who isn't a dealer is doing wifi upgrades.

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The ebay one is $ 24.99. It should do the same job I guess with no issues. The seller sold many of them and has no negative reviews.

Anyone tried it here?

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No that one doesn't stay firmly attached to the connector.

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Hello all. Has anyone had experience using VDASH on your 2018 and up Volvo's using USB to OBD2 cable?

SAE J2534 Pro Diagnostic tool Volvo Vida DiCE Compatible | eBay

For sale is SAE J2534 Professional diagnostic tool only! No software is supplied. "For all vehicles with model year 2004 and later, equipped with OBD and reprogramming capability, manufacturers shall comply with SAE J2534.".

www.ebay.com