Diagnostics and services: General

Fig 1: Identifying Electronic Control Module And VIDA Diagnostics Tool

Courtesy of VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA.

The control module's diagnostics can perform and present the following using a connected diagnostics tool: 

• Store malfunction indicator (diagnostic trouble codes) and in certain cases activate warning light or show text message.
  • Counter that indicates how frequent the malfunction is
  • Status indicators for the diagnostic trouble code test.
  • Frozen values that were generated when malfunction was detected for the first time.
• Store information about the nature of the malfunction:
  • Counter that indicates how frequent the malfunction is
  • Status indicators for the diagnostic trouble code test.
  • Frozen values that were generated when malfunction was detected for the first time.
• Erase information about malfunction and its information.
• Present values (parameters) for different connected input signals and output signals from, e. g., components as well as other calculated values.
• Present part number, version number, component number, etc. for both software and hardware.
• Present and change certain special customer settings and configurations.
• Trigger/control (activate) the connected output signals.
• Start special built-in check programs/tester such as, e. g., calibrations of gear position sensor, quick-test of tank system.
• Access check to limit access to certain parameters and functions. Accessible first after unlocking with, e. g., PIN-code.

Exactly what each control module's diagnostics can perform depends both on model year and system.