27 replies to this topic

[akka]

Hi Forum Members,

I am new to this forum, this is my first post. I found a topic here, but is unfortunately closed, so i decided to open a new one to get ideas (hopefully) to my problem.

I have a 1996 Volvo 850 with speedometer problems (sometimes it stops showing actual speed while driving - then odometer also stops).
I was told that it might be an ABS related problem. So I purchased an USB KKL 409.1 OBD2 cable (this) from ebay. I downloaded VOL-FCR SERIAL demo (also tried usb version - doesnt work at all). The cable's virtual port was set to com1 as suggested in the above linked topic.
The software was able to establish a connection to the car, it was able to query model and software IDs but then it failed reading trouble codes saying 'comms lost with car, null time out or message error'..  volfcr1.jpg   19.49K   61 downloads
I dont know what might be the problem, I would be very thankful if someone could help me out with a good advice!

[Ozark Lee]

I made the serial version of the program work but I bought an actual serial interface cable to do it. I am at my cabin at the moment and I can't give you the specific number of the cable. There are a couple of versions of USB to serial converters that have been said to work but I have no specifics. The big problem is that most laptops don't have a serial connector anymore - I knew there was a reason I kept the old IBM think pad around even with the dead batteries. Rumor has it that there is a cracked full functioning version of the program on bit torrent.

I will be back in the city on Sunday and if no one else has given you the specifics on the cable I will post back the numbers on the one that worked for me.

...Lee

[AverageVolvo]

FCR only works on 96-98 volvos.
The serial cable works best
You need to Crack the software, they only include a demo and it says lost communication when you try to read or erase dtc..

email me @ justanothervolvo@gmail.com
I can help you out ; )

As for your speedometer, possibly ignition switch, Try gently turning the key back and forth when the can is running.

Possibly ignition switch, when the car is runnig gently wiggle key back and forth and see if that helps.

[JordanW]

if you are able to adjust your virtual comm port settings, slow it down, less then 9600. Try also adjusting UART settings. If that's an acutal screen shot, you got the usb cable to work, as it can atleast qury the controller. However, you'll need the crack for the software.

[Dan A]

If you are using the USB cable, then most likely you are not running on the COM1 port.  COM1 is typically reserved for the serial port.  Try the other COM ports.  You can also look in your Device Manager to find exactly which port it's running on.

[akka]

Thank you guys for the answers!
Actually Jordan was right, playing with the COM port settings (setting it less then 9600) helped, now i am able to read DTCs.
The cable and software i used were: obd2 kkl usb cable with ft232b chip inside from ebay, vol-fcr 1.3.6 serial version and the driver from http://www.ftdichip....Drivers/VCP.htm

If you guys could share with me the difference between the 1.3.6 and the newer software versions (what has the newer more?) i would be thankful!

[T5power]

where did you guys find the demo of FCR? I have been looking for about a half hour and i cannot find it....

[JC 855 GLT-R]

i got the program still trying to figure it out

[JordanW]

You can search for it on ebay and usually purchase it with a cable. I'm sure if you really search you can find it other places... Below is the support info from the program.... On their website is a link that will take you to a chart that shows the Volvo models and what functions are available to each model. Its a decent program, but worth no more then $30.00. Becareful on cars with Motronic 4.3- it won't pull OBDII or diag. codes... It tells you how to use the OBDII port to pull blink codes eg(2-1-1)


Vol-FCR™, Fault Code Reader for Volvo ™ Cars. Version Beta 1.3.06
Copyright cr-diagnostics © 2002, 2003.

Supplied by:
ilexa
PO Box 111
Truro
Cornwall
United Kingdom
TR2 4YF www.onboarddiagnostics.co.uk/volfcr

For technical support:
Tel 0870 7543 827 Mon-Fri 09:00-18:00 (GMT) or Fax 0870 7543 829 Anytime.
e-mail volfcr@onboarddiagnostics.co.uk

This program is designed to read & reset fault codes on Volvo ™ cars.
The program has no connection with the Volvo Car Corporation.
The program will only work on Comm Port 1.

Some S/V 40 engine functions have not been implemented and are disabled.
No liability can be accepted for use of the program or the information presented.

You may wish to print information from the program, the easiest way to do this is to press the Alt + Print Screen keys to take a snap shot of the screen then press 'Go Back' to stop comms and finally paste the screen into a program such as Wordpad, save the result and print / e-mail as required.
-Scroll Down for more-
On ‘96/’97 850 cars with the 16 way ‘OBDII’ socket, and some other models, some of the control modules use ‘flash’ codes, this program is not designed to work with these modules.
The controls for these have been coloured yellow in the program.

THE USE OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS ENTIRELY AT THE USERS RISK

To retrieve the flash codes the following procedure can be adopted:
Connect an LED, with the correct polarity, in series with a 1k8 ohm resistor, between pin 16 (+) and pin X, where X is the pin corresponding with the module to be read. Connect a push to make switch between pin X and pins 4 or 5 (-).
The circuit can then be used in the same way as the pre ’96 diagnostic sockets, situated in the engine compartment.
For
Motronic 4.3 or Fenix 5.2, X = 3.
ECC , X = 6, Timer Type 4, X = 9.
Cruise Control, X = 13; 900 & S/V 90 ABS, X = 12 .

[exitspeed]

akka, on 23 June 2009 - 09:44 AM, said:

Thank you guys for the answers!
Actually Jordan was right, playing with the COM port settings (setting it less then 9600) helped, now i am able to read DTCs.
The cable and software i used were: obd2 kkl usb cable with ft232b chip inside from ebay, vol-fcr 1.3.6 serial version and the driver from http://www.ftdichip....Drivers/VCP.htm

If you guys could share with me the difference between the 1.3.6 and the newer software versions (what has the newer more?) i would be thankful!

Has anyone figured out the com port settings when using the ftdichip driver? I can read codes fine, however, when I attempt to clear the codes I receive the com error. I have set connection speeds to 9600 buad but there are additional settings in the com port advance tab that probably need to be changed. Unfortunately, I do not have time to wait for a serial cable nor do I have access to a loptop with a serial port. Any help would be very much appreciated. I need to pass va inspection this week.

[misa]

akka, on 23 June 2009 - 09:44 AM, said:

...If you guys could share with me the difference between the 1.3.6 and the newer software versions (what has the newer more?) i would be thankful!

Newer versions are not anymore serial to obdII port.They are usb to obdII port and the other difference is that they can display live data.

[fastwagonhawaii]

I don't know about the computer stuff since I just bought a reader from ebay for like 30 bucks done. as for the speedo if you have a 96 850 then your speed sensor comes from the abs. most likely its the module. there is a guy on here the is good at fixing them and is well priced. as for the tach. not working there is a cog in the re that is relatively easy to replace, just go slow and you wont have a problem. this is what I used to fix mine. My link

[Anatoli]

VOL FCR and vag come cable ($10) worked great for me.
Only a few times I had to set the COM port in device manager, because it was not recognizing number other than 1 IIRC.
I used it for both of my 97 854GLTs and also on 96 base.

[AverageVolvo]

Anatoli, on 28 June 2011 - 06:42 PM, said:

VOL FCR and vag come cable ($10) worked great for me.
Only a few times I had to set the COM port in device manager, because it was not recognizing number other than 1 IIRC.
I used it for both of my 97 854GLTs and also on 96 base.

Zombie Thread, bringing it back from the dead

This thread is days short of 2 years old

[Anatoli]

AverageVolvo, on 28 June 2011 - 07:49 PM, said:

Zombie Thread, bringing it back from the dead

This thread is days short of 2 years old

maybe so, but it warms my heat to know that I was not the one to revive it

[schigara]

Hey guys, Old thread but maybe someone has some info pertaining to my problem. I purchased the Volvo FCR cable from ebay with a serial port end instead of the usb. For some reason I thought the serial version was better than the usb. Of course, my laptop has no serial ports so I also bought a ExpressCard serial port.

I set the add on serial port in device manager to com1. The FCR program can't communicate with the car. I tried lowering the baud rate and adjusting the Uart settings but still no go. Will a usb to serial adapter work or should I just try to find an FCR cable that has the usb plug?

[Keaton85]

Get a cheap-o ebay USB vagcom cable and be done with it. don't bother with serial...

[schigara]

I did just this. The cable came today and worked fine. I cleared the SRS code that I set when I replaced to odometer gear and started the car while the passenger airbag was unhooked.

please delete, on 16 January 2012 - 02:29 AM, said:

Get a cheap-o ebay USB vagcom cable and be done with it. don't bother with serial...

[Cmercon]

I have a KKL VAG COM for 409.1 cable and VOL-FCR USB version. I am able to read engine,abs,srs and lock/immobilizer codes. I cannot however reset the service light or access the climate control system (the reason I bought the cable. I receive an error.
Anyone have any luck with these systems and what did you do?

[Dan A]

Fill out your sig so we know what car you are talking about.