Volvo Fault Codes List: How To Read Your DTC Engine Codes With Ease

View Fault Codes ListOnce upon a time, diagnosing a vehicle's issues took (what old-school mechanics call) "brute-force diagnostics." Back then, having a Volvo fault codes list would have sped up the overall repair time. Not to mention saving a few headaches. In the old days, you needed to have a firm understanding of the "big three" that kept a car running in order to source a problem, as well as a trained ear, nose, and set of eyes to spot potential symptoms. For the last 50 years, diagnostics have evolved with the advent of engine computers (otherwise known as ECUs, ECMs, or BeCMs, among others), and now, cars can self-diagnose engine and other problems thanks to a wide range of sensors. The vehicle relays this information to the mechanic via stored Volvo trouble codes, and the mechanic can spend more time fixing with precision as opposed to brute-force testing.

In short, understanding the entirety of the Volvo fault codes list is easier than you might think, but having some historical perspective can help. Scroll below to get a brief history on engine diagnostics and see how you can retrieve your stored Volvo fault codes list like the pros who carry out Volvo auto repair in Lexington every single day.

A Brief History of Engine Diagnostics

For well over 100 years, the ICE (internal combustion engine) converted stored energy into kinetic energy through the combination of fuel, air, and fire (yes, those are your big three). Most of us know that generating heat (converted energy) at a fireplace requires something to burn, proper airflow, and a spark. Without those big three components, cavemen would have frozen, and ICEs would not work. If a cave dweller in Lexington could figure out how to maintain a state of converted energy, rest assured, you can understand how an engine works!

There are mechanical systems responsible for sustaining the big three, and when one fails to operate, engine performance suffers. About 50 years ago, Volkswagen Group was the first to implement a computerized monitoring system to aid in diagnostics. This system was clunky and crude and copied by other manufacturers. Each manufacturer had its own system, its own codes, and its own procedures.

These proprietary systems were the first generation of onboard diagnostics (OBD-I). In the early '90s, federal and international law required that these trouble codes be easier to read by consumers and other parties, and OBD-II systems were born. Feel around in the driver's footwell of your car. There's a trapezoid plug somewhere down there. This plug accepts an innumerable number of specialty (and customer-friendly) scanners by which you can identify your diagnostic trouble codes (in this case, your Volvo DTC codes).

Engine codes, as you might think, are the most common and widespread because, if you recall, without the big three, there's no car or any other system that the ICE supports. These Volvo engine codes have alphanumeric designations, like P-3001, P-1238, and so forth. While the numbers themselves might seem meaningless, you can quickly pair them to a Volvo fault codes list, which will identify the faulty component or system, as well as test & repair procedures.

If your thinking cap is on, you might have guessed that there are specialized code sets specifically for each system: Fuel codes, Air codes, and "Fire" codes (ignition codes). There are literally thousands of codes nowadays monitoring everything from AC to windows, people sitting in seats, and the car's angular relation to the equator. Not to worry. The team at Quantrell Volvo Cars, your Volvo dealership near Louisville, will be the ultimate resource for the Volvo fault codes list specific to your car. All you need is a scanner to read them. There are a wide variety of scanners available online, from $25 to $10,000 (a $150 - $300 scanner that reads multiple systems is usually all you need).

Phew!

Now that you have a better understanding of why diagnostics are so valuable, let's take a look at some answers to common questions regarding the reading, understanding, and clearing of your ECU's Volvo fault codes list.

What are the DTC codes?

DTCs (or diagnostic trouble codes) are your vehicle's way of monitoring, storing, and expressing specific faults and issues with your vehicle. There are engine DTCs, transmission DTCs, electrical DTCs, ABS DTCs, and on and on for every vehicle system.

How do you pull up a Volvo diagnostic trouble code?

All scanners are different. Some are "read-only," while some require you to scroll through some menus. In general, the following steps will be similar for all code readers:

1. Locate the connector in the driver's footwell. Be on the lookout for clever little hatches that hide the plug for cosmetic reasons. Sometimes you might find a yellow sticker indicating that the plug is in the passenger footwell.
2. Ensure your vehicle is in accessory mode (typically when the key is turned to position two), so all accessories are powered without the car running. For push-button start vehicles, tap the start button with your foot off the brake.
3. Plug in your scanner. At this point, your scanner will automatically read whatever codes it can and will display them to you in a menu to scroll through. If you don't have a read-only scanner, you will be prompted to scroll to your year, make, model, and desired system to scan.
4. If that is the case, select your year, make, and model. Hit enter. And then, scroll through the various systems and select "view trouble codes (or similar)."

How do you clear a Volvo code?

With your scanner plugged in and your vehicle at accessory mode (or ignition position two, as mentioned above), you are ready to clear your codes. While every scanner is different, the method of operation is similar:

1. Ensure that your scanner is on and plugged in.
2. In the main menu, you should see "Read Codes" and "Clear Codes," among others. Select "Clear Codes."
3. At this point, you may receive special instructions. If so, follow them. Eventually, you will be asked, "Clear Fault Codes (or similar)?" Click yes.
4. From here, you may be instructed to turn the vehicle off and on, or a variety of other prompts. In general, you will receive a "Success" message or "Faults Not Cleared" message. If you got the latter, it means the repair itself was unsuccessful or that the problem still persists.

How do you reset service message on Volvo XC90?

1. Depending on your year, insert the key in the ignition and hold the odometer reset button.
2. Continue to hold down the odometer reset button and turn the key to ignition position 2 (right before the starting position).
3. Release the trip odometer reset button when the service engine light begins to flash.
4. Pat yourself on the back!

How can I read my engine code without a reader?

With some models, you may be able to retrieve generalized faults and messages through the driver's information center. In those cases, you can scroll through messages like "Ride-leveling disabled" or "Power protection mode enabled." Once you identify those messages, your owner's manual will have a glossary with definitions and instructions. You cannot read the alphanumeric DTCs without a proper OBD-II compliant scanner.

Quantrell Volvo Cars. Your Magic 8 Ball Near Louisville.

Who's ready for their dissertation on modern engine diagnostics? Please raise your hands! While the world of DTCs can seem intimidating, your friends at Quantrell Volvo Cars are always here to help. Keep in mind that an engine is an engine is an engine. No matter how complicated or advanced, like the Volvo T8 engine, they still work (or not) based on what's going on with the big three. Your sophisticated Volvo vehicle can accurately monitor, diagnose, and tell you what's going on so that you can spend more time enjoying the drive and less time scratching your head!

​​Volvo DTC Fault Codes List

Don't See the Code You are Looking For?

Can't find the code that matches the one on your OBD reader or need further help diagnosing the problem? We have certified Volvo Cars technicians who are happy to help. Chances are that your code is less common and anything starting with "P1" is specific to Volvo models.

Schedule a service appointment here at Quantrell Volvo Cars so we can help you diagnose and fix the issue in record time.