Super J2534 V2

We love the Super J2534 cable, however we did occasionally encounter failures of the USB connector. It seems, laptops with REALLY tight USB ports could cause the connector to pull out of the cable. It’s a rare occurrence but it seemed like it wouldn’t take much of a redesign to make it more robust. So,… Continue reading Super J2534 V2

How to clean uninstall Vida2014d before attempting a re-installation

If VIDA has gone very wrong (Such as Vida monitor going orange and the log file saying waiting for Jboss) and it needs to be re-installed, its really important to FULLY clean it out before attempting the re-installation, or the re-installation will fail. Just going to add/remove programs and choosing uninstall isn’t going to cut… Continue reading How to clean uninstall Vida2014d before attempting a re-installation

What is Super J2534?

ONLY SVDNS AND D5T5 SELL SUPER J2534! The Short answer is a mongoose pro chipset cable for Vida, but the long answer is a little more complicated. We started testing Mongoose pro cables many years ago and found that when it came to Vida, it really was much better than DiCE, In terms of price,… Continue reading What is Super J2534?

Why a “Lock kit” is nearly always the wrong choice for a dead CEM or ECM or BCM or lost/broken keys

(Well nearly always……) So, you’ve got a dead CEM or ECM, bcm or you have lost or damaged your keys , and it seems the only way forward is to get a “lock kit” off eBay and that will cure all the issues. STOP ! NO! it just makes the situation worse, OK maybe the… Continue reading Why a “Lock kit” is nearly always the wrong choice for a dead CEM or ECM or BCM or lost/broken keys

Do ETM’s need coding?

Magenti Marelli Electronic Throttle Modules are not to be confused with BOSCH Throttle Bodies. they are entirely different and not cross compatible. Join the most reactive Vida/Vdash support group on FACEBOOK CLICK HERE BOSCH TB’s do not need coding. Simply plug and play. However MM ETM’s do need coding. I had heard anecdotal evidence that they… Continue reading Do ETM’s need coding?

Key Coding (P1,P2,P3 + SPA / CMA)

Including all keys lost situations **** Different regions use different frequency Keys…EU keys will not work on Japanese imports for instance , Always check what frequency you require before purchase!!! ***** Join the most reactive Vida/Vdash support group on FACEBOOK CLICK HERE Note – Vdash currently cannot program P1 or P3 Keyless entry keys.  That is… Continue reading Key Coding (P1,P2,P3 + SPA / CMA)

Fake DiCE – The saga continues….again,v4 ?

Unfortunately , due to the chip shortages some manufacturers have started putting a completely different device inside a DiCE looking shell. Join the most reactive Vida/Vdash support group on FACEBOOK CLICK HERE There are now 4! flavors of fake DiCE going around. 2 based on Vxdiag chipset, a variant based on the Mongoose Pro , Mongoose… Continue reading Fake DiCE – The saga continues….again,v4 ?

DPF Musings (Mostly P3)

My friend Nathan Rich posted some really useful stuff about DPF’s and regens over on the Volvo V70 & XC70 P3 owners club facebook page. There have been a few times reading other posts i thought, man, more people could do with reading that post……I’ll ask Nathan if i can put it on the blog,… Continue reading DPF Musings (Mostly P3)

Boot&Go! Vs Thumb Drive

A few months ago a chap popped up in the Vida groups selling a USB thumb drive version of Boot&Go! Having been in I.T. all my life I thought, thats a bad idea…..but I also thought hey, you know maybe the new TLC based flash drives are actually OK for this sort of thing, lets… Continue reading Boot&Go! Vs Thumb Drive

Where has my Dice Gone Now ?

It’s time to move Vida to running in Edge – Permanently Join the most reactive Vida/Vdash support group on FACEBOOK CLICK HERE There is still a work around to make Vida launch in Internet explorer (see here), but really there is little point in it. That glitch will probably get “fixed” so, might as well make… Continue reading Where has my Dice Gone Now ?

Vdash Mongoose support Update – May 2023

Vdash Support for Mongoose has really moved up a gear recently. In my own testing I have successfully used it for Programming with P1 , P2 & P3 platform cars Join the most reactive Vida/Vdash support group on FACEBOOK CLICK HERE This includes Configuration changes Module reloads Language changes Engine Optimisation Everything that you can do… Continue reading Vdash Mongoose support Update – May 2023

CEM / ECM pin decoding update

Modunlock’s (www.modunlock.com) latest public firmware release now includes T6 ECM pin decoding! Join the most reactive Vida/Vdash support group on FACEBOOK CLICK HERE Modunlock’s CEM pin decoder can securely decode P1 / P2 / P3 CEM pins without the use of a laptop or DiCE or internet connection .

GetCommToolSettingObject error in Vida (Windows 10)

So you were happily using Vida with internet explorer, then the next day …Boom – No DiCE. both literally and figuratively. Basically, your now in Edge browser. At some point windows asked if you want Edge Browser to take over as default and you answered yes. Join the most reactive Vida/Vdash support group on FACEBOOK CLICK… Continue reading GetCommToolSettingObject error in Vida (Windows 10)

Quick guide to using VIDA 2014D

Join the most reactive Vida/Vdash support group on FACEBOOK CLICK HERE This is a very quick guide to using VID2014D. But I think it covers some of the most important but often overlooked aspects for fault diagnosis with VIDA2014D.

Volvo Starting issues “Have you checked the batteries in the key m8?”

Join the most reactive Vida/Vdash support group on FACEBOOK CLICK HERE All Volvo keys can start the car without batteries. They use passive RFID for reading the immobilizer pin code. In p1 / p2 / p3 the RFID reader is in the ignition barrel / slot SPA/CMA platform cars have a reader in the cup holder… Continue reading Volvo Starting issues “Have you checked the batteries in the key m8?”

Re-Patching Vida

Join the most reactive Vida/Vdash support group on FACEBOOK CLICK HERE At various times , Vida 2014d will for reasons unknown, decide it needs to be re-patched. Follow these steps to fix it.

Clearing VIN list in VIDA 2014D

Join the most reactive Vida/Vdash support group on FACEBOOK CLICK HERE Occasionally people ask how to clear the list of previous VINs in VIDA 2014D. its pretty easy but you do have to re-patch VIDA afterwards. Here is How…

Vida 2015 No longer allows DiCE for SPA platform software downloads :-(

Join the most reactive Vida/Vdash support group on FACEBOOK CLICK HERE It seems that all J2534 type devices (Such as DiCE) are being blocked from software downloads to SPA platform cars. It makes sense really. A “total upgrade” can be over 1GB in size which on a j2534 would could literally take 24hrs and its very… Continue reading Vida 2015 No longer allows DiCE for SPA platform software downloads 🙁

Why can’t I click on modules in Vida ? (TLDR ? Just Right click instead)

Join the most reactive Vida/Vdash support group on FACEBOOK CLICK HERE On high resolution screens Windows tends to set the screen DPI to 150%. When the DPI is set to 150% for reasons probably only known to the Gods themselves , you have to RIGHT CLICK on modules in Vehicle communication or Network in order to… Continue reading Why can’t I click on modules in Vida ? (TLDR ? Just Right click instead)

Vida 2014d / 2015a – P3 support up to 2018 – how to update Vida yourself

Join the most reactive Vida/Vdash support group on FACEBOOK CLICK HERE Zjev over on Sweedspeed had done a great job of adding Vin support to Vida 2014d for newer p3 models (No SPA platform support and V60CC is available on AME partner group only) But it was still somewhat of a difficult job to modify the… Continue reading Vida 2014d / 2015a – P3 support up to 2018 – how to update Vida yourself

Changing the Language in Vida 2014d WITHOUT re-installing (….sometimes)

Join the most reactive Vida/Vdash support group on FACEBOOK CLICK HERE Some time ago a bloke made a program called SET FK Language, then he disappeared with all the links to it. Luckily I (and others) kept a copy. This isnt an easy thing to do…but here are the instructions such as they are.. To switch… Continue reading Changing the Language in Vida 2014d WITHOUT re-installing (….sometimes)

Is your DiCE Really Dead ?

Join the most reactive Vida/Vdash support group on FACEBOOK CLICK HERE The Red firmware light on a DiCE is not a usually a good sign, sometimes they just want a reboot, sometimes they dont like the USB port, sometimes the firmware has become corrupt, and sometimes they have not been flashed correctly from the factory. Providing… Continue reading Is your DiCE Really Dead ?

Volvo P2 petrol fuel pumps (Focusing on R / 2.4 T5)

That is the main pump return and it needs to go into the swirl pot

Join the most reactive Vida/Vdash support group on FACEBOOK CLICK HERE Volvo P2 petrol fuel pumps (Focusing on R / 2.4 T5) though 99% of this is accurate for single pump setups in terms of operation. The P2r / T5 fuel pump setup is really interesting.  It’s return-less but has a return.  The lift pump is… Continue reading Volvo P2 petrol fuel pumps (Focusing on R / 2.4 T5)

Data Logging with Vida 2014D – It’s a bit shit, but it’s usually the best we got :-(

Join the most reactive Vida/Vdash support group on FACEBOOK CLICK HERE Vida can show 5 Items in its graph view, or 10 items on the data view. So i prefer the data view. You can get more done in a shorter time. But in order to be able to review it we need to use screen… Continue reading Data Logging with Vida 2014D – It’s a bit shit, but it’s usually the best we got 🙁

HALP MA DICE IS GON!

Join the most reactive Vida/Vdash support group on FACEBOOK CLICK HERE Quite often a change in Internet Explorer Security settings stop the DiCE functionality in Vida. It’ sometimes caused by windows updates (for .net framework) but not always. It has a very quick fix, a fix that has actually been on the Vida Installation Dvd since… Continue reading HALP MA DICE IS GON!

In Vida what is “Initial State” , “Unselected CSC” , “Delivery” and why should I care ?

Join the most reactive Vida/Vdash support group on FACEBOOK CLICK HERE I was aksed , “What is The difference between Initial State, Unselected CSC and Delivery when fault finding in Vida?” Well… Initial State is a list of codes from the modules and they are stored in VIDA, if VIDA is not used correctly Initial State… Continue reading In Vida what is “Initial State” , “Unselected CSC” , “Delivery” and why should I care ?

The Wonderful world of Volvo Diagnostics and programming

Join the most reactive Vida/Vdash support group on FACEBOOK CLICK HERE Its complicated! But ModUnlock makes it that little bit easier Common Questions you see on face book are “How do I enable the the trip computer? , I’ve added heated seats, how do i make them work?” There are various ways to go about this.… Continue reading The Wonderful world of Volvo Diagnostics and programming