Picked up the Actron CP9135 scanner for OBDll over the holidays. Think I'll like this gadget will read codes for all my vehicles.
Did the 960 a little while ago and found some problems with a number of things

Egr system not ready--Not an EGR system on this model

Ho2 sensor not ready-this the temp sensor to the computor? It's reading the temp
on the dash indicator

O2 sensor not ready-been wondering about this anyway

secondary air not ready-air pump has been coming on OK

Evaperative system not ready-purge valve does this part osilatte on and off rather quickly-mine used to do this but it seems to be misbehaving now

catalyst not ready- hope the convertor not shot

Things it did say were in good shape was, fuel system ok,ignition right on and compression ok
Hope I don't have to replace everything this thing says are bad could be expensive
help
Poolman

In the OBD2 world readiness does not refer to or indicate a fault. It simply means that enough drive cycles have not been completed for the OBD2 computer to have determined that a particular emissions related sub-system is working OK. When that happens that sub-system will be determined to be not ready. Not ready's will always occur after a fault code reset has been done.

Some emissions related faults cannot be tested by the OBD2 computer until the engine has been run under varying temperatures, speed, loads etc. To complete this testing the car must be driven through a number of "drive cycles" or trips with cool down in between. All test conditions must be met before readiness indicators will be reset. On early OBD2 Volvos (and other makes) there are bugs in the OBD2 programming of the readiness indicators in that they do not go the ready status easily. Testing stations are aware of these bugs and will pass the affected cars. This in no way affects the ability of the OBD2 system to detect a fault, turn on the light and store the code.

I should think that readiness would be explained in the manual that came with the scanner.
--
David Hunter

Did a 20 mile jog on the car this AM with the hose plugged to the purge valve to see if this was contaminating the system and giving up the funny readings.
Got back and the same codes were coming up evap system,heated O2 sensor O2 sensor and ERG system which I don't have, oh yeah the machine says the cats not ready also.
The purge valve is not working at all nothing coming through it,if it's not allowing vacuum to come thru can it still back up and cause the car to run rich.
I'll get another asap-but I hate to start throughing money around. The air pump comes on as soon as started when cold and when I hooked the purge valve back up had a short burst of air entering the system while it was running got it hooked up again and the air pump came on like clock work.
Poolman

If the second O2 sensor (behind the cat) isn't working it may be recorded as a catalyst problem - the output from that sensor is supposed to stay pretty constant if the cat is working. An actual fault with either O2 sensor or the cat should set your CEL though - has that been on? Bear in mind many of these fault codes may be 'sympathetic' codes, a bad front O2 sensor may cause rich running which will dump fuel through the cat, which can't catalyze it all and cause the rear O2 sensor to return erratic values, thus setting codes for all three, etc. OBD systems are great, just need plenty of interpretation before replacing anything.
--
Chris, Dartmouth NS Canada 70 M-B 280SE, 83 245DL, 84 244 turbo, 90 780 turbo, 92 VW Golf, 90 740 Rex/Regina

The car has not given a check engine light-what the readings are from are from the inspection and maintenance function of the scanner diognosing the emission system. Car was getting 27-28 miles a gallon it's down to 23 highway now.
Can a fauly purge valve cause an over rich condition that would result in a fault in 02 sensor readings, causing the car to run rich?
Thanks for the responce
Poolman

I really don't know about that... The only thought I've got is perhaps those tests need to be done fully warmed up? I don't know enough about OBD-II procedures though.
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Chris, Dartmouth NS Canada 70 M-B 280SE, 83 245DL, 84 244 turbo, 90 780 turbo, 92 VW Golf, 90 740 Rex/Regina

The 960/S90 is notorious for failed emissions testing du to erroneous codes. Since all of the testing on these are through the OBDII, it sometimes takes several hours of warm-up and stabilization to get the codes to clear.
I've heard this from several Volvo shops as well as a good independant service shop who say there's some tricks of the trade to get the car into a steady state where the codes clear. Also note that not all of the codes clear, but there's allowable codes which if cleared within a certain period are acceptable, and not needed to be in sync with other codes.
I wouldn't worry too much about it if the car runs fine.
--
'89 245 sportwagon, destroyed by hit & run driver, RIP. '04 V70 2.5 T Sportwagon, 12k mi and '91 245 5-speed, 209k mi, replaced the '89

Thanks vvpete-the car runs fine and I think very srtong for what it is,gas mileage whent down on trips from 27-28 to 23 on highway,vacuum lines are good and solid,good air filter and plugs,new coils runs like hell and pulls great but just trying to track down the last loss in gas mileage.
Will a purge valve failure cause a problem with gas consumption,indy I talked with has a smoke machine I'm going to have hooked up and see if there are some leaks that have been over looked. Ever since I sold my hot rod Ford this damn
960 has gotten to be another !ing hobby
Thanks for the responce.
Poolman