1. Created a new Volvo Tech Info user ID (https://www.volvotechinfo.com/index.cfm?event=user:register)
2. Followed installation instructions, dowloaded, and ran the VIDA installer (https://www.volvotechinfo.com/index…filename=VIDAInstallationInstructions.pdf&hash=5D62F0654B96A5BD3A351EE6D0A531FF) on my tablet PC. It installs 4 apps, VIDA, VIDA Admin, VIDA Support, and DICE Diagnostics. The installation instructions are pretty good – walks through some of the same steps below although a few unclear steps along the way.
3. Purchase VIDA subscription ( https://www.volvotechinfo.com/index.cfm?event=item.subscriptions). Since this was my first time using VIDA, I had to purchase an initial subscription to receive my VIDA user ID (note: this was a different user ID from my VTI user ID created in step 1). Selected ‘VIDA for Independent Repair Shops’. Accepted license agreement. Selected ‘VIDA’ and clicked ‘Start’. Selected ‘3D’ (3-day) duration and all packages except for ‘Standard Time’ (there was a slight upcharge but I didn’t think I needed it). Checked out.
4. Received order confirmation from [email protected]. Waited for e-mail from [email protected] with VIDA user ID and temporary password. The instructions say not to login into VIDA with the temporary password supplied in the e-mail but to follow another link to change the initial password.
5. After changing the initial password, I booted up the VIDA app. You have to link a subscription to the VIDA user ID, so instead of logging into VIDA, selected the ‘Registration Guide for Subscription’. Entered VIDA login information. Selected the subscription and confirmed it.
6. After linking the VIDA ID and subscription, I wasn’t able to log in. After reading the installation instructions more carefully, it said to login to the VIDA Admin app. Logged into VIDA Admin. Selected DEVICE to change the PC that VIDA was running on to registered status. Then I had to select SUBSCRIPTION, selected the subscription ordered in previous steps, and in the right hand window, had to change the status to ‘Active’.
7. At this point I hooked up the battery maintainer to the engine compartment terminals. Had to flip a cover on the positive terminal. Connected that. Connected the black cable to the ground terminal which is located directly to the right of the positive terminal (uncovered). Plugged in the maintainer and set the voltage to 13V constant. VIDA picked up the voltage change and showed 13V coming through (vs. 12-12.4V on battery only).
8. Connected the ODBII connector to the car, connected the ODBII interface to the PC, and logged into VIDA. Turned the vehicle into ignition I mode. The ODBII connector for some reason didn’t feel all that secure. I pushed pretty hard but it still felt like there was more to go. I wasn’t very confident that it was making a great connection. However, VIDA recognized the connection upon startup and I hit ‘Connect’ to connect to the vehicle.
9. VIDA goes through a pretty long readout process to get information from all the control units. I would say, it took a good 3-5 minutes to get through the readout.
10. Once the readout was complete. I checked to see if there were any fault codes. There were none.
11. Navigated to SOFTWARE menu within VIDA. It showed right away there was a ‘*total upgrade’ (P/N 31483292) available. I selected that, clicked purchase. I went through a few confirmation screens, then it kicked me out to the web browser. This is where you have to enter your VTI ID. I paid for the software through VTI. Something funny happened though, when I got the order confirmation screen and exited out of it, the software didn’t download immediately. I thought I had messed something up. I had to look through the order queue and then I believe I had to manually select ‘Download’. Then it asked me for my order number which was in an e-mail in my inbox.
12. VIDA put the vehicle in programming mode, downloaded the software to the PC, then transferred that to the vehicle. In the process, the headlights and some of the lights in the dash flashed. When the control units were being updated, all of the interior dash screens, including Sensus went dark. The update from download to completion took about 45 minutes. The final screen says ‘Download complete – the software has been downloaded to the vehicle. Carry out pre-delivery check before returning car to the customer. Select OK to finish the download sequence and to the close the tab.’
Everything looks good! Costwise, it came out to about $107 – $74.60 for the 3-day subscription + $32.53 for the software (what!?? I thought this was complimentary! 
) – oh, I had to buy the cable for $50 too – the rest of the equipment I had. Any SPA Volvo owners in the Chicago area want the latest SW upgrade for a nominal charge (my sub runs out Sunday… will have to sign a waiver though… lol)? Would I recommend this approach for others? Probably not, I’m sure a dealer could do this for $200-$250 without the risk of bricking your $55K+ vehicle. Anyways, I’m a tinkerer and for me it was an interesting learning experience. Plus I wanted to see what VIDA for SPA vehicles was all about.
Equipment Used: