Volvo xc90+arduino=RealDash

gavik · October 26, 2025, 8:36am

Hello. I’m not a developer, this is just my hobby in my free time. I’m trying to create a dashboard for my 2006 Volvo XC90 using AI. I found a project that gets parameters from the Volvo XC70’s CAN bus and displays them on a separate screen, but I don’t want to change anything in the car. I have an Android radio installed, to which I want to display parameters using RealDash.But since I’m not really good at it, I can’t do anything.
For now I’m using Arduino Uno+ MCP2515 Shield.
Maybe someone can check and tell me what I’m doing wrong.

github.com/vtl/volvo-ddd

data/2005_xc70_b5254t2_aw55_us.h

master

/*
 * 2005 XC70 2.5T AW55
 */

const char *get_tcm_gear_string(struct car *car)
{
  int gear =
    peek_sensor_value(find_module_sensor_by_id(car, TCM, TCM_S1_STATUS), 1 << 4) |
    peek_sensor_value(find_module_sensor_by_id(car, TCM, TCM_S2_STATUS), 1 << 3) |
    peek_sensor_value(find_module_sensor_by_id(car, TCM, TCM_S3_STATUS), 1 << 2) |
    peek_sensor_value(find_module_sensor_by_id(car, TCM, TCM_S4_STATUS), 1 << 1) |
    peek_sensor_value(find_module_sensor_by_id(car, TCM, TCM_S5_STATUS), 1 << 0);

  switch (gear) {
  case 0b00000:
    return "  N\n";
  case 0b00101:
    return "  R\n";
  case 0b11100:
    return "  1\n";

This file has been truncated. show original

realdashdev · October 29, 2025, 9:08am

In RealDash, there is no need for an Arduino to read CAN bus of your vehicle. Use one of the supported CAN adapters:

RealDash | Manuals | Supported CAN/LIN Adapters

And then write an XML file that translates the CAN messages for RealDash.

We can also help to make the XML file,

Connect to your vehicle CAN bus with an adapter
Go to CAN Monitor
With engine running on idle, record a CAN log file.
Send a CAN Monitor log file to us for analysis.