Getting started

This guide takes you from connecting the cable to saving your first scan. Check your model's support level before relying on a reading.

What you need#

• A supported vehicle: Polestar 2, Volvo XC40 Recharge / EX40, or Volvo C40 Recharge / EC40 on the CMA platform are fully verified. Other Volvo, Polestar, and Zeekr models have partial or provisional support (see Supported vehicles).
• An ENET cable: an OBD-II to RJ45 Ethernet cable. The same type is used for every supported model, including Volvo EX30, Polestar 4 and Zeekr. There is no cable driver to install. See Hardware and adapters for the connection setup.
• An Ethernet port on your computer: a built-in RJ45 port or any standard USB-C or USB-A Ethernet adapter.
• Hanterill installed: download the app for Windows, macOS, or Linux from the download page. See Install on your computer if your operating system shows a first-launch security prompt.

Hanterill talks to real vehicles only: there is no demo mode in the app you download, and every reading on every screen comes from the car it is connected to.

Step 1: Plug in the cable#

1. Find the car's diagnostic socket (the OBD-II port) under the dashboard on the driver's side, near the hood release lever.
2. Plug the wide 16-pin end of the ENET cable firmly into the car's diagnostic socket.
3. Plug the RJ45 network end into your computer's Ethernet port or USB Ethernet adapter.

Step 2: Wake the car#

A sleeping car shuts down its network gateway to save the 12 V battery, so it will not answer until it is awake.

• On an electric Volvo or Polestar: sit in the driver's seat with the key present, or press the brake pedal once so the driver display lights up.
• On a hybrid or combustion Volvo: press the start button or turn the start knob with your foot off the brake to wake the electronics (ignition on, engine off).

Wait about ten seconds after plugging in. Your computer and the car's central gateway will automatically give themselves local network addresses (starting with 169.254.). You do not need Wi-Fi, internet access, or a router, and it is normal for your operating system to say the Ethernet adapter has "No internet" or a "Self-assigned IP".

Step 3: Connect in Hanterill#

1. Open Hanterill. It opens on the Connection screen.
2. Select your wired Ethernet adapter from the interface list and click Find vehicle.
3. Hanterill sends a discovery request over the cable (and automatically tries the car's direct gateway address if the car is configured not to broadcast its presence).
4. When your car answers, click Connect. Hanterill opens a diagnostic channel to the car's central gateway, identifies the vehicle platform, and loads the matching module list and battery layout.

Step 4: Run your first scan#

Once connected, the best place to start is the Overview screen:

1. Open Overview in the left sidebar and click Run full check.
2. Hanterill asks every control unit in the car to identify itself, reads any stored or active fault codes, and checks the high-voltage battery and 12 V system.
3. Because Hanterill can ask all modules on the network to answer at once and remembers which optional modules are not fitted to your specific car, a scan finishes quickly without waiting on empty slots.
4. When the scan completes, the session is saved automatically on your computer. You can add your own notes (for example, "Before summer road trip" or "Checking warning message"), inspect the Battery Health and Fault Codes screens in detail, or open Inspection Report to print a scored summary.

Where to go next#

• Screen tour: a plain-language guide to every screen in the app and the three audience modes (Owner, Technician, and Engineer).
• Common tasks: step-by-step paths for checking a used car, investigating a warning light, or checking your 12 V battery.
• Troubleshooting: what to check if the car does not appear when you plug in.