Stereo/DVD: Hu603 upgrade

[pc820brad]

Hi all,

Just a simple question about my HU-603 stereo.

I have a VOLVO S60 D5 2003 with the above stereo fitted. I want to upgrade this to a HU-803 as I can't stand the tape deck on the HU-603 and want the extra features of the HU-803, namely the 4 DISK CHANGER and DOLBY DIGITAL.

Basically I want to know if it is possible to change my HU-603 with a HU-803.

I have read many posts on this forum about the changing of stereo's and they seem to be at odds in relation to the stereo's being coded to the car or not and the consequences of changing stereo's between cars.

Can anyone say for definite if each stereo is coded to each car and therefore not able to be used in another car. This is what the dealers say but I always think they will say whatever will get them more money out of your pocket.... I.E buy a new one from them rather than source a second hand one.

Most posts I have read state that the stereo will fit and work, but if it is not re-coded to my car then the steering wheel controls and backlight will not work (which in my mind makes it a pointless exercise). However when I ask my dealer about re-coding a stereo to my car I get a lot of evasive talk and how it's not possible..

Also having looked at the rear of my HU-603 it has the following FOUR CONNECTORS:

POWER (ROUND I THINK)
AERIAL (SQUARE I THINK)
SPEAKERS (OBLONG & GREEN IN COLOUR)
AMPLIFIER (OBLONG & GREY IN COLOUR)

However the HU-803 does not have the AMPLIFIER connection, so does this mean it is not compatible with my car, which seems a bit strange as other VOLVO S60's of the same year have the HU-803 fitted. Surely I can buy a converter cable or something....

Any help or advice would be GREATLY appreciated...

Cheers,

Brad.

[Missing Lincs]

Audio units are not coded to the car. The reason they often don't work properly is that Volvo keep updating the messages sent through the cars CAN-Bus which is how the car and the stereo communicate.

If you get a replacement unit which is close in age to the car, it should be OK. Even then there is a chance that a revision may have occurred but its the best odds going.

On earlier models, there is a reset procedure which must be performed so that the stereo will operate again, I'm not sure if this applies to later models. It was something really simply like remove power, plug in again and them remove within so many seconds.

[spikephoto]

I have a 2008 S60 T5 which was formerly a Police car and had a din size Sony fitted. I was given a 803 and the side cupholder and the metal bracket by the guy I bought the car off, but the car electrical engineer I gave to do the job says he can't fit it.

The reason why he says is that mine doesn't have the seperate ampifier or the correct wiring loom to fit one - obviously the car has the 'Police wiring loom' for all the blue lights etc.

So he had a look on eBay and suggested buying the HU603 however looking at the post above it seems to require an amplifier too?

He was telling me thatthere was an amp included in the 603

Help!
Spike