940 original radio does nothing - replace or fix?
 

Well actually it sort of glows dimly when turned on. No sound, nothing on the display.

Was hoping it might just need a code. On the other hand I do have a couple of spare aftermarket units doing nothing...

I ordered one of these thinking I might fit something else.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Radio-Ada...0/173867838516

Been googling though and it looks like the original radio uses an external factory fitted amplifier etc. So maybe swapping is not straight forward? What about physically? Will a standard stereo fit in to the slot ok?

Welcome thoughts on what way to go. Not bothered about format as I still quite like cassettes and radio 4 but I am into music and hifi etc so would like decent ish sound.

Bit of a vauge desription of the fault on yours, if you're looking to replace one of these comes with a facia plate, adaptor leads to bypass the amp etc :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-940...r/162552452884

Same seller has other options for the 940 so check "Sellers other items" too.

OK.

Just checked it again and in bright light it is just possible to read the LCD display. It's showing "CODE".

Am I right in thinking I need to contact a Volvo dealer with my VIN number to get the code?

Any way to do it online?

Found a post from Rufe offering to provide codes via email

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showt...o+code&page=18

Fingers crossed...

Have a look in the owners manual, the original owner may have written it in there.

Or replace it with a modern one as the originals are rubbish. They really are. I replaced mine (which was the top of the range one with CD changer etc) with a cheap modern one and the new one is miles better.

In car audio has come a long long way in 25 years. I have kept the original in case the next owner wants to put it back in, it’s a 5 minute job.

What Rob said and why i made the suggestions i did further up! ^^^^^^^

OK guys, thanks. Limited paperwork with the car - nothing has any mention of the radio code.

As mentioned previously I have a couple of spare modernish head units here already so no need to buy something new - I actually have a DAB unit which might be a worthwhile upgrade although I do quite like the idea of playing a few cassettes in the car.

As stated in the OP I've also already ordered an ISO adapter lead - hopefully using this will be straight forward but if the original head unit doesn't have a built in amplifier (line rather than speaker outputs) then I was wondering how you gain access to the speaker wiring...

And reading between the lines it seems I might need an adapter/bezel for the fascia as well...

For the time being I will see if I can get the original up and running first, it may well be good enough for my purposes. Interesting to hear though that they are not considered to be very good - my experience of manufacturer's stereos from this period is that they vary considerably - I'd hoped that being an expensive car, and with an separate amplifier etc., it might be half decent.

I'm aware from reading around that later 940s had changes made to the audio system - bigger speakers in door cards etc., so maybe there was an attempt to make some improvements to later cars? Also indicates that standard "upgrade" components are not always the drop-in upgrade they promise to be...

Re things moving on - good quality car audio was certainly available 25 years ago but it was often expensive - as a young driver I was quite into car audio and I heard and helped install some impressive systems back in the late 90s... but I agree that cheap units nowadays are often impressive. The downside is often ergonomics - I don't like flashing lights, menus etc on my car radio. The Volvo radio certainly doesn't suffer from any of that!

Will report back on my findings. Thanks again.

Quite by chance, I've been chasing a radio code recently too. There are various (mostly very old) posts about contacting the dealer or downloading software. Most of the links to software are now dead, but I found a couple which still worked. They set the anti-virus off; and when I ran them in a virtual machine they gave wrong answers anyway.

So having plenty of time on my hands just at the moment, I dug into the coding a bit. If you can be bothered to do a bit of light dismantling, you should be able to reconstruct the code from the block of diodes on the main circuit board (see pics)

To get to them you need to take the top cover off and remove the cassette deck -- disconnect the two electrical connectors and undo four screws at the corners and it can be eased out.

Read off the diodes, putting a 1 if there's a diode present and a 0 if there's no diode, in the order d10,d11,d12 d6,d7,d8 d2,d3,d4 d9,d5,d1. That gives you four groups of three. In the picture, for example, that's 011 110 011 101.

Convert each of the groups of three from binary to decimal; 4 x (first position) + 2 * (second) + (third). If a group comes out as 0, read it as 6; if a group comes out as 7, read it as 1. That gives you your 4-digit code. More difficult to describe than to do.

Caveat: this was for a CR-905. Yours is a CR-906 but I bet it's the same. The above worked for a CR-706 that I was able to use for an additional check.

Incidentally, If any one has the CD-changer that went with the CR-905 going spare, I'd be interested.

Phil

First, find the amplifier. Usually under the dash above the accelerator somewhere, black box with black fins on it usually.

There's an interconnecting lead to the head unit and then the speakers plug into it. Again the kit i mentioned comes with the patch leads but you can buy them separately from the same seller - have a look at his other items as i suggested!

Hi,

The original Volvo radio is quite easy to get out. I think somebody set out how to do it in a reply to one of my old posts - I'll look if you can't find. Anyway, mine had a sticker with the code written on the top of the radio chassis - worth a look.


I have always thought the sound quality of Volvo radios to be pretty good but my music tastes are pretty average!

Good luck,
LeeP