Radio; cruise control bits
 

Just got a '94 850 T5.

Nicely specced car but I want to add cruise control, and the volume knob on the standard radio/cassette is a bit iffy - the right side speakers barely work unless you go over a bump, and the speakers crackle loudly when you turn the knob. I'm going to try and repair it but I'd like to find a better Volvo radio anyway, possibly one with a CD player.

Anyone have anything?

I think adding cruise control could be a bit hard, plenty of SC805 radio's on fleabuy...

Yeah, cruise is a real pain. Lot more required than just a relay and stalk. You'd need to source the cruise control module, brake and clutch pedals, relay, stalk, vacuum lines, etc. Installation is then a dash and steering wheel out job.

As volvo_again says, eBay has heaps of SC-805s around, most will be from a C/S/V70 though so will have a grey face. Expect to pay £40 or so for one of those. If you can find an SC-805 from an 850 (black front) you're looking at more like £70 due to the rarity. Same sort of story with the SC-801 that was the factory upgrade option for your year, very rare and requires the CD changer + cable (equally rare) so you'd be looking at way over £150 for all three.

Its also worth trying Minty, he's popular on the forums, an excellent guy and has reasonable prices. Call him on 07841056796.

Crackling volume knob is most likely caused by dirty electrical contacts though, so just give that switch a clean with contact cleaner and it may help. Cassettes are also easy to fix by swapping it over. Nothing but screws holding them in. Code-less radios go for much cheaper on eBay allowing you to source a working cassette deck for not much outlay.

There's an SC801 on eBay, no code, for £18.

How big a minefield is it?

Getting codes is a ballache, some dealers will do it for free - but not all dealers can do it and sometimes even dealers that can check codes will not be able to find it. You'll have more luck if you have the VIN or at least the reg of the car it came out of.

If you mean simply for swapping cassette decks then it isn't a minefield at all.