[SeeSeventy]

Right,

Thanks for the response and added help... I have spent some time almost dismantling the cars interior and going even more in depth.

I operated on the head unit a little to see connections and all were fine. They checked out just fine in my opinion. I once again went through the doors and dash and earths and everything is still top dollar.

Following the DIN down the car that is all good, right up until it meets the amplifier and I THINK I may have solved the issue. Whether it's replacement or repair, I don't know. I will find out tonight.

From what I can gather, someone at some point has removed the amplifier and in doing so, has pulled the drainage pipe from the bung just enough for water to sit in the arch and drain away slowly. I think as a result it's dampened and corroded the connection IN the amp. Even with a new cable it still throws some sound out, not much, but enough to hear. I am dissecting the amp slowly and going to see if it appears as dicky on the inside as it does from the outside.

Thanks for the offer on the lend of yours for testing, I may yet take you up on the offer. Currently outside of Monmouth. However, I am fingers crossed that this will finally nail it with a clean of contacts or clean up with a solder. I had to spend a day cleaning up the hash job of the iPod adapter kit that a previous owner had also put in.

As for the 'other earth' I put it from the aerial as that seemed the only crummy connection, it was also the most prominent sounding thing on the car when the system kicked out. Plus several Volvo technicians and specialists said to try that first as a '20 pence' fix. I've removed it for now, just to make sure that's not interfering.

As for toasty hot! That would be the head unit, I know they can get warm, but this was almost melt your skin off hot. In fact I had to handle it with a cloth, which also got really hot. It seems a little TOO much if you ask me. But the 3CD has stopped working properly, so I could write it off as that.

Thanks again for the help, I will hopefully have a working solution by this evening.....

And a working motor on the passenger seat seeing as I am stripped out as it is!

Update to follow.