V70: Stereo/SatNav/Phone - V70 D3 2010 Radio problems

codders · Oct 21st, 2016, 17:05

Not posted for a long time but have read a lot and thanks to all for all the valuable info on here. A change from the lovely old 2003 XC70 to a series 3 V70 D3 has prompted a posting.

Nice new car sat outside the house and setting up radio presets, seems fine. Drive out into the sticks - or anywhere for that matter, FM reception rubbish to the point of unusable. AM reception fine. Just done some more tests, drove out into the sticks with Radio 3 on, crap reception and static persists and changing stations prompts the "seek" function for a while and then settles on the least rubbish signal. Stop in lay-by and stop engine, 5 seconds later static goes away and reception fine and no longer "seeking" between stations. Start engine and drive off, rubbish reception again.

Ordered a Haynes manual to see if I can get the cargo bay trim out to get to the amplifier and aerial connections but am also taking it to the local Volvo dealer next week to have it interrogated to see if anything can be discovered.

I have read a lot about rubbish AM reception, not a problem with mine, but just wondered if anyone had had a similar FM problem, there is quite a lot on the web about radio problems on these but would love to get it fixed.

Thanks in anticipation.

Simon Jones · Oct 21st, 2016, 19:32

Have you got a dashcam or phone charger plugged in? These can produce a lot of interference which will ruin a half decent radio signal.

codders · Oct 21st, 2016, 20:59

Thanks, interestingly I have a 12v usb adapter plugged in. I have just been outside and checked it again with the adapter out and it is better. I will have to do further tests tomorrow. I regularly use a sat nav so this would be a proper pain if just having something plugged into the 12v adapter ruins the radio reception. I shall report back.

Thanks again.

Simon Jones · Oct 21st, 2016, 23:49

I think the quality of the USB adapter makes a big difference. The one on my dashcam makes the radio quite hissy while the one on my TomTom makes no interference at all.

codders · Oct 22nd, 2016, 15:25

Hi Simon.

Right. Tests done and you were right. The Griffin twin USB adapter is the culprit, it nearly wipes out the fm radio when plugged in even with no lead in it. The TomTom original lead is ok and I can charge the phone with the centre console built in USB socket.

Placing the Griffin adapter in the rear centre console 12v socket or the cargo bay socket is even worse. I guess it is closer to the aerial.

It was no problem in the 03 XC70, it shows how well they were built. All the materials in this model feel so much lighter and thinner. The screening of both radio and cabling is obviously not up to keeping this nasty stuff out of the system. Thanks for your help, once again this forum comes to the rescue! We can now enjoy the trip down to Devon for a couple of days tomorrow!

Steve.

Simon Jones · Oct 22nd, 2016, 20:32

I've experienced exactly same interference issues when going from P2 to P3 XC70. The aux socket is also very noisy when there is no input.

Lorribot · Jan 3rd, 2018, 23:46

Hit this problem as well and thinking I would have to replace all sorts of electronic bits. Instead I have just removed a recently added USB adapter (made up an order from Amazon) and reception went back to normal.
What was odd for me was that Radio 1 and a local station were unaffected but Radio 2, 3 and 4 were near unusable.

Still thanks for pointing out the blindingly obvious "what's changed recently".

Oct 21st, 2016, 17:05	#1
codders New Member Last Online: Mar 27th, 2021 10:05 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Wimborne	V70 D3 2010 Radio problems Not posted for a long time but have read a lot and thanks to all for all the valuable info on here. A change from the lovely old 2003 XC70 to a series 3 V70 D3 has prompted a posting. Nice new car sat outside the house and setting up radio presets, seems fine. Drive out into the sticks - or anywhere for that matter, FM reception rubbish to the point of unusable. AM reception fine. Just done some more tests, drove out into the sticks with Radio 3 on, crap reception and static persists and changing stations prompts the "seek" function for a while and then settles on the least rubbish signal. Stop in lay-by and stop engine, 5 seconds later static goes away and reception fine and no longer "seeking" between stations. Start engine and drive off, rubbish reception again. Ordered a Haynes manual to see if I can get the cargo bay trim out to get to the amplifier and aerial connections but am also taking it to the local Volvo dealer next week to have it interrogated to see if anything can be discovered. I have read a lot about rubbish AM reception, not a problem with mine, but just wondered if anyone had had a similar FM problem, there is quite a lot on the web about radio problems on these but would love to get it fixed. Thanks in anticipation.

Jan 3rd, 2018, 23:46	#7
Lorribot New Member Last Online: Sep 14th, 2023 00:25 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Colchester	Hit this problem as well and thinking I would have to replace all sorts of electronic bits. Instead I have just removed a recently added USB adapter (made up an order from Amazon) and reception went back to normal. What was odd for me was that Radio 1 and a local station were unaffected but Radio 2, 3 and 4 were near unusable. Still thanks for pointing out the blindingly obvious "what's changed recently". Last edited by Lorribot; Jan 3rd, 2018 at 23:49.

Oct 21st, 2016, 19:32	#2
Simon Jones Premier Member Last Online: Jan 15th, 2022 11:23 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Salisbury (ish)	Have you got a dashcam or phone charger plugged in? These can produce a lot of interference which will ruin a half decent radio signal.

Oct 21st, 2016, 20:59	#3
codders New Member Last Online: Mar 27th, 2021 10:05 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Wimborne	Thanks, interestingly I have a 12v usb adapter plugged in. I have just been outside and checked it again with the adapter out and it is better. I will have to do further tests tomorrow. I regularly use a sat nav so this would be a proper pain if just having something plugged into the 12v adapter ruins the radio reception. I shall report back. Thanks again.

Oct 21st, 2016, 23:49	#4
Simon Jones Premier Member Last Online: Jan 15th, 2022 11:23 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Salisbury (ish)	I think the quality of the USB adapter makes a big difference. The one on my dashcam makes the radio quite hissy while the one on my TomTom makes no interference at all.

Oct 22nd, 2016, 15:25	#5
codders New Member Last Online: Mar 27th, 2021 10:05 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Wimborne	Hi Simon. Right. Tests done and you were right. The Griffin twin USB adapter is the culprit, it nearly wipes out the fm radio when plugged in even with no lead in it. The TomTom original lead is ok and I can charge the phone with the centre console built in USB socket. Placing the Griffin adapter in the rear centre console 12v socket or the cargo bay socket is even worse. I guess it is closer to the aerial. It was no problem in the 03 XC70, it shows how well they were built. All the materials in this model feel so much lighter and thinner. The screening of both radio and cabling is obviously not up to keeping this nasty stuff out of the system. Thanks for your help, once again this forum comes to the rescue! We can now enjoy the trip down to Devon for a couple of days tomorrow! Steve.

Oct 22nd, 2016, 20:32	#6
Simon Jones Premier Member Last Online: Jan 15th, 2022 11:23 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Salisbury (ish)	I've experienced exactly same interference issues when going from P2 to P3 XC70. The aux socket is also very noisy when there is no input.

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