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960 Radio

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Old Jan 8th, 2018, 14:37   #1
Honeypot
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Default 960 Radio

Hey!

I was wondering if anybody here could offer me some suggestion about changing the original Volvo 960 radio. It has a problem where it just wouldn't start playing if I start the car. It usually takes about 30 to 50 minutes for it to start. It's like there are no stations available. That's odd and the only solution I could come up with was to change the radio. Do they sell an adapter to connect it directly or do I have to mess with the wires?

Original:
https://i.imgur.com/8pLebwl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/aWwPNCs.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/iGJeq6o.jpg

New:
https://i.imgur.com/5fYq79e.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/2BUP2Om.jpg

Thanks!
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Old Jan 8th, 2018, 15:25   #2
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I'm pretty sure you can get ready made adapters - or an auto-audio place could probably make one. I bought one a while back from ebay US

Other option if you don't ever plan on putting the old one back in would be to get the old plugs cut off and wired for the new std iso plug which pretty much all modern radios take.

Think the second is going to be my solution - neater install and removes extra wires/joins where hiss and crackle can seep into the system from.

Either way be intersted to hear what you end up doing - this is on my list of jobs for the summer as mine is getting increasingly crackly.

Before you go any further though have you checked it is the head unit not the wiring? Does it get power straight away and struggle to tune, or struggle to turn on? Also have you checked the ariel wire or tired a tape (hard to find now i know...)

PP
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Old Jan 9th, 2018, 13:34   #3
Laird Scooby
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You don't say what year your 960 is so i'm taking a guess it's the early one that is very similar to the 740/760 :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-740-...AAAOSwH3haFBW8

You can also buy the wiring adaptors separately so changing to an ISO-DIN connected stereo is literally plug'n'play. I did this with my last 740 but as i already had a suitable head unit, bought just the facoa adaptor and wiring harness.

I'm also thinking of upgrading my current head unit as it was a secondhand one when i got it, non-Volvo so i had to wire in the ISO connectors due to a previous owner bypassing the wiring with a variety of Scotchloks, crimped connectors (that weren't crimped properly) and even a couple where the wires were just twisted together and wrapped in insulation tape!

All that said and done, i can now fit any standard head unit on a plug'n'play basis. Given that DAB is going to be the only thing we can get in the not too distant future, i'm looking at what's available in DAB, whether to go for a DAB adaptor to use my existing kit or other possibilities.
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Old Jan 9th, 2018, 13:55   #4
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The only car head unit you'll ever need.

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Old Jan 9th, 2018, 14:06   #5
Laird Scooby
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Where do the CDs and cassettes go?
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Old Jan 9th, 2018, 14:11   #6
960kg
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If you are replacing the 960 Premium radio system then replace it with exactly the same if you can?

My 1996 960 CD model had the best possible quality loudest sounding system a motor could wish for.....it was a hi energy disco on wheels with 8 speakers as standard in a saloon car.

The amplifier should be up under the steering on the left hand side of it.....maybe check connectors etc.?
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Old Jan 9th, 2018, 21:23   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Laird Scooby View Post
Where do the CDs and cassettes go?
Somewhere in here I'm guessing.



The Volvo side of those connectors look like a non-amp version. Even though that radio has the amp output it doesn't look like it's being used.

In my 960 I've got 6 speakers and had the amp next to the steering column and my 940 has 8 speakers and no external amp. Both needed different adapters.

One thing to say is don't be fooled by the images on places like electronic bay dot com. Go by the descriptions. The images are usually photoshoped to remove most of the wires. Both of my adapters came with plenty of length
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Old Jan 9th, 2018, 22:30   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 960kg View Post
If you are replacing the 960 Premium radio system then replace it with exactly the same if you can?

My 1996 960 CD model had the best possible quality loudest sounding system a motor could wish for.....it was a hi energy disco on wheels with 8 speakers as standard in a saloon car.

The amplifier should be up under the steering on the left hand side of it.....maybe check connectors etc.?
I will second that ! Remember in those days there was no cost cutting .. even the basic CR 906 is a superb unit , and will run a 6 CD Changer .. as well as an external amplifier . I don't like these modern units with flashing lights / screens all over them .
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Old Jan 9th, 2018, 22:50   #9
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Originally Posted by Casheye View Post
Somewhere in here I'm guessing.

I mean the ones i want to listen to! Besides, putting them in that lot won't contribute to the amount of methane gas produced and will make them hard to find!

You see some of us do still use CDs and cassettes and don't listen to the constant stream of drivel and the latest pop "hits" (I'm sure "hits" is an anagram of the word it really should be! ) and as such, want at least a CD player, preferably a CD changer with a head unit that plays cassettes as well as the radio.

Also i don't want a plethora of USB leads floating round the car just to be able to listen to something and i daresay plenty of others feel the same, or at least similar. It's bad enough we're going to be forced to either change the head units for DAB compatible units or add a DAB adaptor with an FM transmitter built in thanks to the imminent change to DAB from analogue.

I've got my solution in the shape of a a radio-cassette head unit and 6 disc changer (i just need to find the interconnection lead) and i'll add one of those "universal DAB tuners with FM transmitter" hiding the wiring behind the dash.

That won't help everyone else though that still wants to listen to the radio after DAB becomes mandatory although this report in the Daily Fail suggests the DAB/DAB+ switchover may never happen :

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-given-FM.html

Round my neck of the woods, even FM is patchy, i can only imagine how bad DAB or DAB+ is!
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Old Jan 10th, 2018, 09:23   #10
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Originally Posted by Laird Scooby View Post
I mean the ones i want to listen to! Besides, putting them in that lot won't contribute to the amount of methane gas produced and will make them hard to find!
What kind of tapes are you listening to that make you seemingly lose control of your faculties? :P

Quote:
Originally Posted by Laird Scooby View Post
You see some of us do still use CDs and cassettes and don't listen to the constant stream of drivel and the latest pop "hits" (I'm sure "hits" is an anagram of the word it really should be! ) and as such, want at least a CD player, preferably a CD changer with a head unit that plays cassettes as well as the radio.

Also i don't want a plethora of USB leads floating round the car just to be able to listen to something and i daresay plenty of others feel the same, or at least similar. It's bad enough we're going to be forced to either change the head units for DAB compatible units or add a DAB adaptor with an FM transmitter built in thanks to the imminent change to DAB from analogue.
I get it, I've invested fairly substantially in Hi-Fi and I enjoy the act of picking a record, inspecting it for cleanliness and lowering a needle into the grooves and listening to a pop/crackle free album (because I keep a clean collection) but, I've also used Spotify from near enough it's inception and it provides me with all my old-timey music I like to listen to. In fact, there stuff on music streaming services that you would never hear otherwise, simply because newly found or remastered recordings don't often get issued on tape. I can be listening to a song in my house, get into my 27 year old car, turn the stereo on and continue listening while I drive. Simples. Oh and all completely lead free.

For what the OP is asking for though, THIS is the adapter I think they need. And at under a fiver, it's worth a punt anyway.

Last edited by Casheye; Jan 10th, 2018 at 09:25.
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