740 Power Antenna

[panda529e699]

Hi

I have got a used genuine Volvo power aerial from Ebay, it looks straight forward to fit, the instructions show how to wire the antenna, if it has the wiring in the car, or if it doesnt, seems very good.
There are seperate instructions for wiring the dash switch, does anyone have a diagram I could buy or copy please, or knows from memory the switch wiring.

Hope it will be a useful extra, save unscrewing the aerial to get in the garage and then forgetting to replace it.

Many Thanks

Andrew

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by panda529e699

Hi

I have got a used genuine Volvo power aerial from Ebay, it looks straight forward to fit, the instructions show how to wire the antenna, if it has the wiring in the car, or if it doesnt, seems very good.
There are seperate instructions for wiring the dash switch, does anyone have a diagram I could buy or copy please, or knows from memory the switch wiring.

Hope it will be a useful extra, save unscrewing the aerial to get in the garage and then forgetting to replace it.

Many Thanks

Andrew

Is it an autmoatic aerial Andrew or a semi-automatic? The difference being the switch, or lack of on the full-auto.

In terms of operation, the full-auto aerial extends when the radio is switched on and retracts when turned off. The semi-auto needs to be raised and lowered by you separately from the radio operation, for example you could still listen to a cassette/CD/external source via an FM transmitter inside the car with the aerial down under manual control.

[panda529e699]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

Is it an autmoatic aerial Andrew or a semi-automatic? The difference being the switch, or lack of on the full-auto.

In terms of operation, the full-auto aerial extends when the radio is switched on and retracts when turned off. The semi-auto needs to be raised and lowered by you separately from the radio operation, for example you could still listen to a cassette/CD/external source via an FM transmitter inside the car with the aerial down under manual control.

Hi Dave

I would say its semi-auto, as the manual states to wire as per 'Power antenna switch instructions'.
On looking further it would indicate that the wiring is already present in the car depending on the year, and like you say is controlled by the user via a switch.
I am due to get the car back on Tuesday, so will check to see if any wiring is present or not and let you know if thats ok.
Many Thanks

Andrew

[Laird Scooby]

If the wiring is already in the car Andrew, it should be a fairly simple "plug'n'play" operation in the cubby hole/behind D pillar trim/roof edge to fit the new aerial.

You may need to run a temporary earth for this part to the body of the new aerial but before you go to the trouble of removing and fitting the new one, just check it works by connecting it all up and laying it on the luggage area floor.

If it's all good, follow the instructions for removing the old aerial and fitting the new one.

[bob12]

If it's any help I fitted a Volvo power aerial to my 1990 745 when I got fed up with trying to fix the original stub mast.

The upgrade was simple as the loom is pre-wired to take a power aerial and an additional dash switch to raise/lower the aerial independently if the head unit is on and the aerial up.

Once you have stripped out the trim up the D pillar, disconnected and removed the old aerial and then fit the replacement motor drive in the n/s well and aerial drive tube to the modified electric aerial exterior fitting.

You will find a plug in the n/s well that connects to the motor drive. If you do no more the aerial will go up and down when you turn on or off the head unit.

However, if you want to control the aerial independently as well as have it work as above with the head unit get yourself a Volvo aerial switch (has an antennae light up symbol on it).

You will find a wire behind the dash switches that has a link in it to join two wires together (off the top of my head I forget the colours but can give detail if asked ... they are identified in Haynes).

Separate the the connectors and re-plug the wires into the aerial switch and fit the switch into a blank hole. You can then raise or lower the aerial independently of the head unit on/ off control.

It's a whole new world to motoring especially when you raise and lower the aerial in traffic. You don't see many cars doing that these days!!

Bob

P.S. When you fit the motor in the well to the nuts attached to the air pressure compensator grille you will also find that the aerial tubing has a water drain to prevent rain water getting into the motor. There is a blank plug near the motor in the steelwork of the bottom of the well. The drain is shaped to allow it to be pushed/pierce through the centre of the plug to enable any water to drain outside the car.

[panda529e699]

Thanks for all the advice, it was very useful in understanding the system.

Have fitted the bits, and its working well. I got a Volvo aerial switch and connected that to (green and red) and (grey and green) so it operates manually via the switch.
Have just got a used Volvo Cr-708 radio to fit in and sort of part wired it and the aerial operated when it was turned on, so will be a nice little extra feature.
Only partly wired the radio as my Volvo has never had an original radio since I've had it so I need to look up the wiring colours, I got part of the loom with the new radio but the colours are different to the original part of the car wiring. So thats the next task.

Andrew

[Laird Scooby]

Glad you got it all sorted Andrew!

[bob12]

Originally Posted by panda529e699

Thanks for all the advice, it was very useful in understanding the system.

.............................

Only partly wired the radio as my Volvo has never had an original radio since I've had it so I need to look up the wiring colours, I got part of the loom with the new radio but the colours are different to the original part of the car wiring. So thats the next task.

Andrew

I hope that you can sort out the wiring/colour coding which is a nightmare as it changed a lot in these cars of that era and, that no one has chopped the plugs off the loom wiring to do a homemade re-wire for a more modern head unit.

Also trust that the original Volvo exterior amp from where all speakers were originally fed is still in place assuming a CR-708 needs one.

Bob

[panda529e699]

Originally Posted by bob12

I hope that you can sort out the wiring/colour coding which is a nightmare as it changed a lot in these cars of that era and, that no one has chopped the plugs off the loom wiring to do a homemade re-wire for a more modern head unit.

Also trust that the original Volvo exterior amp from where all speakers were originally fed is still in place assuming a CR-708 needs one.

Bob

Fortunately the original wiring socket is still in tact, even though its not the same as the car the used radio came from. Will be checking the colours tomorrow.
With regard to an amp though, I wasnt even aware there was one, where should it be located?

Thanks

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by panda529e699

Fortunately the original wiring socket is still in tact, even though its not the same as the car the used radio came from. Will be checking the colours tomorrow.
With regard to an amp though, I wasnt even aware there was one, where should it be located?

Thanks

Imagine just under the dashboard, above your right hoof Andrew - a box about 5x3" ish with big black fins on one side of it.

If memory serves, some CR708s need the external amp and others don't. Autoleads can sell patch leads to bypass the amp and/or plug into the OE wiring to connect a modern head unit with the correct ISO plugs, they also sell a faci plate adaptor so fitting a modern unit won't look out of place.