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XC90 '02–'15 General Forum for the P2-platform XC90 model

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Radio expert wanted!

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Old Feb 24th, 2018, 18:39   #1
Floodys
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Default Radio expert wanted!

So I've read quite a bit about the xc90 audio system, the fibre optic loop, roof mounted aerial, Volvo security system etc etc...
Problem I have is that when on radio, FM and AM only I get a clicking noise through the speakers and every now and then I loose rear speakers, on CD everything is fine thus why I won't be spending £££££ fixing this so question is really to see if anyone has ever had this problem? I've seen other audio system faults ie total failure, display going etc but not my one? I haven't got VIDA yet so can't check with that and question one is will it see a problem with audio/check audio system etc etc? If someone has one local to me (Essex) and can plug it in and check happy to pay some beer tokens.
I personally think it the "radio" part of the system, some component on that board? I've had it all part today and resoldered a few bits in case of dry joints,One thing I have noticed is that it "clicks" with engine on or off, all other electrics off that can be. If I put a power probe into the wires into the the unit you do notice a "flicker" on 4 of the wires, 2xwhite and the 2x green. There are 2 outer wires which I think are the power to unit? ANYONE GOT A WIRING DIAGRAM FOR THE AUDIO SYSTEM SO I KNOW WHAT/WHERE THE WIRES GO?!
I haven't tried a mini disc as haven't got any to try, something I'm thinking of having a go at is to "convert" the minidisc to a aux output so I can plug in iPhone etc and simply select minidisc but the output will be from the iPhone/iPod, I've seen people do a aux out of the aerial in boot but I'll technically have the same click through the radio channel!
Re the security systems on the Volvo, anyone know for sure what is coded? if one was to replace the cd unit, minidisc unit etc would they all need coding or whatever Volvo do or is it one specific part? Point I'm getting to here is if I were to buy a new "radio" part which BTW I think is called the ICM? Would that just plug in and work? Hope that all makes sense to some helpful xc90 specialist!!

On a sub note has anyone on here ever "by themselves" got rid of the fibre optic system and fitted a standard style stereo system? I can see this would be a right ball ache as it incorpates everything! Coming from someone who is quite at home fiddling/fitting stereo systems over the years it's a minefield the xc90 system, even not having a standard aerial lead threw me!
Please don't shoot me down with the why would you want to and take it to the MD etc, it's a cheap XC that I'm doing myself and as said at the top I can live with the radio like it but it would be nice to fix if it's easy one like a handful of things I've done so far with advice off here like the mr muscle VNT clean.... Love it!
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Old Feb 24th, 2018, 19:28   #2
SwissXC90
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I'm a trained and qualified and experienced radio techincian that has worked on vehicle audio systems, repairing devices down to component level.

Firstly, a lot depends on the year of your XC90
The early 2003/2004 models had the AM/FM received mounted above the cargo space in the ceiling, with a roof mounted AM and FM antenna system.

The later models - like my MY2009 XC90 - have the traditional twin antenna on-glass setup feeding a radio receiver in the dash through good old coax cables.

The following describes the MY2009 antenna and radio system

The antenna system in my car is nothing unusual, it is the commonly found diversity on-glass antenna system. FM main is left rear window, FM sub is right rear window. Each window onglass antenna connects to an antenna amplifier, which is powered.
The antenna signals travel down coax cable to the radio in the dash
If you have the nav system, like I do, the FM sub antenna goes via the nav RDS-TMC receiver for traffic messages, and then on to the radio.

Whilst the radio has two antenna inputs, it is a single tuner radio - horribly noticable in my area where it constantly switches frequencies (which in itself is OK) but one of the frequencies in the RDS AF list is a German station over the border and I get a quick burst of different audio as it samples the other frequencies. I wish that Volvo had fitted a proper dual tuner.

Anyway, the tuner sends the audio down a digital channel on the MOST fiber ring to the amplifier.
The CD player also sends it's audio down a different channel on the MOST fiber to the amplifier.
The AUX is then on another channel
Telephone, and nav voices are on yet another channel.
So why send audio on different channels to the amplifier?
Well, it allows the rear seat passengers using the rear seat headphone sockets to listen to a different channel to the speaker system.
Great when you have children!

Headphones can be on radio while speakers are on CD player, of headphones on AUX IN with speakers on CD, etc etc.
And each headphone socket can select it's own channel can be on different channels

So the amplifier s feeding different audio to 5 different outputs:
  1. Speakers
  2. Left Headphone 1
  3. Left Headphone 2
  4. Right Headphone 1
  5. Right Headphone 2

So you see the advantages of the MOST bus - it allows media transport of all audio signals at the same time on the same fiber

Coming to your problem, I can tell you the following:
VIDA will not help much
It will only confirm if the radio tuner is working and receiving a station and what the signal strength is of the main and the sub antenna.
But radio reception is not your problem, the issue is more audio handling.
VIDA also tells you of fiber ring breaks, but that is not your problem
There is very little diagnostics for the MOST bus

The clicking on the radio audio, if it affects all 4 audio channels (FL, FR, RL, RR) at the same time could be a fault in the radio receiver itself, or in the amplifier

The loss of the rear speakers, only on radio, can only be a problem with the amplifier. Why? because all the balance and fader controls are handled by the amplifier itself.
If you have rear speakers reliably working on CD but unreliable on radio, then it is likely the switching in the amplifier that is failling.
As the amplifier has fiber input and digital control circuits, and is all surface mount components, the only realistic solution for you is a replacement amplifier.

Note that to prevent theft of audio system components, Volvo implemented serial numbers of the audio devices and a central serial number check. This means that a replacement amplifier will not work until the serial number is entered in the Volvo CEM, Or until you turn off the security of the audio system (which disables checking the serial numbers)

Also, diagnosing and faulting the radio - if a tuner issue exists - is pretty impossible without a functioning MOST fiber ring test bed in a workshop.
So you are down to replacement of the device - the radio tuner - if replacing the amplifier does not solve the problem.

Yes, the audio system is more complex that the old fashioned analog systems.
But the advantages of blending nav audio, parking sensor audio, phone audio, having different audio channels in the headphones, etc, are designed to outweigh the complexity.
__________________
XC90 R-Design MY2009, Black Sapphire Metallic. HP-Sound, RSE, Nav, Tel, ParkingCam, BLIS, ParkingHeater, RestHeat, Removable Towbar, Summer: CRATUS 20x8 on Pirelli Scorpion Zeros 255/45, Winter: NEPTUNE 17x7 on Continental WinterContact 4x4 235/65.

Last edited by SwissXC90; Feb 24th, 2018 at 20:06.
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Old Feb 24th, 2018, 20:01   #3
Floodys
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Many thanks for a start to take the time to type that all out! My XC is a 53 plate so late 03 early 04 and I can confirm the aerial is in the roof, re the amp (thinking old school amps) the amp is only "amplifying" what is sent to it so if cd worked fine but radio is faulty at times from a old school way of looking at it one would think its the source! But you mention it's different on a XC?! Re the sockets in back for rear passengers I can also confirm that in all 4 headphone sockets when headphones are plugged in you can hear the click!
Re the security system, can VIDA turn that off? If so once off can one change any audio component and it'll work? My thinking is that if I or someone with VIDA can turn it off I can then start with a amp then possibly a radio/tuner?
What do you think re the "chopping" up of the mini disc player and turning it into a iPhone feed/aux? My XC has only the option of FM,AM, CD, MD on the source selector and seeing as I won't really use the MD I could in theory select MD but the output would be the iPhone/iPod instead of MD?
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Old Feb 24th, 2018, 20:03   #4
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Last note, would it be worth pulling the amp out and taking apart for a check? May be lucky and find something astray...
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Old Feb 24th, 2018, 20:25   #5
SwissXC90
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Floodys View Post
My XC is a 53 plate so late 03 early 04
It pays to know EXACTLY what MY your car is. Ignore the "number plate" number, that has little to do with manufacture date. PM me your VIN and I'll tell you exactly what you have.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Floodys View Post
I can confirm the aerial is in the roof, re the amp (thinking old school amps) the amp is only "amplifying" what is sent to it so if cd worked fine but radio is faulty at times from a old school way of looking at it one would think its the source! But you mention it's different on a XC?!
Forget your "old school" thoughts. This is a MOST system. Read the wiki article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOST_Bus

The amplifier has fiber optic inputs, and receives multi channel audio on the fiber, and selects which fiber audio channel to use based on the instructions issued by the control unit (the ICM)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Floodys View Post
Re the sockets in back for rear passengers I can also confirm that in all 4 headphone sockets when headphones are plugged in you can hear the click!
I'm thinking it is then the radio receiver which is likely to be faulty - the AM/FM receiver is in the roof of the cargo area.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Floodys View Post
Re the security system, can VIDA turn that off?
Yes, with a proper VIDA dealer registration.
You have to purchase the software application to disable the security, so it's a dealer only software update.[/QUOTE]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Floodys View Post
If so once off can one change any audio component and it'll work? My thinking is that if I or someone with VIDA can turn it off I can then start with a amp then possibly a radio/tuner?
Correct. Once the audio security is disabled, the serial number check no longer takes place. You can replace any audio system component.
BUT you must ensure the replacement part has the identical part number, otherwise you may well run into compatibility issues.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Floodys View Post
What do you think re the "chopping" up of the mini disc player and turning it into a iPhone feed/aux? My XC has only the option of FM,AM, CD, MD on the source selector and seeing as I won't really use the MD I could in theory select MD but the output would be the iPhone/iPod instead of MD?
Sure, open the MD and local the analog audio lines from the MD.
If it has any!
Remember, a MD is a digital audio format, maybe the minidisc player sends SPIDIF digitial audio to the amplifier.
If that is the case, you'll need a signal converter (analogue to SPIDIF) and plenty of time to experiment.

It would be simpler using the AM audio feed on the AM radio for the AUX in, especially as the method to do this has been document and can be found on the internet.
And given that you'll be working on the radio tuner, why not try it?
You can use the AM AUX-IN as a means of testing the theory that the radio is faulty.


NOTE:
I was curious and went down to my car 10 minutes ago to check the MOST system and the audio channels. I could do the following simultaeneously:
  • Play radio through speakers, and control radio through ICM or through the rear seat remote control.
  • Play CD through one head phone, and control CD track through headphone controls. Great sound quality!
  • Play AUX (in my case a DVD on the RSE) through another headphone. The << and >> buttons have no function on the RSE. Sound quality superb.

This proved that the sound system was sending Radio audio, CD audio and AUX audio all at the same time through the MOST fiber ring to the amplifier, and that the amplifier was processing all these signals all at the same time, and sending different signals to different outputs.

Very much NOT old school....
__________________
XC90 R-Design MY2009, Black Sapphire Metallic. HP-Sound, RSE, Nav, Tel, ParkingCam, BLIS, ParkingHeater, RestHeat, Removable Towbar, Summer: CRATUS 20x8 on Pirelli Scorpion Zeros 255/45, Winter: NEPTUNE 17x7 on Continental WinterContact 4x4 235/65.
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Old Feb 24th, 2018, 20:35   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Floodys View Post
Last note, would it be worth pulling the amp out and taking apart for a check? May be lucky and find something astray...
The amplifier sits low in the vehicle and any windscreen leaks or sunroof leaks can result in water collecting in the amplifier well.

This can lead to subsequent corrosion of the amplifier electronics

If you see any signs of corrosion on the electronics, you are best to replace the amplifier

Note that the amplifier uses mainly surface mount components. You need good electronic skills to work on anything with surface mount components on it.
__________________
XC90 R-Design MY2009, Black Sapphire Metallic. HP-Sound, RSE, Nav, Tel, ParkingCam, BLIS, ParkingHeater, RestHeat, Removable Towbar, Summer: CRATUS 20x8 on Pirelli Scorpion Zeros 255/45, Winter: NEPTUNE 17x7 on Continental WinterContact 4x4 235/65.
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Old Feb 24th, 2018, 20:53   #7
Floodys
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Radio receiver in roof more than just a aerial? Is the "radio" with display up front isn't the "tuner"?
Will sort VIN
No sunroof, no leaks as far as I know?
Might have another look at the radio aerial in roof
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Old Feb 24th, 2018, 21:22   #8
SwissXC90
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Floodys View Post
Radio receiver in roof more than just a aerial? Is the "radio" with display up front isn't the "tuner"?
Will sort VIN
No sunroof, no leaks as far as I know?
Might have another look at the radio aerial in roof
The device in the roof of the cargo area is the Antenna control module (ATM), an active antenna plus radio receiver combined. It connects direct to the MOST fibre bus and sends the audio as digital audio channels on the MOST bus.

The Antenna control module (ATM) is where the radio reception occurs.
It is the "tuner" within the entire system.
__________________
XC90 R-Design MY2009, Black Sapphire Metallic. HP-Sound, RSE, Nav, Tel, ParkingCam, BLIS, ParkingHeater, RestHeat, Removable Towbar, Summer: CRATUS 20x8 on Pirelli Scorpion Zeros 255/45, Winter: NEPTUNE 17x7 on Continental WinterContact 4x4 235/65.
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Old Feb 25th, 2018, 08:30   #9
Floodys
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"It would be simpler using the AM audio feed on the AM radio for the AUX in, especially as the method to do this has been document and can be found on the internet.
And given that you'll be working on the radio tuner, why not try it?
You can use the AM AUX-IN as a means of testing the theory that the radio is faulty."

Re that bit you have put there, I get that I would select AM up front, but when you mention working on the radio tuner are you referring to the "aerial" in roof or the "radio" up front. Because it's all different to the old school can you just clarify what Volvo calls the radio/Source selector/volume adjuster up front? I think that's the ICM and people don't call it a radio? And the aerial is a more than a aerial and the tuner? Sorry to sound daft but as said I just want to know the best way Volvo describe the audio parts... Obv I know, CD, MD, SAT NAV etc, lol
Re aux into the AM I'm sure I've seen someone solder onto the radio aerial then run wires all the way to the front?
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Old Feb 25th, 2018, 09:26   #10
SwissXC90
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Floodys View Post
Re that bit you have put there, I get that I would select AM up front, but when you mention working on the radio tuner are you referring to the "aerial" in roof or the "radio" up front.
The tuner is, as already mentioned a number of times, located in the roof above the cargo area.
What you have in the dash is a screen and a keyboard, called the ICM.

There is no tuner in the dash.

Every tuner needs an antenna.
The antenna is on the printed circuit board just above the tuner, here you see the printed circuit board antenna, and tuner module, being fitted to an XC90:


Here is the actual tuner module, which has a fiber optic output:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Volvo-XC90-...-/282807085227
Note the frequency bands printed on the tuner!
Note the fiber optic connector on the tuner!

To give you an appreciation of the size of the unit, here is a picture of one lying on the cargo area lower door:


Quote:
Originally Posted by Floodys View Post
Re aux into the AM I'm sure I've seen someone solder onto the radio aerial then run wires all the way to the front?
No, they did not solder into the "radio aerial".
(An aerial is an external structure a fixed to an object to receive radio signals)
They soldered into the tuner, which is located in the roof of the cargo area, mounted directly underneath the printed circuit board antennas.

For sake of clarity I will now repeat myself a few more times for you so you can understand:
  1. The tuner is located in the roof of the cargo area.
  2. The tuner is located in the roof of the cargo area.
  3. The tuner is located in the roof of the cargo area.
  4. The tuner is located in the roof of the cargo area.
  5. The tuner is located in the roof of the cargo area.
  6. The tuner is located in the roof of the cargo area.
  7. The tuner is located in the roof of the cargo area.
  8. The tuner is located in the roof of the cargo area.
  9. The tuner is located in the roof of the cargo area.
  10. The tuner is located in the roof of the cargo area.
  11. The tuner is located in the roof of the cargo area.
  12. The tuner is located in the roof of the cargo area.
  13. The tuner is located in the roof of the cargo area.
  14. The tuner is located in the roof of the cargo area.

Have you got it now?
__________________
XC90 R-Design MY2009, Black Sapphire Metallic. HP-Sound, RSE, Nav, Tel, ParkingCam, BLIS, ParkingHeater, RestHeat, Removable Towbar, Summer: CRATUS 20x8 on Pirelli Scorpion Zeros 255/45, Winter: NEPTUNE 17x7 on Continental WinterContact 4x4 235/65.

Last edited by SwissXC90; Feb 25th, 2018 at 09:31.
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