The other day we're riding in the brick ('96 turbo wagon) and the station gets increasingly fuzzy, then is reduced to nothing but static. Tried another station, it's gone too. They're all gone, just static. AM works great, CD works, just no FM. Any ideas?

 

Occasionally when I first start my car, the FM radio will not have sound. All the lights and display work, just no sound. I slap the side of the radio and bingo -- sound is working once again.

I stopped by my local friendly neighborhood dealership this afternoon. I asked how much that it would cost to swap my broken SC815 for a new SC815. The SC815 exchange program is no longer offered. Dealer is asking $333.80 to swap my broken SC815 to a new SC816.

I think that SC815 is black to match 850 interior trim and SC816 is gray to match S70 interior trim. That may not be true. There may be some SC816 in black -- not sure.

I may try http://www.erievovo.com and http://www.volpar.com for a used one.

Most likely, I will buy a nice aftermarket Eclipse head unit with high definition radio, iPod, and/or MP3.

 

Thanks...tried the slap, worked once for about 11 seconds. I think I might be in market for new radio as well.

 

I have these on my shopping list...

Eclipse HD Radio Ready Head-Unit(s)
http://www.eclipse-web.com/cd-index.html
http://www.eclipse-web.com/cd/cd5415.html
http://www.eclipse-web.com/cd/cd5425.html
http://www.eclipse-web.com/cd/cd5435.html
http://www.eclipse-web.com/cd/cd8445.html
http://www.eclipse-web.com/cd/cd8455.html
iPC-806 iPod Adapter and CH3083 8-disc changer
http://www.eclipse-web.com/cd/option1.html
HDR 105 -- Seperate Component HD Radio Tuner Unit
http://www.eclipse-web.com/cd/option2.html
http://www.eclipse-web.com/sir/index.html

 

Willing to bet moisture seeped into your antennae and rusted out the connection from the cable that attaches to the actual antennae unit. Ive had it happen to my 1996 GMC truck. A new cable fixed the problem or you may be able to strip away the rusted part of the cable and reattach it.

 

The antennae problem seems highly likely. The slap mentioned above has worked sporadically, as does the occasional pothole jolt, and as I said before, AM is fine, so doesn't seem to be a radio, speaker problem. Now the trick is pulling the radio and finding the antennae wire and contact point. Suggestions?

 

I was in the process of shipping my radio off to "United Radio Services", then the radio started working fine. All I did was unplug and reconnect the wiring connectors at the back of the radio. Maybe they were dirty. Not sure.

https://volvoforums.com/m_35677/tm.htm

------------------------------
Authorized Alpine Service
------------------------------
Alpine has an authorized service center dedicated just for factory OEM radios.

Alpine Electronics Of America
40 Boroline Rd
Allendale, NJ 07401
(201) 316-8110
(800) 874-8858 Press [0] for operator.

Alpine also provides a list of recommended independent service centers.
http://www.alpine-usa.com/support/pa...nd_service.htm

Such as:
United Radio Services (URS) -- Aftermarket
5717 Enterprise Parkway
E. Syracuse, NY 13057

Phone: 1-800-634-8606 or 1-315-446-8700
Fax: 1-315-446-8505
Hours: 8:30 A.M. thru 5:30 P.M., E.S.T., Mon.-Fri.
8:30 A.M. thru 12:00 P.M., Sat.

I spoke with a tech at United Radio Services. They are familar with SC-815 and SC-816, as well. Most repairs cost less than $185. Unit will be fully bench tested.

Provide a short description of the problem.
Provide the radio access code.
Provide phone number and ask for estimate.
Provide return address.

United Radio Services (URS) -- OEM Car Audio
5705 Enterprise Parkway
E. Syracuse, NY 13057

---------------------------------
Authorized Mitsubishi Service
---------------------------------
http://www.meaa-mea.com/aboutus/aboutus.asp#facilities
http://www.meaa-mea.com/aboutus/locations.asp

Mitsubishi does not have an authorized service center dedicated just for factory OEM radios.

They have contracted with... for all car audio repairs.
H&R Auto Radio Service
157 York Road (Rt. 263)
Warminster, PA 18974
(215) 672-7400
(800) 523-6605
http://www.hrautoradio.com

 

Thanks for the info, Robert.

I took a look in my copy of the Haynes manual and it mentions getting "two U-shaped rods" from a dealer for the removal and access to the wiring in the rear. Did you use these or is there some other way to extract the radio or access the wiring connections?

 

I just removed the radio from the dash. I pressed in on the two side tabs, which caused them to pop out. I pulled the radio out of the dash using the pop-out tabs. From there, I wiggled the wiring connectors to make sure that they were connected firmly.

Make sure you have radio security code, if you decide to disconnect and re-connect.

 

This just happened to me, has there ever been a resolution posted other than swapping the unit out? The FM blinked out suddenly then came back with static. I can pull the unit out and manipulate the antenna until it comes back. It is hit or miss now. Everything else works fine. Just curious before I buy another unit or send it out for repairs.

 

I live in Syracuse and have had work done at United Radio, they do good work. In my previous 850 I had the same problem. I purchased the stock Volvo CD unit off eBay and it worked fine for a while until the FM went out. I then just switched back to the original stock tape unit and it worked fine. Something internal had a fault.

 

Mainstream radio is horrible. 6 disk CD changer FTW.

 

Greetings from Yokohama.

As for such problem, try cleaning the base of the radio antenna, as someone has mentioned. Also, take the radio out, disconnect the radio antenna connection, clean the connection with electrical contact cleaner/WD-40 and connect & disconnect several times. Do the same for the 2 main connectors as well. If this does not solve the problem, the problem is in the FM receiver.

Another reason for the problem: the SC800 series radios are made in Japan[8D].

Good luck,


JPN

 

I switched my headunit out with an inexpensive Sony unit with an AUX input on the faceplate. I then hooked up my satellite radio and have yet to listen to standard AM/FM again. I've even pulled the CD's from the car, for satellite renders them useless I was with XM for a little over 2 years, but recently switched to Sirius.

For those who dread a single DIN in the double DIN slot, I bought the Volvo factory pocket for a single DIN setup and it looks great and was about $26. The replacement pockets from Crutchfield are cheap and don't last.

- AB

 

Haven't resolved the problem here... fm comes and goes, lately sticking around more often than not, but not reliably. Would like to swap units with someone temporarily to be more certain whether the problem is in the unit or the wiring/antenna. Never a problem with am, cd works except when very cold or with suspect discs.

 

You mentioned you have a wagon. I would check the anntenna connection to the side window on the drivers side in the hatch. You may have to move the plastic molding out of the way a little but you'll find a connector that looks a lot like one for a 9V battery. You could try a little emery cloth on the connections to clean them up a bit. I'd do the antenna plug that goes to the back of your radio as well. See if this improves things and let us know. If not, it could be the antenna amplifier located in the same area in the hatch (but a little harder to get to.)

Hope this helps and good luck!

 

↑+1 to rp850.

If all else fails, I assume the problem is within the resonance circuit, which is the part that selects stations. The resonance tuner circuit can be repaired, by replacing some electronic components (capacitors, inductors, etc...) if you're electronically inclined but it may be easier to find a used unit.

Too bad that slapping it didn't solve the problem.


JPN