I recently bought a 1995 850T in great shape. I am new to Volvo, and this bbs so far has been a great resource of info for me. My first to-do's are the timing belt and pcv system maintenance, (all parts on order already). My focus right now is the stereo. This car has the "premium" stereo, and it sounds great - when it works. Sound comes in and out seemingly whenever it wants to. I am not against purchasing an after-market head unit, but I am hoping someone can tell me if the problem is in fact the stereo or if it lies in the amp. Anyone have any ideas?


Matt

 

Whichever it is, it will cost $ 50-100 to get it replaced / fixed. ... I would go aftermarket -- get the harness & amp bypass, plus the cave. And you can get Ipod / aux inputs. For about $ 100 you're in business.

 

Thanks for the reply; that makes perfect sense. Time for more shopping...

 

Can you explain in and out a little more? Is your volumn **** scratchy when you turn the volumn up or down? When the volumn does go in and out what happenes to it if you move the volumn control up and down?

You may or may not have an OEM external amp. Its located behind the radio between the heater core and the radio. If its there you will know it, if its not there will be a big void.

 

Basically, it sounds like the radio just comes on and goes off as it wants to. Only a few minutes after I turn the radio on, it will cut-out. No static or scratchy sounds; no adjustments to the vol. ****. Now that you say that about the amp, I guess I am not sure if I have one or not. I assumed the "premium" system had the amp. I just thought something (an amp) was overheating/overloading and shutting down.