I decided to install a power antenna switch after i went thru the automatic carwash and came out with my antenna dangling on the side of my car(oops).It is a very simple project.took me about 30 minutes to do the whole thing.i know a couple people wanting to do it so im going to share how i did it.
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First you have to pop off an empty switch cover.i have the base model so i have plenty of slots to choose from.take a small screwdriver and gently pry it off.i chose the one next to my rear defog. switch because that side looks too empty.

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I went to my local hardware store and bought a mini rocker switch.measured the width and dremeled an opening on the switch cover.the rocker switch fit perfectly.
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Next you want to pull the radio.you will need your code before you start to unplug things.to pull the radio you will see two tabs.push them in and they will pop out.
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Behind the radio are two connections.you want to pull the rightside connection(facing radio from the front).it is the larger of the two.
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You will see a blue/white striped cable on the connection.This is the power for the antenna.cut it and strip the ends.
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Now splice your wire to the antenna power wire and fish it to where you are placing the switch.(i had to redo this step because i forgot to wrap the wires in the loom first.)
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Wire your switch.replace connections behind radio and turn key to
position I.enter radio code and test the switch.if everything is good replace radio and switch.
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Thanks made a sticky.

 

I have been waiting to do this behind a few other projects. I actually purchased a Volvo antenna switch a few weeks ago and was testing the switch to see which wires on the back of it will kill the power (even before seeing this thread - wow). My 960 has this feature installed and the switch I have was pulled from a 960. On the back of my switch I have 4 wires; black, red, red-brown and red-grey. I tried several combinations of connecting two of the wires to create a power flow with NO SUCCESS. I think this switch is powered to work so I have not figured it out yet. It also has a light in it. (Hold on, someone is at my door). I'm back, some kid just hit my 960 with a golf cart and did about $1,500 worth of damage. Took off, a neighbor followed him. I'm out for now.

 

i just got a 2 pronged general appliance rocker switch...

hope the car isnt too bad..

 

im with nonsense619 just keep it simple and use a normal switch from walmart or radio shack (get a cool light up one if you wana go all out). they are $2-$3 and will save you the head ache of using a stock volvo switch (stupid german wiring haha)

 

i dont know about you but my car is swedish...

 

I hate it when I'm right. The estimate I got today was for $1,577.79. I'm so glad that kid did not hit it a little more to the right, it would have really hurt him. He told his dad and the police he did not do it but after 2 people told the police they seen him he finally fessed up. Maybe they will pay for the damage with me taking this stuff to judge judy. Here is the info & pics: https://volvoforums.com/forum/off-topic-7/kid-hit-my-960-ran-30937/

 

what was damaged?...what a lil punk

 

Ok, I installed a Volvo switch in the 850 and S70, here's what I did:

I got switches from the Volvo salvage yard in our area. I think I paid $5 for one switch and got the other switch free. If you get the switches out of a car yourself, try to make sure you get the wires from the back of it and get about 4" to 6". I got a official antenna switch out of a 960 (for my 850) and a rear fog switch (for the S70).

It appears that the antenna wire is a different color depending on what radio you have. Most heads use a Blue/White wire while the Premium heads use a Red wire. In either case, the wire is in position #3 on the main head wire connection. Here is a pic:

The connectors have numbers on them, 1, 3, 5, etc. The third wire has a little #3 on it, it's the one that I spliced on both cars.

Also, I did NOT un-plug the head or disconnect the battery. I figured that it would be safe to cut that wire since the car was off and the key was out. Not sure if it is a power wire or a ground wire.

As for the Volvo "official" switches, sorry but some of us just can't resist. We just were not born to leave well enough alone. Call us what you like, just don't try to stop us from pulling that nail out of the tire. The switches have 4 wires. It turns out that 2 wires are for the light function and 2 wires are the control. The light control are wires #'s 2 & 5. On the 960, the light control wires are Brown/Black (#2) and Black (#5). On the 850 & S70, #2 wire is Pink and #5 wire is Black. So, I spliced these wires into the wires on the switch next to the antenna switch I was installing. The other two wires, #3 & #4 I connect to the radio wire to control the antenna.

 

YOUR SUCH A BITER! I figured this out

 

Nice write up. Took me all of 10 minutes to complete, and that was 5 of trying to put in the code with a number button that is stubborn.

 

I installed a power antenna switch out of I think a 240/700 (my brother pulled it at the junkyard) in my '93 850 with an aftermarket stereo. When I use the switch to retract the antenna it sticks out ~5 inches, but if it is retracted when I turn off the stereo/car it will retract fully. It will stay sticking up after turning off the car if I use the switch. Anyone have any ideas what might cause this?

 

No, maybe that switch has a timer on it. I can send you a switch like the one I used or maybe you can try one from a salvage yard near you.

 

I'll have my brother try a different one at the local yard eventually. From the outside it looks like a very low-tech switch. I have the early 850 switches that aren't as curvy as the later switches so the one I have looks like it belongs. Thanks for the advice though, I wouldn't have thought of a timer.

Edit: It started doing it when turning off the car to start the retraction. Thinking that the antenna gear strip thing might be going out on the end.

Edit: The antenna has been working great for a while now, I think it was just cold/dirty when it was acting up. Here is a picture of my setup: