1. Home
  2. Volvo automobiles
  3. Replacing Volvo tape unit with non-Volvo CD player in early 850 saloon

Replacing Volvo tape unit with non-Volvo CD player in early 850 saloon

Santa brought me a swanky JVC CD player for Xmas, which will replace the ageing CR-708 tape unit in my early '93 850 saloon.

I've ordered an ISO-to-Volvo connector adaptor from an online source, thinking that's all I would need to make the swap, but having taken out the CR-708 today, I notice there's an additional lead connected to the tape unit, which attaches to a 6-pin DIN-style socket. There's a "AMP" caption on the backplate nearby, but it's ambiguously located, so I'm not entirely sure it relates to this socket. (I wasn't aware that my car had a separate amp anyway!)

There isn't an equivalent socket on the JVC unit unfortunately, so I'm at a loss. What does this lead do? How do I deal with it?!

TIA,

Stuart Cormie

Reply to
Stuart Cormie
Loading thread data ...

Most any post-'85 Volvo has a separate amp. I'm not sure where it's located on the 850, but follow that wire and then remove the amp. There'll be a connector going to the rear speakers and the wiring kit should have come with a mating connector which you plug into it, then extend the wires as needed to reach the radio and connect them to the rear speaker outputs it has, pretty simple.

Reply to
James Sweet

The separate amp may have speaker wires in connectors running up to the radio. Is there another connector in both 10 pin and 14 pin plugs 2-3" from the radio - both of which when disconnected will plug directly into your existing radio?

Reply to
Mike F

Thanks guys for your suggestions. Will follow them up shortly.

In the meantime, here's another question for ya!

The PC2-19-4 adaptor harness that I have on order has been described by at least one other person elsewhere as an "amp bypass harness". So could it be that that there are separate (and currently unused) leads in the main wiring bundle that I'll connect into, going straight to the speakers that were previously powered by the amp? So the new CD player will power those speakers directly, and if I leave the current AMP lead unplugged, the Volvo amp will be effectively leapfrogged in that way? Or is that just a naive pipedream? ;-)

Thanks.

Reply to
Stuart Cormie

Well you just have to make sure that the outputs (i.e. the wires going to the speakers) are not connected to the old amp. Obviously, power to the old amp won't hurt anything, but you might as well disconnect that as well. Did you look and see if you have the extra plugs?

Reply to
Mike F

Well, the PC2-19-4 finally arrived today, after a wait of more than 2 weeks. (Halfords Direct in the UK that was -- not impressed!)

All is sorted now. The harness has 4 connectors on it -- 2 that go into the back of the new head unit, one that plugs into the Volvo-side loom, and one that attaches to the speakers connector after it as been pulled from the Volvo amp (which in my car was located at the foot of the centre console -- had to remove the panel beneath the steering column to gain access to it).

Reply to
Stuart Cormie

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.