Bought 850 - questions for you folks

Smash · Post by **Smash** » 23 Jun 2004, 20:39

Just bought a '94 850 for a daily driver - very impressed so far. Couple questions. I see that one of the options was the CD changer - any info on how/where to get one cheap to add to the head unit - the manual says it's just plug/n/play.

I did not get any door remotes, just keys. Can I just buy a remote and code it myself? How can I tell if the car is set up for remotes and I just didn't get one?

The headlight wipers are toast. Do they stock them at Autozone, etc?

I've got all svc records. It has 74K on it, had belt replaced at 45K. So, good to go until 90K?

Any other advice for a new guy?

THanks,

Smash

potroast · Post by **potroast** » 23 Jun 2004, 22:02

timing belts are good for 50,000 miles. So you'd be due at 95,000. Don't confuse the timing belt and serpentine belt. If the timing belt breaks, you need a new engine -- if the serpentine belt breaks, you don't need a new engine, just a new belt.

The Volvo changers are the most horrible pieces of junk I have ever seen. I have owned 3 volvos, and the one that had a factory-installed changer was truely crap ('93 850). My 94 850 has an Alpine changer that connects to the stock head unit, and is easily controlled via the head unit. It only took a $15 adaptor to connect the Alpine AiNet changer to whatever volvo uses.

Dunno on the wiper blades. I never use em, so I just don't change em. You can always go to Pep Boys and ask. They probably won't have em, but will probably order them for you.

All 850 volvos came with keyless entry. So if you didn't get the remotes, it's because a previous owner lost them. Yes, you can buy a new remote and program it yourself. Directions on programming vary depending on who you talk to. You can search on it, and you'll find at least three different methods for programming it -- at least one should work (various people say one method works but not the rest; the "working" method is not consistant, so I am led to believe various builds of alarm were used in different vehicles)

Post by **matthew1** » 23 Jun 2004, 23:38

Ditto what potroast said, plus

wipers: http://ipdusa.com

remotes: I've seen a bunch on eBay, no firsthand experience

Smash · Post by **Smash** » 24 Jun 2004, 07:06

Thanks for the replies. Any idea where I can get that Alpine changer, correct model, etc for my car?

Yeah I think the headlight wipers are a bit overkill for FLA, but they come on whenever the windscreen is washed..better get the headlight blades or I'll scratch the tar out of them everytime I wash the windscreen.

I saw many remotes on Ebay, guess I'll order and see what happens!

I'm just glad I can leave my C5 in the garage on these rainy days now!!

Glad to be Volvoing

Smash

potroast · Post by **potroast** » 24 Jun 2004, 11:44

it was a 6-disc Alpine AiNet changer. It was $199 at Circuit City, open box. It was kinda nice because I got free installation, and it turned out the open box was defective, so I got a brand-spanking-new changer (cost would have been $299), installed, for $199.

Post by **matthew1** » 24 Jun 2004, 14:48

Now it's they'd only modify and release those changers to be able to read MP3 discs...

[/dream]

potroast · Post by **potroast** » 24 Jun 2004, 15:33

matthew1 wrote:Now it's they'd only modify and release those changers to be able to read MP3 discs...

[/dream]

My Alpine changer DOES read mp3's

potroast · Post by **potroast** » 24 Jun 2004, 16:09

just because I knew you guys were gonna ask, I went and wrote down the model of the changer. It's the Alpine CHA-S634. I own two of em. One works great with my stock Volvo head unit (94-850) and the other I have hooked up to my Alpine 9831 head unit (95-850)

Post by **matthew1** » 24 Jun 2004, 16:28

Holy Smokes. MP3s? Not just burned CD-ROMs with regular songs on them, but honest-to-goodness 80-songs-on-one-disk MP3s?

potroast · Post by **potroast** » 24 Jun 2004, 17:28

matthew1 wrote:Holy Smokes. MP3s? Not just burned CD-ROMs with regular songs on them, but honest-to-goodness 80-songs-on-one-disk MP3s?

honest-to-goodness 10-hours of music on a CD, organized in folders and everything. Supports MP3's and WMA's. On my Alpine 9831 head unit it displays all the titles, and lets me manually navigate folders and search for songs by title. On the volvo unit, it works as tracks.