95 850 wagon FM reception problems

[larryboy]

FM reception varies from great to non existant. Traced problem to booster below window antenna (wiggle it and reception is fine). There is power to the booster. Other connections tight and window antenna shows continuity. Pulled the booster to look for obvious damage--there is none. Reinstalled, and even wiggling won't help reception.

Question--rather than r&r this 15 year old part, would a readily available aftermarket fm signal booster installed as a substitute be a good solution.

Question--would the problem be well solved with installation of a front fender antenna mast?

[NTrails]

I realize this is an OLD thread, but it was never answered!! And I have the same issues/concerns!! Can SOMEONE in here answer these questions??

1. Where exactly is the antenna booster in these Volvo Wagons? Mine is a 1997 850 Wagon, the OP's is a 1998 V70.

2. What is involved is getting at this part and what kind of troubleshooting/repairs could be made once access is attained?

3. Does it make more sense to abandon this whole, rather bogus setup and affix an aftermarket antenna mast to the car's fender like were included on cars for several trouble-free decades?

Thank you in advance, and I'm awaiting you reply,

Mark D.
NTrails

1997 Volvo 850 Wagon - Dark Green - Bone Stock - 142K miles

[NTrails]

Well.... I found the booster... it's directly under the Driver's side rear window, back in the cargo area. You gotta pull up firmly on the driver's side floor panel (its held down by 4 metal clips). It helps a little to open the rear storage area door to get a grip on the side floor panel. Then theres one torx screw about half way up the trim, where the two pieces (upper and lower) come together. The screw also holds the little loop that the cargo net clips to. Remove this screw, then pull slightly outward and up on the upper piece, working your way along at the bottom edge of the window. There's a few metal clips that you just pull the trim piece out of. Next, pull the lower piece out from at its top edge, just enough to gain access to the little box that's directly under the black plug that connects to the window. Make certain that the thick black antebba cable is firmly attached tio this box, and that the other (power) wires aren't damaged, broken, frayed, etc.. Now follow them back to the connector just in front of teh tail lights. By squeezing inward on the sides of this connector, you can pull it off of it's mount on the inner wall of the car. Then you can disconnect the plug and use your multi-tester to check for voltage there. The black wire is a ground, and the bigger green with red striped wire is for trailer hitch accessories. The blue with whote stripe is the one supposed to be powering the antenna booster. If you have no power here, you should check behind the radio unit in the dash, making sure the same Blue with White Striped wire is connected to the radio unit. Mst aftermarket head units will provide a bkue with white wire for this purpose. Someone in one of these forums stated that Volvo radios send some strange (lower) voltage across this wire... I've never heard of such a thing, and nearly ALL aftermarket radios will send a low amperage, 12 volt current across this wire. Once I connected this wire behind my head unit, my reception is as Good as Gold!! AM stations are strong, clear, static free as ever!! FM it's a li'l spotty depending which direction the vehicle is facing when parked. It's pretty good once the car is moving. This is due to the nature of receiving ANY FM signal onna flat plane like the rear window. If that plane is parallel to the direction the station is being broadcast from, the reception will be reduced. Alternately, if the plane of the rear window is perpendicular to the stations broadcast location, maximum reception will be achieved. That's why MOST cars use a mast antenna... it is ALWAYS both parallel and perpendicular to ALL directions as it's a straight, VERTICAL line!

Hope this helps out someone....

Cheers!!

Mark D.
NTrails
1997 850 Wagon - Bone Stock