Add an iPod input to many Volvo radios for $0

[dobriduh]

tape adapter is good as long as the radio doesnt kick it out.

after a while mine (radio) went on strike and kept rejecting the tape after 30-40 seconds.

[dobriduh]

Here are pics of my radio SC-813. I can't find nothing but the blue ribbon which connects the unit into the mainboard.

Do you think is it still possible to do the modification?

Thanks

mainboard + tape unit


tape unit


mainboard

[tolian2]

I was trying to solder in left and right wires from 1/8'' audio jack to hook up the ipod/mp3/cd player to the system as described here https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/chat/p ... b2a4eb3450
I was messing with it not in a too proessional manner I presume so that now when I connect the stereo to the car and input code I do not get any signal to the speaker despite the fm/am working. I do not know if the tape works and also the cd changer that previously worked now shows EEEE error message.

What are my options with respect to fixing this vs going ahead and buying a new stereo.

ps. I had to resolder couple of times and everything worked fine until about the 8th time I put the radio back in this whole no-sound thing happens.

[VolvoManiac]

Thanks for the Step-by-Step procedures!!!

[macguide]

Hi

A few questions:

1. Does the soldering ipod setup work on the SC-810?
2. If I have a volvo CD changer in the trunk, will this setup affect my ability to listen to CDs?
3. Can I still listen to tapes with this setup?

Thanks

Mac

[tjts1]

After reading the information in this thread I figured my SC710 can't be all that different. Its just a matter of identifying the correct wires.
That said if you don't know what you are doing, there is a chance you could damage your head unit. This is not a step by step how to guide. Just a general description. Try this at your own risk.

Start by removing the standard SC710 head unit from your poverty spec 850.


Remove the top cover and the tape deck as previously discussed.



Rip all the tape out of an old cassette and insert it into the tape deck. Then flip the tape deck on its side so that the passenger side of the tape deck is facing up. There you will see a connector with 6 pins. The 6 wires going to those pins (disconnected when you removed the tape deck) are from front to back, brown, gray, gray, red black white. You can see them in the upper right hand corner in the above picture. The red, black and white correspond to left, ground and right on any stereo headphone wire. These are the wires you need to connect to. I decided to solder mine on the 3 pins directly below the connector on the side of the cassette circuit board.


Here you can see the 2 black headphone wires go out the side of the head unit through the cooling holes.


I cut the red power wire to the cassette motor because its no longer necessary and it helps cut noise. Be sure to insulate the end of the wire before you button everything up.


Finally re install the tape deck and top cover into the head unit and give it a try. Since the tape was inserted while the tape deck was outside the head unit, you can no longer remove the tape. Its a permanent fixture. To activate the adapter, press the door to the tape deck untill it clicks. Plug in your ipod and turn the volume all the way down to just one tick above silent. This will give the best sound quality (a relative term in the SC710). To turn off the adapter press the eject button firmly. The tape disengages but since its being blocked by the door, it doens't pop out. To activate press the tape door again.
While you have the head unit out, this might be a good time to also replace the 6 bulbs in the face plate. They are 6v #7219 micro lamps.

[volvosafe]

Thanks for the detailed photos you have in your post....it is a great help. Before I convert my 850 radio...and I have the radio code...does anyone have an old CD changer..alpine Volvo CD Changer, part number 9148791. ?
or a cha-s634 with one plug to go in the back of the 850 turbo wagon?

If so please email me.

By the way Matt has a great forum here and I am impressed with the detail.

I will try to take more digitalphotos of the things I fix (door panels / plastics... :>

I did spend about a year fixing up a 740 GLE wagon..now pristine.

[tjts1]

A caveat. Before anyone else jump head long into this, I'm having some sound quality issues with my setup. I think I know what the culprit is and I'll get back with a detailed follow up.

[volvoaddict007]

As of now, I've got my iPod hooked up through a tape thing. It sounds a million times better than any FM transmitter. I'm pretty happy it.

I've been running a Sony Walkman velcroed to the top of the dash ( this really attracts the ladies for sure... )

I finally upgraded to the creative ZEN: M ( 30GB ). Unless you need to interface you're home products with an iPod, this should be a serious consideration. Lot's more bell's and whistles as well as better sound quality. At least this is what the product reviews are saying.

Anyhow, there is a major difference in sound quality in the cassette adapters. I tested 4 of them in which 3 sounded like crap. Radio Shack sells the Accurian which I have found to have terrific reproduction. If anybody knows of other high quality cassette adapters, please let me know. I'd like to try them.

I added 4 Kenwood tweeters at the corners to my SC- 811 head unit... Totally jams.

va007

[volvoaddict007]

I don't quite understand why the members here are going through the trouble to wire in to the unit. Isn't there a wire coming out of the dash anyhow? Perhaps it can exit down at the bottom by the ashtray so it doesn't look as obtrusive. If this is the case you could probably run the wire from the cassette adapter back into the player and out of the bottom or back and then down to the bottom of the dash. But then you would still have the cassette flap open. I suppose you could then fashion a spare flap in there.

Just a thought for the more electronically challenged as myself...