'92 850 GLT Radio Amp questions.

[koralski]

Hi all, finally got around to driving around in my freshly rebuilt 850. The speakers sound like ass, but the 5 cylinder sound is great.

I want to see if the Amp is the culprit as I installed a Sony aftermarket head unit that has 4x40w.

How do I check if i have an Amp? The car has the trunk speaker grills, and is a 1992 model.

If I do have an Amp how would i go about bypassing it?

Thanks in advance

[scot850]

I'm not sure on the early 850's if they had an amp as an option. Most Volvo radio/cassette (early radios) did not need an external amp as they amp is internal to the unit. If an 850 had a amp fitted, they were fitted behind the radio under the dashboard. It was I believe in a silver box mounted on a 2 legged stand that bolted to the floor either side of the center tunnel. I am not sure how those amplifiers were installed as I have never actually seen one. The 98- cars that had amplifiers fitted were fitted under the passenger front seat on LHD cars. They used a wiring harness that connected to the original connectors that went to the back of the radio then it ran down to the amplifier before sound returned to the head unit with connectors the same as the originals along with and additional cable. Speakers were fed directly from the amp. Below is a drawing of the amplifier and stand:

https://parts.volvocars.ca/a/Volvo_1993 ... 67065.html

Cable:

https://parts.volvocars.ca/p/Volvo_1993 ... 45126.html

Although again a drawing, it looks like the amp works in a different way so likely the original speaker cables are used from the radio. If that is the case, and you have an amplifier fitted, removing the amp cable from the head unit should bypass it. I am guessing based on experience of P80 radios and amplifiers.

The door speakers will fail with age. Strangely, personally I never had issues with the rear speakers failing but in the case of yours, they are 33 years old so chances are humidity and age the glue that was used for the speaker cones has failed.

Neil.

[koralski]

I have 2 13 pin connectors coming out for the radio. I don't have the small little ones that came with the SC radios. That kinda tells me I don't have an amp.