Wire color for the antenna. '96 960

dm635 · Post by **dm635** » 20 Dec 2018, 19:02

Looking to disable the antenna from raising every time the head unit is turned on. Like if I'm just playing CD's. My '91 740 has a switch to lower the antenna and I've added a switch to my 635 to do the same thing. Lower when not playing the radio.

I've been unsuccessfully been trying to locate the electrical green manual for my 960 for years. Need to know the color of the antenna trigger wire at the head unit connector. This is for a '96 960 and I'll get the head unit number if needed. Thanks Dave

Post by **jimmy57** » 21 Dec 2018, 07:54

The wiring diagram site is down and has been for 6 weeks, likely means it is gone for good.
If you look in trunk at the connector for power antenna there is a green/red or blue/red heavy gauge wire and a black heavy gauge wire for the antenna power. The small gauge wire in the antenna wiring connctor will be the signal wire color from radio.

lummert · Post by **lummert** » 21 Dec 2018, 09:07

My 88 Volvo 760 Turbo Wagon has a switch for lowering the antenna for car washes and parking garages. Should find a switch among the other switches if your car has one. The switch would have an Antenna symbol. If all else fails I'm thinking the power antenna trigger wire at the head unit is red. I have used a wiring diagram to verify that the wire from the radio to the power antenna system on a 1996 Volvo 960 is red.

dm635 · Post by **dm635** » 21 Dec 2018, 11:59

Thanks for the reply both of you. My '91 745 wagon does have the factory switch with the symbol on it. I'd bet the main reason would be for parking garages due to being a wagon. I I'll pop the head unit out and check for a red wire.

The trunk lining on the 960 covering the antenna is some thick plastic that isn't flexible to expose the antenna easily. But if that's what it takes to check the wires at the antenna that's what I'll do.

What year 960 did you check? Only ask because the '92-'94 960 could be different than the '95 and on, but could also be the same. Thanks again

Edit: on the 745 checking the antenna connector and wiring will be easy to check. On my 635CSi I have an ETM (electrical troubleshooting manual), basically the same as our electrical Green manuals. Used a factory switch located in an empty switch cutout. On that car I also have a hidden in plain sight kill switch. Another identical switch in the row of 4 switch cutouts. Even someone familure with these cars wouldn't notice its purpose.

dm635 · Post by **dm635** » 21 Dec 2018, 12:53

I do have an electrical Green manual for a '92 960. My 1st 2 960's were a '92 & a '94. Worked fine for those 2 960's. But '95-'98 960's are a different car electrically. The '92 960 Manual does show the antenna trigger wire at the head unit connector to be Red.

Wanted : I do need 2 electrical Green manuals for my 2 bricks. 1 a '91 740 and 2 a '95-'98 960. I do all my own work on my cars including electrical. If you should one or both I'm buying. Thanks Dave

lummert · Post by **lummert** » 21 Dec 2018, 16:06

dm635 wrote: ↑21 Dec 2018, 11:59 Thanks for the reply both of you. My '91 745 wagon does have the factory switch with the symbol on it. I'd bet the main reason would be for parking garages due to being a wagon. I I'll pop the head unit out and check for a red wire.

The trunk lining on the 960 covering the antenna is some thick plastic that isn't flexible to expose the antenna easily. But if that's what it takes to check the wires at the antenna that's what I'll do.

What year 960 did you check? Only ask because the '92-'94 960 could be different than the '95 and on, but could also be the same. Thanks again

Edit: on the 745 checking the antenna connector and wiring will be easy to check. On my 635CSi I have an ETM (electrical troubleshooting manual), basically the same as our electrical Green manuals. Used a factory switch located in an empty switch cutout. On that car I also have a hidden in plain sight kill switch. Another identical switch in the row of 4 switch cutouts. Even someone familure with these cars wouldn't notice its purpose.

I checked the radio wiring diagram for a 96 960. But I think the wire to the antenna system is red in many models of Volvo. Maybe just install a switch in the red wire.

dm635 · Post by **dm635** » 21 Dec 2018, 16:25

dm635 wrote: ↑21 Dec 2018, 11:59 Thanks for the reply both of you. My '91 745 wagon does have the factory switch with the symbol on it. I'd bet the main reason would be for parking garages due to being a wagon. I I'll pop the head unit out and check for a red wire.

The trunk lining on the 960 covering the antenna is some thick plastic that isn't flexible to expose the antenna easily. But if that's what it takes to check the wires at the antenna that's what I'll do.

What year 960 did you check? Only ask because the '92-'94 960 could be different than the '95 and on, but could also be the same. Thanks again

Edit: on the 745 checking the antenna connector and wiring will be easy to check. On my 635CSi I have an ETM (electrical troubleshooting manual), basically the same as our electrical Green manuals. Used a factory switch located in an empty switch cutout. On that car I also have a hidden in plain sight kill switch. Another identical switch in the row of 4 switch cutouts. Even someone familiar with these cars wouldn't notice its purpose.

dm635 · Post by **dm635** » 21 Dec 2018, 16:38

It only makes sense that Volvo would use the same color wiring for most common circuits in many multiple models over the decades. Specific circuitry of course could be changed up.

I feel confident now to start with the Red wire at the head unit connector. There's a thin gauge red wire present in the connector.

Then there's a thicker gauge red wire that I'm sure is power to the CD changer.