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Radio problems 850 94

posted by  someone claiming to be Jason D on  Mon Dec 10 05:57 CST 2001 [RELATED]

Just bought a '94 855 Turbo, love it.

That being said, need to do something about the radio.

At low volumes (around town volume), the front right speaker doesn't work. If I turn it up to highway speeds, it emits an extremely loud scratching noise as I dial up and then the speaker works. Every time I touch the volume knob it makes the loud scratching noise.

Anyone seen (heard) this before? I was thinking maybe a loose wire. Where should I start looking?

If it's the head unit and can't be fixed, should I buy a replacement? Aftermarket?

I am not really concerned with "Concert" audio, just something that sounds good. Current head unit controls the CD changer in the back. Don't know the part # of the unit, but will supply it if needed and you can tell me how to find it.

Thanks!

-Jason







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    Re: Radio problems 850 94

    posted by  someone claiming to be Ray Niblett on  Mon Dec 10 06:53 CST 2001 [RELATED]

    This sounds like a noisy/dirty volume control. The volume

    control uses a flat metal plate that sweeps across a wire

    coil (simple explanation of a wiper type potentiometer).

    You could have dirt between the coil and sweep arm.

    You might be able to get some tv tuner cleaner from Radio

    Shack and spray it into the volume control (remove the volume

    knob) then turn it back and forth a few times. This

    could work if it is dirty. But, a lot of potentiometer are

    sealed and the problem could be that it has just worn out

    and needs to be replaced. You might also have to remove

    the radio (easy) and open it up to spray in the cleaner.

    Removal instructions are here:

    http://volvospeed.com/Repair/sc816.htm

    Note that newer Volvo radios use a digital volume control

    so this won't work on newer models (my 816 is like this, not

    sure about others). A digital control knob can be rotated

    either way continuosly (it never hits an end point) since

    all it does is send up or down signals to a CPU. If your knob

    can be rotated continously, its a digital unit.







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      Re: Radio problems 850 94

      posted by  someone claiming to be Jason D on  Mon Dec 10 07:02 CST 2001 [RELATED]

      I will take a look at it.

      If it was just the volume control, how would it only effect the right front speaker?

      Also, the link you supplied didn't really help, Not sure how to get the radio out.

      BTW, asked for the Haynes manual for Christmas, so if there are instructions in that I will use them.

      Thanks.

      Jason







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        Re: Radio problems 850 94

        posted by  someone claiming to be B Severn on  Wed Dec 12 17:30 CST 2001 [RELATED]

        I had a simalar problem w/ my 93' 850 you may find that if you remove the speaker that the actual magnet has come off and is stuck to someting else matal inside the dash. To remady this problem I replaced the speaker w/ a new one it is only a tweeter to the best of my Knowledge and these are available for much less money (than at a dealership) if you are not scared of modifying something to fit. It takes some head scratchin' but I got it to work. And the good news is that the grill coveres up all the cosmetic mistakes you might make on the speaker bracket.

        Good luck






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