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I’ve got three CR-814 AM/FM/Cassette players original to my ‘94 940.
None of them work or even power up, let alone ask for the anti-theft codes.
I want to keep it original, so I’m trying to find a legit business that can service and refresh my tired OEM stereo.
Anybody have some recommendations to share?
Thanks everyone again!
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Can't really help you on the repair side, but wanted to say please post back with your progress. Whatever you do, don't go for a CR-915 used in later 940s, even more failure prone than the CR-814. I've got 4 dead or semi-dead CR-915s on the shelf. I would have gladly switched to a CR-814, which I once had in a 740, if I'd managed to find a good working one, but decided instead to move into the 21st century with more features, a better equalizer, USB and bluetooth connectivity with handsfree calling. I'm long past using cassettes that occasionally get eaten, barely even need CD, preferring to use MP3 or flash drives. I only keep the originals around in case I ever have need to temporarily make the car original or in the off chance someone like you determines they can be easily repaired and which of the many small caps or diodes are the likely issues.
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Dave -still with 940's, prev 740/240/140/120 You'd think I'd have learned by now
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Hi Dave,
It has only taken me 4 months (!) to respond back to you with a CR-814 update. Answer to the problem: I kept getting used units at the pick-a-part yards for $20-$25 until I found one that worked. Plain and simple Dave. NOBODY works on these old units anymore, regardless of how much money I wanted to throw at it.
The CR-814 I finally got that worked had only Volume knob issues, easily corrected by a minor tear-down and electrical contact cleaner and compressed air. The one I have now beautifully plays AM-FM and my 6-Disk CD player. The cassette player just eats tapes, so no-go there.
So find one that works as-is, and then spend a little time cleaning it up. I'm very pleased with having an OEM unit in there for ease of usage while driving, and preserving the original as-configured design look.
Good luck to you.
John
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Hi John. Yes, I saw your above replies. No surprise to me you couldn't find anyone to work on them, let alone fix them. Wouldn't be worth the cost of labour in any case unless there was a well known common failure point. Like you, I kept buying working units from a yard for around $25-$45 until they became too scarce and I eventually decided a proper modern radio was a far better option to suit my needs. There are half-decent units from places like Crutchfield starting at under $100, including wiring and mounting adapters. The older panels are of course far simpler to operate to the point you don't even have to look while driving, but of course there aren't many functions. Modern radios are almost all scrolled menu driven with hundreds of options. Buttons are close spaced and tiny, often multi-function with minimal labelling. Some of the controls are slightly more intuitive than others. Having carefully selected one I liked and got mildly used to, it was an easy decision to buy a similar model for our other 940 so I wouldn't require a lobotomy to operate a different radio.
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Dave -still with 940's, prev 740/240/140/120 You'd think I'd have learned by now
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Hi Dave,
What stereo name and model number did you find acceptable for your 940, that won’t cause me the have a seizure while watching?
John
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For my purposes and tastes, I chose the Sony DSX-A415BT as a good compromise between sound quality, features I use, menu options, menu operation, panel functions, intuitive buttons, display color customization, looks in the 940 dash and price.
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_158DSXA41B/Sony-DSX-A415BT.html?tp=72430
It's neither high end or low end, which suits my style. I'm very happy with it and would absolutely buy it again. The panel is slightly more intuitive than many I've seen and used. It didn't take long to be able to use the basic functions out of the corner of my eye while driving. The Bluetooth handsfree calling works well and supports two phones.
At $98 (current price on Crutchfield), including the metal DIN mounting box, 700/900 dash mounting DIN adapter, Volvo wiring harness connector, plus free shipping, you can't beat the price. Crutchfield is highly regarded, has a huge selection, all the needed adapters, and excellent customer support -the only place I shop for car audio.
It doesn't have a CD player, which would be handy on long trips in remote country, but the ability to use MP3 players, Bluetooth audio devices and USB memory sticks is all I need. I have a couple of extra stubby USB sticks which I've loaded with my favourite road tunes (like Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again", kidding, that's on an old cassette I never use). They don't stick out so I just leave one in the radio.
If you want a CD player, there's the matching Sony MEX-N5300BT for $30 more. That's actually the first one I bought for our 940 NA wagon, but after finding we didn't use the CD player I went for the DSX for our 940T wagon after its radio died. I purposely stayed with the same Sony controls so I wouldn't require a lobotomy to learn another control panel.
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_158N5300BT/Sony-MEX-N5300BT.html?tp=72430
I'll mention some of the Sony features and installation issues here for guidance and comparison shopping purposes with other radios you may be interested in.
Note that the dash adapter causes the radio to stick out at the top. It's from Metra, seemingly the only dash adapter available for our 700/900s and the one most audio shops use (also includes the 240 upper mount adapter and a generic adapter plate). Many find having it stick out mildy objectionable compared to the Volvo recessed mounting, but you quickly get used to it and this particular Sony model quite suits the Volvo look. One of the better Sony features is being able to customize the display and button colors/brightness separately to match your dash lighting and personal preferences (like avoiding triggered attacks).
The wiring adapter comes in two pieces, one end to fit the Sony radio, the other to fit the Volvo harness connector. They give you the bullet connectors and a chart to join them together to match the inputs and outputs of your current setup, which is basically just matching the wire colors exept for maybe one wire. For a few bucks more they'll do it for you. For our 6-speaker 900s with a 4-speaker radio, the dash tweeter speakers and front door speakers are tied in parallel. The harness connectors and code sheet are set for doing that.
Now if I recall correctly, your CR-814 uses an audio pre-amp (hidden under the dash). The Sony has it's own internal amp, but can be used with a pre-amp if you want the extra drive power, such as having upgraded your speakers and turned the car into a boom box. I think the default Crutchfield wiring adapter that's selected for your year bypasses the pre-amp (you may need to disconnect the Volvo harness further back). If you want to keep using the pre-amp, you may need to select a different Crutchfield adapter (call them toll-free if needed).
The handsfree microphone works well and is on a long wire. Many would run the mic wire up the A-pillar and clip it on the visor or rear view mirror, leaving ugly wire showing. I stick it neatly on one of the blank switch plates safely out of the way near the steering column (no loose wire showing, don't need to drill a hole for the wire, just pinch it under the edge of the switch plate). You may need to cut the end of the curved clip tab off to get a flat surface for using double faced mounting pads.
For security, the Sony face panel easily detaches if you want to safely lock it away or take it with you. I never bother, leastwise in our region. Car radio theft seems to be on the wane, especially a basic single height radio not worth getting caught with. Thieves are looking for cash and smart devices these days. There is no lock code like the Volvo radios. It's set to beep if you forget to remove the face panel, but you can disable that nuisance feature (until the next battery disconnect). By default it's in demo mode, which you also need to disable after every battery disconnect.
If you're experienced at opening up your dash and removing the side panels, from start to finish, the job can be done in under an hour, but allow 2-3 hours for a first effort. I could do it in 30 minutes now.
Others will have their own preferences and thoughts.
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Dave -still with 940's, prev 740/240/140/120 You'd think I'd have learned by now
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Very nice. $100 all in, and at your door sounds like a very good price indeed. I got the very cheapest harness adapter I could find, and with the Metra kit I was out over $20 right off the bat. Even though I got my radio for free, I'll need an additional adapter to allow the 2007 Alpine radio work with Bluetooth. It's capable, but not out of the box. Seems like you may have gotten a better deal even having bought your head unit.
I actually thought the Metra kit was more than mildly objectionable, but as you said, I quickly got used to it.
Someday I'll spend the time and money to do a double DIN head unit with Carplay. Because you know what I find even more objectionable than the Metra solution for the 7xx / 9xx? Virtually ANY visible phone, media player, GPS mount. And dog-gonnit, I need navigation. So when and if I ever get around to that, I'll be sure to share my experience. I've read several accounts saying you need to move a couple of relays to get clearance for a double DIN, which put me off. But looking at how thin some of the newer mech-less units are, I think the right head unit selection will avoid that. I did fancy an in-dash DVD player with a rear screen for the kiddos on those 5+ hour trips, but not if it means futzing with the factory layout.
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Thank you for a great reply Dave. I appreciate you taking the time to closely detail your radio choice. It greatly influenced my decision.
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Hi Dave,
Not much progress on getting any one of the four (4) CR-814 AM/FM/Cassette units I have in operating condition. I contacted the radio repair businesses listed on Google, and taken advice from two automotive restoration shops that need radio work. I've gained a lot of information, but little of it will get me to a technician.
My last hope is United Radio, Automotive Electronics out of Syracuse, New York. I've mailed them two (2) units hoping they can get one working and perhaps use the other for parts as necessary. At least their customer service rep would talk to me on the phone, and she asked me to send it in to them and they will provide a free estimate of charges.
Everyone else would not assist me, saying the unit is "too new" for them to work on, because it contains a slew of capacitors and circuit boards which are not cost-worthy of checking. These other repair shops also said they could not guarantee their work, even in the event they could get it up and running.
This age radio falls into an interesting time period. Not old enough to be tube or transistor design, but not new enough to possess BlueTooth or Aux capabilities with simpler part change outs.
My hopes are currently with United Radio, and I'll repost here in about 3 weeks to let you know the outcome. Thanks for your interest.
John
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