Hello,

I bought a 1992 960 Wagon this spring, and it's already broken my heart ( it had the fabled porous engine block).

A few nights ago I attempted to install a CD changer in place of the radio. I assumed it would be a simple matter, but I was wrong.

Initially, the CD changer only worked when the headlights were off, and the instrument panel lights don't turn on. I then searched brickboard, and went back outside in the cold December night with a multimeter.

I think that I initially connected the power antenna output of the CD changer to the Illumination lead from the Volvo. I disconnected the antenna, and then verified that the ground was indeed the ground, the red was indeed the ignition power, and the black with yellow stripe was the battery.

I checked the fuse for the instrument lights (10 I believe) and it was fine.

At this point I'm thinking the Illumination lead is in series with the Instrument lighting. Am I wrong? What else can I check?

Thanks,

George

On my 965, there are two accessory sockets under the dash on the right side. Look in your owners manual to see if they are there or if they are a later addition. Power as well as switched power is available. They are used for cell phones etc.

george,

when did your engine block fail? and was Volvo any help to you? what was your solution?

thanks..im curious as i own a 92' 960 as well

jimmy the chinaman

Jimmy, I too have a 92 960 leaker.

I have taken it upon myself to replace the engine with a 94 used 960 long block engine.

I did phone my local Volvo dealer( a large dealership in Houst,TX) where we got the vehicle and the "Service" Managers response was he had never heard of 92 engines having or being a problem. He was useless to talk to. The only thing he confirmed to me, "this is well outside warranty", even my wife knew this one, as usual not his problem. I told him I thought engine blocks were supposed last forever.

Since it was looking like I was going to spend my $$$ I wanted to know, should I get an easier to get 94 engine to get away from the 92 block, and would a later model fit? He said that they had never replaced an engine or heard of a problem in his 4 yr life at Volvo. I asked him, was there a problem with this 92 engine model. I asked if if there was a service bulletin, recall or something. He said no (he knew that answer) and I should phone Volvo NA customer service to find these things out.

I phoned Volvo Cust Service. I asked if I could get some answers to technical questions. I wanted to know if a 93-96 960 would fit into a 92. He said Volvo only supports technical questions though it's dealerships. Neat response. The well trained customer service told me to deal with the Volvo at the dealer level. "It's out of warranty". Its the same old BS. I didn't thank him for the customer support.

All I want is to get on the road. Without spending all my Xmas $$$

I have since found out that 92-94 960's are all the same model engine and possibly up to 1998 will physically fit. (newer models may need torque converters or a computer module to fit the cam profile change ++ ..... all that tech stuff that I though my dealer or VOLVO could help me with. I was wrong.)

Remember I just want to get on the road, so a conservative 94' swap for $2500 is my best option I think. I forgot to say Volvo via the local dealer wants $5800 (+ install) for a remanu 92 engine.

$2.5K is better than $6.0K I know that.

> george,

> when did your engine block fail? and was Volvo any help to you? what

> was your solution?

> thanks..im curious as i own a 92' 960 as well

> jimmy the chinaman

Jimmy,

I suspect the engine block was cracked before we bought it with 80,000 miles on it. There were warning signs all along, ie. the dealer just picked it up at a repair shop to replace the head gasket because it was overheating (= dripping coolant relentlessly), but we ignored them. The day we picked it up, we had to refill the coolant reservoir.

Our mechanic looked at it, and thinks someone put block sealant into it, but couldn't prove it, and wouldn't testify in court.

We ended up buying a 94 engine with 64,000 miles on it.

I haven't talked with Volvo yet, though I'm not optimistic after reading the posts here.

George