Radio connector in 1995 ES

Website · Post by **coyote1980** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 8:29 am

Hi all,

question: are the radio connectors in 1995 models ISO connectors? Hope someone can tell me so I don't have to rip out the radio to find out

Murf · Post by **Murf** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 10:06 am

both my 91 and 93 cars have ISO connectors so i guess yours will too, being a later model.

dragon · Post by **dragon** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 10:43 am

In my experience[1] all[2] 1995 cars have ISO, yes.

[1] - My experience of 4 1995 cars only
[2] - Excluding any that have been b*ggered about as seems common in 480 wiring looms

Website · Post by **coyote1980** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 12:10 pm

Hi everyone,

well, I removed my Sony radio this afternoon and found out my 1995 ES has a real Volvo connector, that had a Volvo-ISO adapter on it. Removing the Volvo-ISO adapter showed a nice big wide black Volvo radio connector and a small 2 X 2 black block for the rear speakers.

The radio I have (CR906) has a nice big black Volvo connector. Boy, was I glad I didn't have to buy some sort of adapter cable!

...

Untill.... I found out that the connector coming from the radio is TOTALLY different than the Volvo connector in my dash!

Damn, solution: find out how what the pin layout is for the radio. Spent an hour googling and found this site:

http://www.volvospeed.com/Repair/radiocon.htm

It's for a double DIN radio, but the connectors on the back of my CR906 look like it. Same shape, but different colours and pin-occupation... So that wasn't much use.

Just spent another 1.5 hours with a 12V transformator putting power on various connectors of the radio, and lots of combinations. So far I have been able to:
- Make the alarm-light on the radio flash (yay)
- Have the radio make a ticking sound (didn't sound like it should) (woot)

I have no idea what the best procedure is now. If anyone has a suggestion, let me know. Found this at the website of a german company:

ISO-VOLVORADIO ADAPTER

But the pin occupation of the radio-side of that adapter is also different.

Damn, never thought installing an original Volvo radio would give such a hassle... Radio is probably from an 850 or something...

JohnTurbo · Post by **JohnTurbo** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 1:28 pm

MY 94' car and vc 802 radio both have standard iso connectors. I'm having sound nightmares at the moment, as my damn sony head unit only has a bus input, and it won't take a signal from my carputer.

I'm gonna have to buy a 4ch amp or a new headunit.

Murf · Post by **Murf** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 3:26 pm

I'm gonna have to buy a 4ch amp or a new headunit.

does your sony unit have a data bus input and a set of phono inputs?
if so check out this, shows you how to build a cd changer emulator that fools the head unit into activating the phono inputs.

i got a blaupunkt head unit as these are the easiest and cheapest to convert to line in.

what kinda carpc have you got, any pics of it??

http://www.mictronics.de/?page=unilink

or, if your wealthy

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-KjAa17ryfa ... earch=[url]

Murf · Post by **Murf** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 3:44 pm

better link for building a unilink adapter:

http://gnunilink.sourceforge.net/

JohnTurbo · Post by **JohnTurbo** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 4:11 pm

Looks overcomplicated on the functionality. My old panasonic had a proper line in, but got stolen. May have to go for an amp, can get a decent brand 4 x 80w rms for not too much, which is twice the power i'd need. Sub is already on a dedicated amp.

Carputer, went the inverter route. Built into glovebox, running provisionally a micro atx, 256 ram, athlon 800 chip, 10gig hd. Tv card. Powerstripping a matrox millenium to a 720x576 5.6inch sony tft, installed in the center console much like yours. GPS unit and software in the post. Wireless keyboard for any text required, cirque "cruisecat" intelligent programmable touchpad on a ship in the atlantic.

Pictures soon.

Website · Post by **coyote1980** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 5:05 pm

I have an idea, to determine the pin layout of the connector on the radio I need to know the pin layout of the connector it should be connected with. Why didn't I think of that earlier!

If anyone can give the pin layout for a Volvo 850 radio connector it would be very helpful

Website · Post by **coyote1980** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 10:05 pm

Just found out the radio came out of a Volvo truck!

No idea if it needs 12V or 24V. Hope I can determine the pin layout for the radio connector on a Volvo truck!...

Breeze · Post by **Breeze** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 1:01 pm

http://www.autoleads.co.uk

Autoleads reccomend for any 480 87-95:

ISO connection, (black, square connectors, one holding power/earth/aerial power leads, the other holding speakers)

Or

Vovlo connection, one plug but looks like two offset oblongs. (a bit like this in shape;)

for which a harness adapter lead is available (part no: PC2-43-4) Available from Halfords (usually about Â£13.49) or any other Autoleads dealer, I don't think they deal direct with customers at the moment tho.

hope this helps

chris1roll · Post by **chris1roll** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 6:39 pm

Edd tried buying the adaptor like that from halfords, for them to bugger about for a month and then decide to inform him autoleads don't make them any more. (newest 480 is now more than 10 years old)
Result, we chopped the wires and wire in an ISO connector using crimp connectors.

It's not that hard to figure out.

Breeze · Post by **Breeze** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 10:49 am

chris1roll wrote:Edd tried buying the adaptor like that from halfords, for them to bugger about for a month and then decide to inform him autoleads don't make them any more. (newest 480 is now more than 10 years old)
Result, we chopped the wires and wire in an ISO connector using crimp connectors.

It's not that hard to figure out.

Exactly what I did to mine, though it seems my car has had about 20 radios in it during its life, as the wires had been chopped and re-crimped several times. Just cut everything out and started again, saved time in the end.

Volvo 480 Club Europe

Radio connector in 1995 ES

Radio connector in 1995 ES

Idea!