Volvo V70 Audio Amp

Others with similar problems...

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/?t=90729

I had a second hand Volvo whose radio wouldn't work without the security code. A bit of Googling revealed the fact that if you have the VIN, the serial number of the radio, and could prove that you owned the vehicle, then you could enter the info on the Volvo website and you would be sent the unlock code.

Found this....

http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=30204

I have a 2007 Chevrolet Colorado I use for a work truck. The factory (OEM) radio was (is) connected with a wiring harness to BCM, ( body control module). The ( BCM) is one of several computers installed in the truck.

The factory radio failed after about 3 years, ( this radio was manufactured in Mexico ) and I considered buying a second hand factory radio from , a " auto boneyard ", " auto dismantler " , auto wrecking yard ". A second hand radio from a wrecking yard would cost about $350.00 usd.

On a side note : The original factory radio had a manufacturer label indicating Delco Electronics- Made in Mexico.

Side note cont, . My previous work truck was a Chevrolet S-10, it also had a radio manufactured by Delco Electronics and that radio ( am/fm cassette ) still works after 25 years ( Mfg date March 1989 )

I have the OEM service manuals for my Colorado ( a 3 volume set ) , in the service manual there are several sections that deal with the vehicle audio system. The first section indicates am radio, the second section indicates am/fm radio, the third section indicates am/fm CD radio.

All of the radio variants are tied into the BCM via a wiring harness.

I then examined the vehicle wiring diagram. The wiring diagram has the following wires: +&- 12v, ( the power supply is independent of the BCM, +&- speaker ( again independent of the BCM) , a data input wire to the BCM & a data wire from the BCM.

I concluded that I could install a aftermarket Sony am/fm CD radio in place of the OEM radio.

In this process I lost some systems that although might be considered a convenience, I learned to do without :

1. The annoying ding-dong sound when the doors were opened, when an interior lamp was left on, when the headlights were left on ( although the vehicle has a light control module, this action was originally only momentarily because the LCM has a digital timer that turns the lights off after 30 seconds when the ignition key is removed ) .

2. Status indicator messages ( low tire pressure, oil change, parking brake, door open ) . When the low tire pressure & the oil change messages appear & these items are corrected the vehicle operator needs to push a button near the speedometer/odometer housing and listen for a beep sound emitting from the radios speakers. I can still remove the message although I can't hear the beep sound.

So, I installed a aftermarket radio for $150.00 that has more power and more options than the factory radio although now I don't have all of the bells and whistles.