I'm getting static on all am stations, dealer mentioned needing a "brass strip", can anyone tell me how to fix this myself? thanks.

I have the same problem... Contacted local St Paul Volvo dealer...They said no problem, the brass strip is $4 and the install is roughly $100.00. Ouch!!! Not a happy am listening volvo s80 owner.

There is a service bulletin out for this problem. Dealer fix was free and simple for my 2000. Reception improved 1000%

I took my 2002 S80 in for the 30k service and pointed out my bad AM reception. Dealer checked it out and said is was within specs. I told them to change the specs because lousy AM reception in a $40k car is ridiculous.

Do you happen to know the exact TSB for this so I can point it out again?

-Chris

cant find tsb # but repair order said "99042-2 antenna amplifier 1 side modifying according to TJ"
the part was 30657370

I thought that's why we switched over to FM :)

No, that would not be the reason (ask Bob Grant) but, w/ the list of all the other repairs i see on this list, i'm lucky the static is my only problem.

Does someone have a REAL solution to this?

Leo...

I had the same problem and I fixed it in a rather peculiar way. I posted the answer to volvo spy. The same solution may work for you. Here is a cut'n'paste.

Liam
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I did a little investigation and I pulled out the rear c-post panel (aka sail panel). I checked the connection to the heated rear window as well as the amplifier ground, power and antennae connectors. Strangely messing about with these did not seem to produce any effect at all.

I was just about to put everything back together when i noticed that the heating element wires on the rear window (especially those parts of the wires hidden behind the c-post panel were rather dirty. As soon as I wiped them with a wet rag, I started getting better reception.

This may not be as wierd as it sounds. The previous owner of the car was a chain smoker as evidenced by the greasy black build up on just about every hidden internal surface (the dealer that sold me the car had valeted the exposed surfaces only). I am wondering whether this greasy gunk was causing some kind of a short on the AM antenna/rear heater element.

Anyhow, I guess the moral is that cleaning your rear window may significantly improve your AM reception :-)

Where is the C-Post panel?

the c-post panel is that piece of plastic right up against the rear window on the left side of the car - it surrounds the rearmost small little window

thanks, i'll try to pull it apart.