Anyone used this wiring harness from Crutchfield to install an aftermarket stereo? Does it bypass the amp? Is it necessary? I see a lot of people have posted wiring diagrams here so I don't know if this harness is worth the $20.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-m7rTRHfYlpp/cgi-bin/prodview.asp?i=120701121

I understand Crutchfield does a great job in sales and customer service. Before, you could order from them any stereo and you would get the harness/plugs and mounting kit for free but now that has changed. Anyway, i do sell these kits reasonably priced for 240, 740, 940 and S series regularly in Ebay or outside plus i will ship worldwide. Just let me know what are your needs.
244 85
244 89
245 90

For even more fun, try relocating the stereo to the bottom of the dash in a later 240 with the shallow pocket. Requires removing the amp completely and cutting a DIN-sized slot in the back of the pocket, plus finding a lower radio plate. I guess you could use a Crutchfield harness with really long leads off the headunit, but I wired the entire stereo independently from the factory system, including a 10-gauge fused power wire directly to the battery (this Alpine headunit spikes at 60Wx4 channels).



Hey, gives you chance to replace the burned out dash bulbs:

Thanks for the ideas. Contemplating a lower-pocket radio retrofit, I had gone to the trouble of digging out an old, long bottom pocket, but cutting a DIN-sized hole in the short pocket that is already there provides much better rear support with a minimum of fuss.

And the back end of the short pocket gives a place to easily attach a bracket to eliminate fore and aft movement of the radio, too.

And the cooling air circulation is probably better, too.

Thanks again.

New subject: Your 240 has every guage in the world, but where is its voltmeter?

And what is that button/red indicator next to the cigarette lighter?


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jds

"cutting a DIN-sized hole in the short pocket that is already there provides much better rear support with a minimum of fuss"

Exactly. Cooling is probably better too. No voltmeter installed, but I have several around. Maybe a replacement for the clock someday.

Red indicator is a flasing light for the aftermarket Clifford alarm/keyless entry system. No sunroof in this car, but hey, the lack of extra weight offsets the gains from the stereo system (subs and amp in trunk). No leaks either :-)

Maybe that red button triggers the passenger ejector seat? Let's hope there's a sunroof!

The car radio harness can be moved from the top slot to the bottom. You just pull it down under the drivers dash and in through the side of the center console. It is plenty long enough to do this. I just put an alpine in my 93 with a Crutchfield harness, but I cut about 90% of the wires off. They were way too long.

Ugh, what a weekend. I wound up not getting the harness and spent a chunk of time this weekend doing wiring. The wires I'd cut from the amp didn't work according to the color code I'd found elsewhere. I took out the speakers to check the wire colors and every speaker had the same colors! I ended up totally rewiring the front speakers and I gotta do the rear speakers soon. I'm probably better off that way, but it was a pain.

The 245 cranks now, so I'm not stuck listening to AM radio anymore. Just in time for a trip to DC for July4.

I did not purchase my head unit from Crutchfield, but did purchase the wiring harness kit (along with a Metra faceplate kit), and I am glad I did for several reasons. Because I didin't cut any factory wires, I can remove my head unit and reinstall the factory stero within a half hour, if I need to send the aftermarket unit out for repair, decide to get a different one, or sell the car and decide to keep the headunit.

If you're ordering a stereo from them too, it'll probably come free. Otherwise, I'd say get the wiring diagrams, take your time, and wire it yourself. It'll be much cleaner with far less mess under your dash.

Yes, it bypasses the amp, but you're still going to have to get at the amp to remove the harness coming out the back. Good luck either way, this can be a real pain in the butt project.
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- Sean: Black '93 244, 115k miles

I need to respectfully disagree. Definitely get the wiring harness and fascia from Crutchfield! It's free on orders over $120(?). You'll have a *much* simpler time installing everything... especially when it comes time to bypass the amp and you won't have to cut any existing wiring. I've installed stereos on 1980 and 1985 240's a long time ago, however in the past year I've installed CD players in my 1990 245 and our 1991 745 using the Cruthfield harnesses... and it was a cake walk (the 740 would have been a royal PITA without the harness since Volvo didn't provide more than an inch or two of slack). Crimp everything up on the wide open space of your kitchen counter, with a cup of coffee, the cat that can't leave well enough alone, and the wiring diagrams luxuriously spread out. Then go out to the car and simply plug and play. Most definitely beats trying to crimp butt connectors in the cramped space in the dash.

-Ryan
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Athens, Ohio -- 1990 245, 125k, M47, E-codes -- 1991 745, 278k (girlfriend-mobile)

Hi guys. Great discussion. I am rebuilding a beautiful '83 245 for my soon to be 16 daughter. Huge job from front to back. I plan to order a nice cd player/am/fm from Crutchfield with 4 speakers and the harness and fit kit. I plan to use the upper space for the stereo head mainly because of the annoyance of the shifter with the cds coming out. Been through this with one of my other daughter's Volvos. I am assuming that the amp for the stock radio is in there some place and that I will be bypassing that with Crutchfield unit. To have a simple install kit is what I need timewise and confidencewise. I think that Crutchfield recommends 2 speakers but not the additional two for the back. Any ideas about wiring the other two speakers? Thanks

You may want to start a new thread from scratch, as this one is pretty old and may not get much traffic. :)

You might as well get her a CD player with MP3 capability. MP3's are quite the buzz and makes many of us think, "Kids these days...", but honestly it really is just a practical format. Especially in a 240 where the acoustics aren't perfect! ;) Simple is good. I have a Panasonic CD/MP3/WMA player that does everthing I need it to, and it's very intuitive to use. The Sony unit we put in my girlfriend's 745 is very frustrating to use.

As for the upper dash position, go for it! The Crutchfield kit will likely have plenty of length to spare. The '83 won't have an amp. Should just have the wires for the four speakers (8 total), 12v switched, 12v unswitched, ground, antenna, and the "trigger" to dim the display when the headlights are on. Check it with a DVM to figure out the power and ground, and use a AA battery for the "pop" test to match wires with speakers... and also to figure out the polarity of the speaker wires.

Good luck, and we'll need pictures of the finished car!
-Ryan
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Athens, Ohio -- 1990 245, 125k, M47, E-codes -- 1991 745, 278k (girlfriend-mobile)

I just completed a retrofit in my wife's 90 740 wagon - bought an Alpine 9856 from Crutchfield. The unit came with an adapter kit and wiring harnesses included. Total cost $199. Free shipping. Also bought the IPOD adapter cable, $30. I hooked right into the original equipment four speakers, and find that the Apline HU has no problem driving them.

Installation was a piece of cake, took about 2.5 hours, and that includes the time at the kitchen table crimping the harnesses. Crutchfield includes pretty good wiring diagrams.

Good luck!

I second that opinion. The times I have done car stereo work have been made much easier by using the wire harness from Crutchfield.

-Eric
'94 945t, 99k
'93 944t, 137k
'89 765t, 197k

It looks like it'll be worth getting the harness. I didn't get the stereo from Crutchfield, but may just order the harness and faceplate from there anyway. I don't really want to spend a lot of time inside the dash. I'll save my energy for the rear speaker installation. Thanks!

If you don't mind cutting the wire harness and plugs off the old radio, the crutchfield harness won't save you much time. Either way you have to crimp or solder all of the wires to the new radio harness. The only advantage of the Crutchfield harness is that the wires are all labelled, but the wires are not that complicated.

Don't get me wrong folks, the wiring harness was great, but I most likely would not have ordered it if it hadn't come free with my stereo from Crutchfield (who, btw, was also terrific to deal with).

It DID make it a lot easier, but I'm always ready to trade hard work and time to save money. I guess I'm also forgetting that my father installed security systems and therefore has all of the tools, wire, solder, etc. necessary to make the job easier.

Ryan, thank you. You let everyone know that this is your opinion, based upon your experience, and never once did you outright state that I'm wrong or attack me for my opinion. I appreciate it.

I can't express how pissed I get when someone types from a thousand miles away, safely behind their keyboard, "You're an idiot because you didn't do it MY way, which is the RIGHT way. Don't do it this idiot's way, I have more experience and training than he does and know what I'M talking about!" I was just reminded that we don't get much of that on Brickboard, which is why I post here rather than some other Volvo forums.
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- Sean: Black '93 244, 115k miles

Hey Sean,

Glad you didn't find my post as a "dis", as it wasn't meant to be. The "in your face" mentality that pop's up here and there drives me nuts too!

Crutchfield is really incredible to deal with. I was actually really impressed with how fast my orders wind up on my doorstep, and their customer service really is top notch... above top notch.

I totally agree with the trading work and time to save money. That's part of the fun with these cars... plus they're enjoyable to work on, and it's something challenging to do on a Saturday morning rather than sit on the couch. I suppose they call this a hobby!

Cheers,
-Ryan

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Athens, Ohio -- 1990 245, 125k, M47, E-codes -- 1991 745, 278k (girlfriend-mobile)