I hope some kind soul is around to help me out, and fast. I bought a replacement radio for my 740 and I have the old one pulled half-way out, but I can't see where the plugs are to unhook the wiring and re-hook it with the replacement. It is a 6141. The wiring looks like it either goes down below radio tray, or up, or whatever - I can't tell. Does the harness plug sit all the way down behind the fuse box? I didn't encounter what I expected when I pulled the radio. I will bless anyone who can give me a quick answer before it gets too dark to work on it. The FAQ for 700 was no help at all, a common ocurrence. I am terrified of doing something wrong.
Thanks!
Dean

Try some of these links
http://www.streetdreams.com/wires/
http://www.installdr.com/home.html
The Install Doctor has photos as well as wiring diagrams.
Regards Brad

manufactured by Metra (800) 221-0932. Give them a call. I spent quite awhile trying to figure out the wiring before call Metra. The part number (fom memory, so probably incorrect)is 99-9222. This includes 2 14 pin connectors. One of the connectors wires to the power inputs and grounds for the plug located right behind the stock radio head. The other 14 pin connector gets wired to the plug that otherwise would plug into the stock power amp (remove the panel below the steering column). It actually hadles speaker output. Do not run new speaker wire as suggested elsewhere - that is not necessary with the correct part from Metra.

All this assumes that you have a TD-6141 head with a 14 pin connector and din plug (not for CD controller) on the back of the head unit. The din plug is acutally the speaker output, being routed back to the pre-amp for output to the speakers.

The Metra part is nicely labelled. Every wire is labelled with its function (memory, +, ground, front speaker +, etc).

If you have questions, email me.

Neil Evans
--
1997 850 awd, m56 5 speed manual, 1989 740 GL, m47 5 speed

After reading one of your other posts in this thread, I realized I'd given you only partial information.

First, let me say that I ran into a similar circumstance. However, it had to do with fitting an after market radio to a 740. I previously owned a 1986 740 GLE, and the radio plug was the 9 pin version that you describe. I purchased the adapter, and the installation was pretty straight forward. Recently, I purchased a 1989 740 GL, and thought that the installation of the same after market radio would be a breeze, since I already had the adapter. Wrong. The TD 6141 for the 1989 model year uses the 14 pin adapter I described in my earlier post.

So, my guess is that you need an adapter to go from 9 pin to (2) 14 pin blocks. Again, I'd suggest you make a call to Metra. They were very helpful.

Good luck.

Neil
--
1997 850 awd, m56 5 speed manual, 1989 740 GL, m47 5 speed

Oh, and if it helps, they list the adapter you need for a 240 series (i have the metra catalog at work) The partnumber you actually need is 70-1120 (trust me, I have the bag from mine right infront of me) You should be able to order it from a local autozone store, or a circuit city store... (or other metra dealer)... Other than that, mine is exactly the way it's described earlier with the two connectors, one by the radio, other by the amp... (you'll have to remove the knee-bolster piece from under the steering column, aswell as the metal reinforcement under it to access the amp)

Cliff Scott
89 740 16v

Just fitted a Kenwood CD/casette/radio unit in the Black Beast (soon to be renamed the `Black Hole`, see other post :o/ )
I got in your tangle fitting a CD to the Red Peril - no chance this time round, I came prepared with snips and 20 metres of speaker wire. In a nutshell, forget the original wiring and rewire from scratch, from the new unit to the exsisting speakers. The hardest part is threading the new wires through the door grommets, but that pales into insignificance compared to trying to trace your speaker wires, which change colour and thickness several times during their journey through the loom. Lift the side trim along each footwell (you`ll need a set of star keys) and run the new wires in those to each rear door. Run the wires to front speakers similarly if door speakers, or for in dash speakers, ping off the front part of the speaker grill (trust me :o) ) and under there you`ll find two spread clips for each speaker. Pop them our with a flat screwdriver, then lever that edge of the speker grill up, and the whole thing will come out (the front edge has a little spring clip that grips it to the hole in the dash.)
Pull the spades off the speakers and bare and twist your new wires, tuck one into each female spade and replace on speaker, then drop the new wire down through the speaker hole, find it underneath then take it through to the back of the unit. Replace the speaker only when you`re happy with the sound (wrong way round (ie, + & - reversed) will give a "thinner" sound). Connect to the rears in a different way: undo top and bottom screws on the B-post trim, and the trim will ping off some clips with a bit of force. You`ll see a cover half way up where the wires dissapear and go into the grommet. Take the cover off, and you`ll find a multipin. Check which wires are your speakers with a voltmeter, then cut and splice into these two wires BEFORE the loom enters the cover. This saves p*ssf*rting around poking the wires through the grommet. Then replace the cover, and the trim. Leave the OEM wiring intact, it won`t hurt anything, or cut the OEM wires at the speakers - up to you.
Then simply cut and splice your new wires into the new units wiring. Connect an earth and live(s) where you like (I do mine so the units always live and doesn`t need the ignition on) and the auto arial if you want.
Approx 2 hours start to finish, with obligatory Brit tea and smoke breaks ;o)
Have fun.

Sinbad

The wiring harness from the OEM radio go to plugs & an external amp located below the steering wheel. You bypass the external amp when you install a new reciever. Remove the plastic panel under the wheel and you'll see where they go.

I upgraded the radio in my '89 745 and got the whole deal from Crutchfield. They sent the new radio along with new wiring harnesses and instructions on what wires to splice where. Unfortunately I no longer have said instructions, but if you call them up (1-888-955-6000) I'll bet you could order the harness & instructions. Or return the unit you have and re-order from Crutchfield. No, I don't work for them, but in terms of value & service you simply can't do better when it comes to car audio.

jeff daigle
'89 745GL 135,000mi

Okay, i found the thing, but I am still kind of messed up. The original radio had the connectors (Long black plastic boxes) that connected on the bottom side of the radio. I hadn't turned it over to look. Problem is, "new" radio has 9 wires and the usual type wiring harness plug you see with after market radios. Both radios are labeled TD6141, so I am a little confused. It looks like a splice job to the original connectors -*but*- here is my problem:

Coming from the old radio are:
1 yellow wire
1 green
1 black
1 red
1 green/orange striped
1 black and 1 yellow/black striped, both going into the same connection.

Coming from "new" radio are:
1 yellow (has been cut)
1 brown (to a spade-type connector)
1 orange and 1 black going to two-prong connection
1 red
1 blue
1 gray
1 green
1 black.

Now, obviously I not only have too many wires, but some colors don't match.

Can any wiring-savvy person help me firgure out what to splice?

Thank you,
Dean

I've gotten so much help and information that I am thoroughly confused now, since so much of it conflicts. I've been to web sites, too. Not much out there.

I have a red, a blue, a gray, a green and a black wire to connect to a 1990 740 wiring connector (from car) (long black) that has a white wire, a red and green striped wire, an orange wire, a yellow and white striped wire, a blue wire, a black wire and a green and gray striped wire.

I have made a color representation in jpeg format if anyone wants to see it. I can send it. I wouldn't be so worried, except someone wrote me that I could fry my voltage regulator, or worse, if I do this wrong. If the tuner weren't acting up on my present radio I'd never be doing this at all. If I could find just the right replacement, I'd slip it right in.

See, the radio wiring on present (1990)radio is a green and yellow stripe, a yellow and black stripe, a yellow, a green, a black and a red.

If I could just figure, for certain, that the red wire, on "new radio" attached to red and green striped wire, and what wire of the blue, gray, or green on the "new radio" attaches to the Orange wire on car wiring, I think I'd be almost there. Or would I? I don't know when I have been so frustrated. An entirely new radio setup with modern equipment is not what I want. I have the working EQ for this one, it fits the console, looks right and I have (another FM Mod CD changer coming to hook into it soon. Do not buy anything from Return Buy, by the way.)

If there was somewhere to go show it to someone who could just say, oh sure, do this and that, I'd do it. But there isn't, so I'm back here again. Thanks for help offered by so many. Which response is right?

Wow.... Volvos.... love 'em/hate 'em.
Dean

If you just want a stock radio, I'd just get one from a newer model (1989+)... heck, i have my old 6141 sitting on the shelf in the garage.... You wouldn't believe the improvement you get by putting an aftermarket radio in... (the Audiovox that i have sounds TONS better, just imagine what a *good* one could do)

Cliff Scott
89 740 16v

Hey, 740 man again. The 1 orange and 1 black to a spade connector???? That sounds suspcicously like the leads that go to my cigarette lighter!!!! Could these be integrated into the stereo Harness??? also I would bet that the green wire on the old radio is for your antenna. the green/orange -black/yellow striped maybe go your amp which on mine seems to be mounted under the drivers dash. the speaker leads will come out from there. Somehow seems to me that they gave you the wrong harness, although the colors you stated for the new radio match my '86 740.
Now that I think of it, it makes sense. I think the cig lighter and radio are on the same fuse. (only work with ign. on) so, there is a branch off of the power wire that goes to the cig lighter. The new radio harness you got is probably for a little older 740 like mine.

Just finished untangleng this mess in my '86 740
The red is 12 volt power
The yellow is clock memory
The blue is electric antenna.
The black is ground.
the green and grey are speakers
I'm not real sure but I think the green orange and black yellow
may go off to the factory amp.
Now your original wires dont seem to match this. Pull of your drivers side panel and find the connectors. On mine the funtion of the wire is actually printed on the wire where the connectors are. If you have a digital multimeter, you can test the red wire to see that it only gets 12 volts when the ignition is on. That is your stereo Power. Check the yellow wire to see if it has a continuous 12 volts for the clock memory. Make sure to double check the fuses if you don't get a reading.
Use the black as a ground for your multimeter tests to see if it is a good ground.
Once you have all these, you just need to wire the speakers.

when i took my radio out, it was a mess. i don't recall the model. there is no harness, the only plugs go in at the rear of the radio and you pull it out of the radio itself.
--
Kenric Tam
1990 Volvo 740 base sedan (B230F)
My Volvo 'Project'