Yes, this is my first post, main reason? I don't own a volvo, this is for my little brother's S90 (1998). He currently has his iPod hooked up via the antenna, its not a FM modulator (my dad was adamant about that) but something else to do with modifying the FM (don't ask). Anyways, recently whenever a song has lots of 'S' in it, there is lots of static SO I wanted to correctly hook up the iPod via the cd changer din on the back. I did it on my Acura Legend without a problem, but that was with a 6-pin din connector on the back, while I just found out the Volvo has a 8-pin mini din.

I did lots of research before posting this, I mean I have been researching for at least a week, and everyone says go the USA Spec PA11-VOL, but that is $130 the cheapest I have found, and for 2 broke college students, that doesn't sit well. the other thing, my brother would prefer the audio to come out the 3.5mm headphone jack rather than the dock port on the bottom. I would like to just make my own plug like I did for my car, but I'm finding it hard to find a pin out for it.

So, the question is, do I have to go with PA11-VOL to do this, or has anyone had success in creating their own custom plug?

So, I'm guessing nobody has been able to do this w/o the use of a PA11-VOL?

Well then, can someone link me to the cheapest place to get it, and also the one I need to get. The car is a 1998 S90, it has cassette, cd player, and optional 6-disc.

The sound out of the dock port is a non amplified signal and better for sound quality. You also run the high risk of damaging any adapter's inputs using the headphone jack output.

Price wise you could do a Blitzsafe adapter, they seem to go for around the 70ish range.
130 is fair for the USA-Spec adapter. Contact Crutchfield or IPD usa for more adapter information. If memory serves me you need the additional cd changer cable with pre 2000 Volvo model years which is approximately 35ish.

My preference is for the PA-11, which is what I have on my car, but another brand should work, and no, I have not heard of a successful DIYself adapter made through the
DIN plug. People have added it by bypassing the tape deck inputs, but that seems kinda Ghetto to me. The pin out is on the forum somewhere, do a search. Good luck.

so you're looking at more like $165 before tax for the ipod hook up since you not only have to buy the USA spec PA11-VOL, but also an adapter since the radio is pre-2000....ouch.

and the tape deck mod wouldn't be easy on his car since the unit has the cd player on top of the tape deck, the ones mentioned are more like my friends 850 (?) radio where it just has a cassette deck.

The blitzsafe adapter goes into RCA correct? then we can just use a rca to 3.5mm (or 1/8" as people like to call it)?

[QUOTE]
The blitzsafe adapter goes into RCA correct? then we can just use a rca to 3.5mm (or 1/8" as people like to call it)?[/QUOTE]
Yes if you are just talking about the auxiliary input adapter and not the ipod specific adapter. After further review the Blitzsafe ipod specific adapter seems incompatible with your S90 model.
[/QUOTE]so you're looking at more like $165 before tax for the ipod hook up since you not only have to buy the USA spec PA11-VOL, but also an adapter since the radio is pre-2000....ouch.[QUOTE]
Agree with your statement.

wanted to follow up. I was up at circuit city yesterday since they were the only ones who carry the blitzsafe adapter (or so the website said), when I was told they have never heard of it and tried to push a $150 unit (not the usa-spec).

I look up and what do I see....6 Usa-spec units with a price of $9.99. I look at the boxes and they look super dusty and I ask the audio guy about it, he states, "those have been here since I started here 2 years ago, I have NEVER seen anyone buy one." so I told him I'd take the lot (knowing that they go for $100 from online stores). big time score there, going to vendor them off on ebay or craigslist, unfortunately only 1 was a pa11 hon, the other 5 were VW, GM, and BMW.

they also didn't have the volvo adapter, but since I was able to snag those 6 for $65 after tax and can turn a profit of almost $500, I figure we can fork out another $25 for the adapter cable :).

I tried every other circuit city in town for some more "big score" and nobody had them, maybe someone else might have some luck in another town, just a heads up. one of the stores' audio guy said that 6 months ago "they" had clearanced theirs out, at usa-spec's request, to $5 each and not one of them sold so they shipped them back to usa-spec.




NOW, where is the best place to mount the box? I was thinking somewhere easily accessible for the other RCA jack, like glove box or center console.

Here's what I did for my S90.
I went on ebay and bought the iPod interface which tricks the stock radio into thinking the ipod is a CD changer. Just follow the directions and it works great. You control the volume with your radio. It even charges the ipod for 20 minutes after you turn off the car!
Works with my old monochrome ipod and my new 160gig classic. And costs under $70.
I found one on ebay for your perusal.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1998-VOLVO-...sspagenameZWD1V
If it doesn't work do a search on ebay 'volvo s90 ipod'
(IMG:http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3125/2833071540_97e300f4f9.jpg)


Good luck.....