I have just had installed the Volvo Ipod adapter to the HU-650 radio in my Volvo S60, and to my big and unpleasant surprise I found out that it DISABLES not only the navigation wheel on the Ipod but also the Ipod display so you can NOT see what you are listening to - NOR use the regular Ipod menu!

Dismay! Instead of letting you enjoy all the wonderful Ipod features it displays a "Safe to disconnect" message - sometimes along with a Volvo logo.

The only way Volvo want you to control the Ipod is through the car radio navigation: Step back. Step forward.

If you have loaded 4000 songs into your 5th generation 60 Gb Ipod it will take you quite a while to get to song #3892.

And the news gets even "better" from the Swedish nanny state minders:

There is NO way you can access your Podcasts unless you add them to a play list named with a number from 1 to 9.

Congratulations Volvo, so much for understanding Ipod users and their needs and this wonderful little audio tool. This is a grave example of misunderstood Swedish paternalism apparently in the name of "car safety". Come on, this is just too far out. What's next? To disable the monitor of the car navigation while driving?! Or disabling your mobile phone, its keypad and display.

And the news bets even "better" yet: Once you have managed to get all the way to song # 3892 and you stop at a filling station for gas, Volvo makes sure to start all over from song #1 in your Ipod once you turn the ignition again... Really a great feature, Volvo!

However I have realized a work around hack / crack that works at least on my 5th Generation video Ipod on how to take control of your Ipod back from Volvo.

1. Turn off your Ipod by pressing and holding the "play" button for three seconds until the screen turns off.
2. Turn the ignition and start your Volvo.
3. Put your Volvo radio (in my car a HU-650) on any source but NOT the "CD Changer", i.e. FM or AM.
4. Connect your Ipod while quickly pressing "menu" twice - must be very quickly, even quicker that double clicking a computer mouse button.
5. Turn the radio to "CD Changer" and off you go.

With a little luck you should now have taken back the control of your Ipod from Volvo. Display back on. Full control of the menu and the Ipod navigation wheel.

There is only two downsides:
1. You can not pause on the Ipod.
2. You can not fast forward on the steering wheel buttons nor radio buttons.

But you have access to ALL your play lists AND your Podcasts.

If anyone will find a permanent way to solve this problem - i.e. by identifying which connections in the Ipod plug to "pacify" in order to get sound through to the CD Changer input but avoiding Volvo taking full control of your Ipod without this hack I will personally send a reward!

Regards,
The Viking

Hi Viking

How did you figure out the hack?

Is it a HU-650 problem only or does it affect all models?

Harman Kardon Drive Play is made specially for connecting IPod to car stereo. The good thing is it maintains the look and feel of the IPod on your dash mount and you can hide the ipod in your glove box.

I got mine fitted recently. I am loving it.

As I only have a tape/radio deck I purchased one of those tape adaptors that goes into the tape slot and lead connected to ipod (where headphones go) and ran it from that. Sorted

I just got my Volvo Ipod Adapter today. Part # 8640100 (made in China). First Volvo part I could see made out of Scandinavia/EU.

It works fine on my 1999 S80 with HU-801 stereo. I can pause, skip tracks, control volume from steering wheel etc. just as advertised.

My Ipod is the 30gb Video Ipod V 1.1 MA146X/A

I turn the ignition off then re-start.

It plays from the exact spot where it left off. It does not reset to the 1st song.

I'm very interested in this. I looked at the USA Spec PA11 and might go that route. None of the local car audio installers carry it but one shop offered to install it for me if I brought it to them.

I'd very much like to go with the "factory" authorized solution but I won't give up direct control of the ipod. I like the fact it has a color screen & either I or my passenger could see the names of the albums, songs, podcast info, etc. I'm not going to bother with it if I have to jump through hoops to get back direct control either; so while the work around is nice it's still not for me.

I spoke with a Volvo rep at the Chicago Auto Show and they weren't helpful. Apparently they think their current adapter that shuts off the direct control is perfect just the way it is.

I had a Kensington FM transmitter but it recently went "bad" by causing a hiss/static noise on words in a song that begin with "S"; as in some part of the transmitter is unhappy with certain frequencies. Too bad, because the transmitter hooked up via the dock & kept my ipod charged.

Looks like a tape deck adapter is the next best choice. Apparently Sony's is one of the better ones.

I just ordered an ipod adapter for my 2002 volvo s60, and had a buddy put it in. I can use the ipod to control everything and it works great!
www.crutchfield.com

First, thanks to Viking for discovering and posting the really helpful "cheat" on how to take back control of your iPod. I only want to confirm to readers that this really does work and it is easy to do. (It is not a case of having to "jump through hoops" as someone commented in this forum.)

And the sound quality of the direct connection is terrific. I played around with an FM transmitter but was really dissatisfied with the quality.

And, by the way, I am able to fast forward using the controls on my radio. If I need to pause, I just turn the radio off, which automatically pauses the iPod.

Great find Viking! Thanks for sharing this :gunsmilie:

I suspect the purpose of Volvo taking over control of the ipod is for safety reasons. It may be unsafe to take your eyes of the road to fiddle with or to admire the ipod while driving. A lot of accidents are caused by driver inattention. I prefer the interior styling to be seamless and not be protruded by any cellphone or ipod caddy, hence the ipod belongs inside the centre console unseen.

Viking, one note...I suspect that the Ipod is not charging when you use this method. But that is not really a big deal to have control over your playlists.

Cheers

Hi there

First of all a big thanks to the_viking for posting this instructions on how to alternatively handle the iPod. It works and I can control everything either from my iPod, my car stereo or from the steering wheel controls (including the remote control). The big advantage is that I don't need to handle playlists, I can search on the iPod for artists or songs or albums I'd like to listen. Great!

One question for that reason. I integrated the original Volvo iPod interface. The mechanic put the power lead to a non switched fuse which means that I cannot leave the car until I unplug the iPod and then stop it by holding down the play/pause button for more than 3 seconds.

Does anybody know how to attach the iPod so that when I power down the car the iPod also stops playing and goes automatically standby. Is there any way to shut the iPod down without manually intervention.

In addition does somebody have expirience with iPod docking station which fits to my V70 or does anybody know where to find a docking station to attach to the middle console.

I still don't get why anyone would want to control an Ipod while driving. If there is any sequence preference or favorite tracks, I first organise them in a playlists while the Ipod is connected to the computer. I can have up to 9 playlist, one of which is a very shortlist of my favorite music so that I don't have to spend too much time searching for them. Playlist # 10 plays every track on your Ipod and you can shuffle those.

When you stop you car and turn your ignition off or turn off the power to your stereo, the OEM Volvo Ipod adapter should pause at that position currently playing. Any signal between the adapter and Ipod will cease. My understanding is that Ipods turn themselves off after about 2 mins of inactivity. When the stereo is turned on or when the car starts again it should start at the same position where you left off.

I'll be putting up the construction of my custom ipod housing in my S80 center console shortly which you should be able to get some ideas from for your V70. Hopefully they won't be that different apart.

I have just been to Halfords and they are going to call Volvo tomorrow to find out if there is a CD input or way of connecting the Harman Kardon to my V70 HU-803.
From the sounds of the discussion here I might be in luck, fingers crossed.
The only thing is where to put that display panel?

http://www.harmankardon.com/drive-1/default.aspx

Cheers