To all, who loves SAAB and who several times kept soldering-iron in the hand, I’ll show the easiest way to connect your mp3-player to SAAB sound system. I’ve tried to use FM-transmitter, but sound quality was poor and with radio distortions. TAPE-adapter annoyed with mechanical noise.
My vehicle is SAAB 9-5 ’98, AS2/Premium, so all written in this manual should be true just for MY 1998-2005 AS2/Premium sound system.
On the NET I’ve found three ways for SAAB:
1. To use CD-changer input (this method mismatch, because no CD-changer on AS2).
2. To use TAPE input, making a full of tapes logic.
http://82.182.142.23/saabradio/index.htm. I’ve tried this method, but sound level was low, lost bass.
3. To use TELEPHONE input. This input is MONO, but sharp-eyed people found, that MONO signal goes to the STEREO tract!
http://gatoalfa.calipso.com.co/radioMod/contrib/Saab-radio-mod-AHS.pdf
The winner was 3-th method. I’ve applied idea for AS2 sound system. Now I’m satisfied with good sound quality stereo and spreading of my experience. Attention! USE THIS METHOD AT YOUR OWN RISK!
It is my radio.
Unscrew 4 screws from radio face panel.
Remove face panel.
Release ribbon cable.
Remove the top cover of the CD player module.
Unscrew 4 screws and remove CD player module with ribbon cable.
Release second ribbon cable, disconnect black shielded cable and unscrew marked screw to release shield.
The CD module box is secured by three screws. Unscrew them.
Unscrew the tape player module (4 more screws). The little vertical board on the right side of the module is plugged into the main board. Unplug it with care.
Unscrew 2 screws on the backside of the radio, release ribbon cable from PCB. That PCB is one of two boards, we interest on.
Solder two cables to the 2 pins as shown in picture. One of the pins is TEL-MUTE, second- GND. To activate MP3 input that two pins should be connected together by switch.
The last and common step is to connect audio input cable to the main board.
Unscrew 2 screws, marked in the left side of picture by 2 red arrows. Unscrew 3 screws and unbend 2 fixers on the main board. Now you can carefully remove the board.
We can use shielded audio cable with 3.5mm or 2.5mm (depends on your mp3 player) jack at the end.
Solder that cable as shown in the picture. Before solder the shield of the cable, remove varnish from the little place of board.
Re-assemble the stereo again. Don’t forget connect all cables back! Ones I’ve did that mistakeJ.
Now chuck the cat and keep one’s fingers crossed!
Go to your car, connect the AS2 and make sure that RADIO, CD, TAPE works properly. Than turn switch to position ON to select mp3 source. SID shows “ TELEPHONE ”, and music from CD, TAPE or RADIO goes to mute. Simply connect audio jack to mp3 player and test sound quality. Job is complete, congrats, applause!
P. S. TELEPHONE and RADIO input signals in AS2 are “married” together. They both goes to the same input on the audio processor. That explains strange things what I found: if you connect mp3 player to audio input when the RADIO (not CD or TAPE!) source selected and switch is in position OFF, then RADIO sound volume little bit decrease. After you turn mp3 player to play, the RADIO sound automatic mutes at all and mp3 music sounds in the car. In this case switch is not necessary. Just remember that mp3 can play just when RADIO is selected. When you play RADIO, don’t forget disconnect mp3 player, because it decrease RADIO source sound volume.
Good luck.
P. P. S. Sorry for my English, I hope you’ve understood my postJ.
Thanks !