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    New headunit, no sound

    I am trying to put some sound in the wagon and am having some trouble.
    First off the harness had the wiring for power in the wrong places, I fixed that. Next is that I have no sound when I hook up the radio.
    I have seen something about bypassing the "Premium Sound" amp but can't find it now.
    Can I use the factory amp or bypass it?

    Any help to get me back on the road would be greatly appreciated, I am sick of using the stock radio at this point and the reception is horrible with the dead antenna so I'd like to use my CDs and digital media stuff now.
    1989 Country Squire - Twilight Blue, 347 stroker


    2005 Crown Victoria Sport - Black - Stainless Works full exhaust with Borla Pro XS mufflers, BBK 75mm TB, Accufab plenum, CVPI airbox, Heinous control arms, etc...

    #2
    When I installed a new headunit in mine, I had new wire ran from the head unit to the speakers. If it's the same amp mine had, It uses a common ground from the head unit to the amp, then a + and - to each speaker from there.
    1990 MGM: $50 E7 heads, HO cam, Holley SysteMAX lower intake, HO upper intake with an Explorer TB. LSC ECM. Lincoln logs into stock dual exhaust. K&N drop in air filter. Wide ratio AOD, 2400 converter with a 3.08 one tire fire out back. Car is less slow now. Then there's the '92 Beater. Dual 2.25" exhaust with shiny tips. Rumbles nice. Super slow. Burns oil too.

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      #3
      Can you use the amp turn on from a new headunit to use the amp?
      1989 Country Squire - Twilight Blue, 347 stroker


      2005 Crown Victoria Sport - Black - Stainless Works full exhaust with Borla Pro XS mufflers, BBK 75mm TB, Accufab plenum, CVPI airbox, Heinous control arms, etc...

      Comment


        #4
        If you have the standard premium sound football amp, you need to re-wire the speakers. Its pretty easy on a wagon.

        1981 Mercury Marquis Brougham 2-Door 302/ 5-speed -special blend (GMGT)
        1987 Lincoln Mark VII 5-speed (Errand runner)
        1989 Mercury Grand Marquis (Base Runner)
        2007 Lincoln Town Car Signature Limited (Hustlyn)
        2011 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (Down with O.P.P)

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          #5
          I'm gonna guess and say yes, assuming the stock amp turn on doesn't draw too much current.

          I think all that stock amp is, is a regular amp with high level inputs. Rated output is about 20W/ch. I think.

          Seems like if you had a wiring diagram, you could use it with your new headunit. But your new headunit probably has the same rated output as your old premium sound amp. Whether or not one will sound better or go louder than the other is a question to me.

          I'm sure others will chime in with more detailed info. Maybe even a wire diagram.
          1990 MGM: $50 E7 heads, HO cam, Holley SysteMAX lower intake, HO upper intake with an Explorer TB. LSC ECM. Lincoln logs into stock dual exhaust. K&N drop in air filter. Wide ratio AOD, 2400 converter with a 3.08 one tire fire out back. Car is less slow now. Then there's the '92 Beater. Dual 2.25" exhaust with shiny tips. Rumbles nice. Super slow. Burns oil too.

          Comment


            #6
            You can integrate the stock amp only, if its the square black box looking one. Being an '89, it will have to be checked.

            1981 Mercury Marquis Brougham 2-Door 302/ 5-speed -special blend (GMGT)
            1987 Lincoln Mark VII 5-speed (Errand runner)
            1989 Mercury Grand Marquis (Base Runner)
            2007 Lincoln Town Car Signature Limited (Hustlyn)
            2011 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (Down with O.P.P)

            Comment


              #7
              I have the wiring book, looks like I've got some wiring to do.

              What I found odd when messing with it today is that there are ground wires from the main stereo plug to wherever but there is a short plug between that and the radio that has just 1 ground on it and 4 positive wires. It has 5 wires and the main harness has 8, I just don't get it.
              Last edited by BlackVic_P71; 03-19-2014, 09:44 PM.
              1989 Country Squire - Twilight Blue, 347 stroker


              2005 Crown Victoria Sport - Black - Stainless Works full exhaust with Borla Pro XS mufflers, BBK 75mm TB, Accufab plenum, CVPI airbox, Heinous control arms, etc...

              Comment


                #8
                Ford Premium Sound was a weird beast.

                Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. -- Albert Einstein
                rides: 93 Crown Vic LX (The Red Velvet Cake), 2000 Crown Vic base model (Sandy), 2003 Expedition (the vacation beast)
                Originally posted by gadget73
                ... and it should all work like magic and unicorns and stuff.
                Originally posted by dmccaig
                Overhead, some poor bastards are flying in airplanes.

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                  #9
                  Originally posted by sly View Post
                  Ford Premium Sound was a weird beast.
                  Not to be confused with the Beast with two backs.

                  Sent from my XT557 using Tapatalk 2
                  ,
                  Slicktop '91 GS HO 4.30 rear. '82 Mark VI Tudor HO, '90 F-150 XLT, '62 project Heep, '89 Arizona Waggin' and '88 donor in PA, getting combined.

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                    #10
                    Originally posted by sxcpotatoes View Post
                    Not to be confused with the Beast with two backs.

                    Sent from my XT557 using Tapatalk 2
                    I like the Shakespeare Othello reference. Well done.

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                      #11
                      Originally posted by BlackVic_P71 View Post
                      What I found odd when messing with it today is that there are ground wires from the main stereo plug to wherever but there is a short plug between that and the radio that has just 1 ground on it and 4 positive wires. It has 5 wires and the main harness has 8, I just don't get it.
                      That is the stupid 'common ground' you may have heard reference of.
                      The new head unit is plenty more powerful than the factory amp, I would just run new wires to your speakers direct from the head unit.
                      Pete ::::>>> resident LED addict and CFI defector LED bulb replacements
                      'LTD HPP' 85 Vic (my rusty baby) '06 Honda Reflex 250cc 'Baileys' 91 Vic (faded cream puff) ClifFord 'ODB' 88 P72 (SOLD) '77 LTDII (RIP)
                      sigpic
                      85HPP's most noteworthy mods: CFI to SEFI conversion w/HO upperstuff headers & flowmasters P71 airbox Towncar seats LED dash light-show center console w/5 gauge package LED 3rd brake light 3G alternator mini starter washer/coolant bottle upgrade Towncar power trunk pull underhood fuse/relay box 16" HPP wheels - police swaybars w/poly rubbers - budget Alpine driven 10 speaker stereo

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                        #12
                        They make an adapter harness to bypass the amp. I had one in the trunk of my Mark VII for the amp end.


                        '93 T-bird
                        '03 Silverado ECSB

                        Missed:
                        '88 Mark VII
                        '86 CV

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                          #13
                          I have a sedan bought two harness adapters made for premium sound neither was the one I needed. So just ran new power ground and speaker wire, old school. I must say the sound from a 50wx4 deck with matched speakers sounds so much better than "premium sound" ever could. I don't even have an external amp or sub. Very pleased with results.
                          .
                          1989 crown Vic daily driver 165k and counting!
                          1987 MGM 49xxx mi awaiting light resto

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                            #14
                            Originally posted by purplebomb302 View Post
                            They make an adapter harness to bypass the amp. I had one in the trunk of my Mark VII for the amp end.
                            The adapters that I've seen don't appear correct or should I say, I don't want to take the chance that they are incorrect. I've bought stuff that is supposed to fit and then it turns out there are like 3 options for the same thing and I get the wrong one, it's simpler if I can just do it myself.
                            1989 Country Squire - Twilight Blue, 347 stroker


                            2005 Crown Victoria Sport - Black - Stainless Works full exhaust with Borla Pro XS mufflers, BBK 75mm TB, Accufab plenum, CVPI airbox, Heinous control arms, etc...

                            Comment


                              #15
                              This past weekend I rewired the speakers and it's working, I bought an adapter to replace the car side of the stereo harness for the speakers and ran the wiring using that.
                              All factory connectors are still in place so if I ever car to go back to stock I can with ease.
                              1989 Country Squire - Twilight Blue, 347 stroker


                              2005 Crown Victoria Sport - Black - Stainless Works full exhaust with Borla Pro XS mufflers, BBK 75mm TB, Accufab plenum, CVPI airbox, Heinous control arms, etc...

                              Comment

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