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Topic: Got a new radio...wiring is messing with my head. Blew more than a fuse... (Read 4842 times) previous topic - next topic

Got a new radio...wiring is messing with my head. Blew more than a fuse...

I managed to get it to turn on, but I can't get anything to play through the speakers. There's 2 wires plus the red wire with the loop that aren't used... I'm really confused, I already blew the fuse for the radio, amp, etc. Someone help me! I still want to use the amp, the head unit is a cheap one, and doesn't have a lot of power and it was free...soo, I want to get something out of it.

I just need to know how to wire it up so I can make it work! I got a sheet on what the wires from the car do... Help me! I'm so lost!

87 ls with premium sound, no eq, eq was on the radio.


I went out to replace the fuse, and it did nothing, the clock and radio still don't work...I'm ****ing pissed. I hate this car.

Re: Got a new radio...wiring is messing with my head. Blew more than a fuse...

Reply #1 –
Quote
he head unit is a cheap one, and doesn't have a lot of power and it was free


There's the problem.  Have you ever seen it working? Cheap decks... you get what you pay for.

Re: Got a new radio...wiring is messing with my head. Blew more than a fuse...

Reply #2 –
It works...that's not the problem, I had it turned on and it was tuned to a station and the visual EQ was boucning around... I just don't get why I can't get audio...There's a blue wire from the head unit used as a remote to turn on an external amp, is this why i'm not getting music? no power is going to the amp in the trunk?

Re: Got a new radio...wiring is messing with my head. Blew more than a fuse...

Reply #3 –
Tell us how your speakers are set up.  If you're trying to use the factory amp then there's part of the problem, I think.  If it's an aftermarket amp then yes, the blue remot turnon wire needs connected to the amp.

Re: Got a new radio...wiring is messing with my head. Blew more than a fuse...

Reply #4 –
It's setup with the factory amp... God this went from a 1 hours thing to an all day project....

Re: Got a new radio...wiring is messing with my head. Blew more than a fuse...

Reply #5 –
Factory amps do not play friendly with aftermarket decks without a special harness.  There's your problem.  Just hard-wire the audio outputs on the deck into each of the speakers or get a bypass harness.

Re: Got a new radio...wiring is messing with my head. Blew more than a fuse...

Reply #6 –
Wait, so you're telling me I have to re wire my entire system? This is bullshiznit.

Re: Got a new radio...wiring is messing with my head. Blew more than a fuse...

Reply #7 –
Alright, is anyone going to provide me with any help that actually helps me? Hard wire each output to each speaker tells me nothing. I don't have the time or parts to rewire the entire  car.
I see 2 harnesses on the amp, i'm assuming one is input and the other is output and some power wires thrown in? I don't want to rewire my entire friggin car. This is only a temp head unit until I get the money got a better one and new speakers.

Isn't there some way to get the amp to work?! This radio doesn't put out enough power!


Power is hooked up. I have 3 extra wires, i'm assuming these are for the amp?

Re: Got a new radio...wiring is messing with my head. Blew more than a fuse...

Reply #8 –
Listen to what I said.  On the back of the deck there are eight speaker wires, two for each speaker.  ONE option is to connect each pair of those to it's respective speaker. That, by the way is NOT rewiring your whole car.  The other option is to buy the bypass harness or manually bypass the factory amp.  If you don't feel like cutting and splicing any wires then you might as well plan on driving in silence for a while because there's no other way to get around it.  If you're not keen on simple wiring tasks then you shouldn't be installing a used head unit into a car with premium audio.

Now, someone else respond with the magical answer that actually helps.  You seem to be getting awfully pissy over a cheap head unit.

PS - I don't know that there's a way to make the factory amp work. I'm pretty sure the outbput power of the deck, albeit very low, is still too high for the amp.  In other words, the deck already has an amp in it, running it through another amp won't do too much, if anything.

Re: Got a new radio...wiring is messing with my head. Blew more than a fuse...

Reply #9 –
I still don't understand what you are trying to say that's why you're not helping me. Yes, I got the wires coming out of the deck. But where do I connect them to. The harness in the dash or what? If you mean, connecting to each speaker, from deck to speaker, won't that require rewiring? cause the wires go from the deck to the trunk and to the speakers...or am i wrong?

If I used the preamp outs would I be able to use the amp if I was able to wire it to work?

Re: Got a new radio...wiring is messing with my head. Blew more than a fuse...

Reply #10 –
If you can't figure out how to install a headunit, no wonder you have a hard time doing basic tune up work.

I'm gonna let you in on a little secret for not blowing fuses. DON'T TOUCH THE RED OR YELLOW WIRES TO THE METAL.

Re: Got a new radio...wiring is messing with my head. Blew more than a fuse...

Reply #11 –
Can someone just tell me how to ****ing do this? I have yet to get any help that has actually helped me. I do not understand how the hell I can bypass the amp manually without know how to do it. What wires do I cut and connect? this is what I want to know. I know how to splice and connect wires i'm not stupid. It's just theres so many  wires and I've already blown a lot of fuses from connecting the wrong ones.

I can't and will not send wires from each speaker to the head unit because it's not worth it and the  wires are already there!

Re: Got a new radio...wiring is messing with my head. Blew more than a fuse...

Reply #12 –
Maybe ThunderChicken will chime in as he's well versed in this area.  I can't think of another way to put it, so I'm done trying to help.

Re: Got a new radio...wiring is messing with my head. Blew more than a fuse...

Reply #13 –
The red wire with the loop is your ground wire. Obviously you'll need to attach it. It's been reported that all cars with the factory Premium Sound setup also have a spare, pre-bypassed radio harness laying behind the dash somewhere. Personally I've never seen it...then again, I've never looked for it either. But many people have told me it's there, so start hunting behind the radio, or above the radio (remove your storage bin), or look over between the radio and the glove box. When/if you find it, you can use any of the aftermarket Ford wiring adapter harnesses at the local stereo store (or Wal*Mart) for $10 US, and wire your radio into that. This will get your aftermarket radio working with your stock speakers, while bypassing the factory amp. If you want to run your own amp, you will need to run new wiring throughout the vehicle, plain and simple.

You have two choices with the factory Premium Sound setup: get jumper harnesses and use your stock amp, or bypass it and use your own amps. Since you are bypassing this you cannot mix the stock amps in with your amps...it's one or the other.

Re: Got a new radio...wiring is messing with my head. Blew more than a fuse...

Reply #14 –
also...how much power do you think the stock amps are putting out? they are trash.

what did ya do, cut the factory connector off?

i would get the 10 dollar ford connector and run new wires. its realy easy and not a big deal at all. it would have been half the trouble you have allready gone through. its realy not worth messing around with the stock stuff. most aftermarket radios dont work well with a common ground anyway. use the power, switched power and ground from the harness and run speakerwires from the new harness to each speaker. it beats having nothing like you do now.

first thing...disconnect the  battery if you havnt been doing this.


if you realy want to mess around with the stock wireing...5 wires for the speakers, common ground leaving the radio into the amp and then from there each speaker has its own ground. i have the schematics for an 88 if you can use them.
:america: 1988 Thunderbird Sport, Former 4.6 DOHC T56 conversion project.

Rest of the country, Welcome to Massachusettes. Enjoy your stay.

 
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