Printer Friendly Forum Posts - 91 Taurus Head Unit

HELP!!!

First off, it's a 91 Ford Taurus Sedan.

I got my mother a new head unit for her for xmas, however, I'm having some problems. Mind you, I have hooked up several stereos, and this has me somewhat stumped.

I took the stock head unit out. It has 2 plugs, and from looking up the # of the head unit, it's not the premium setup.

I got my harness, and pluged it into both harnesses after hooking up all the proper wires.

Only the front 4 speakers came on, not the back 2 in the rear deck.

However...

If I hook up pos to neg, and neg to pos on the rear speakers, they come on fine.

I noticed that it's only got 5 speaker wires coming out of the stock harness. I'm taking it the front left 2 are hooked together, and the front right 2 are hooked together. Also, it leads me to believe that all the speakers either share one ground, or one positive.

The question roughly is, is it supposed to be hooked up this way to work, or is something wrong? lol

Also, on the back of the back seat there are 2 electronic boxs. Are these amps for the car stereo, or not??

Thanks alot!!!

Jeremy

This vehicle is factory amplified. The amplifier uses 1 common ground for negative and 4 positive leads. You will have to either bypass the amp by running new leads to each speaker or get a harness to keep the amplifier activated. Metra is the only company I know that makes one, 70-1768.

Also, some (very few) of these cars had a jumper to the right of the radio opening to bypass the amp. If it does it will look like the main harness. Simply unplug the jumper and use the harness you have now. Again, this is rare.

Wow, thanks for the prompt reply. :)

I actually have the jumper harness, but where is this amp located???

Thanks!!!

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It should be in the trunk, next to the rear quarter panel behind the carpet.

Which side, drivers side or passenger side?

There are 2 electricle boxes right on the back seat mounted, I didn't know if that was those or not

If you can tell me what side, I would be happy. Pictures rock to. :)

Thanks!

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Sorry, drivers side.

tech460 wrote:

Sorry, drivers side.

Sweet!! I'll look into this.

Umm, any idea what the electronic boxes are on the back seat? I can get pictures if need. I'm at work now though.

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Assumption, one should be your illuminated entry module for your interior lights, and the other should be your rear brake sensor module.

tech460 wrote:

Assumption, one should be your illuminated entry module for your interior lights, and the other should be your rear brake sensor module.

Thanks meng!

If you have AIM, can you post it up here for me? Or , you can AIM me. My name is the same as this username. I wont be on AIM until after 4:15 or so though.

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Sorry, I don't have AIM. You can PM me if you want.

Well, if you have MSN or Yahoo, the name is the same on there for me.

If I have further problems, I'll be sure to post up here. :)

Thanks!

Jeremy

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WTF

Now that I look in the trunk w/ some light, it looks like there are 4 speakers in the rear deck. Perhaps it does have the premium sound, but w/ the sh*tty head unit??

In this photo, see the black box on the left? Is that the amp mounted on the back of the seat???

I found nada on the drivers side rear quarter panel. :(

Also, here are the factory harness plug wires.

[img]https://www.pennswoods.net/~jllowe/Pics/Ford%20Stereo/DSC00235%20(Small).JPG[/img]

[img]https://www.pennswoods.net/~jllowe/Pics/Ford%20Stereo/DSC00238%20(Small).JPG[/img]

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Hmm, pics wont show up for some reason.

Just copy and paste these links to your browser, or click em. :)

https://www.pennswoods.net/~jllowe/Pics/Ford%20Stereo/DSC00235%20(Small).JPG

https://www.pennswoods.net/~jllowe/Pics/Ford%20Stereo/DSC00238%20(Small).JPG

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Those links don't work. Why do you need to know where the amp is and why do you want to know what those modules are?

Well, that black box on the left doesn't fit the amp jumper I got...so I take it that it's not the amp??

Umm, I didn't find sh*t on the drivers side behind the panel, unless I wasn't looking good enough.

Here is a picture of the amp jumper I got, that came for a ford premium radio kit...is this not what I need? Or, is that black box really the amp, and I just dont have the right jumper??

Thanks!

Jeremy

What I think is the amp jumper I bought.

[img]https://www.pennswoods.net/~jllowe/Pics/Ford%20Stereo/DSC00244%20(Small).JPG[/img]

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tech460 wrote:

Those links don't work. Why do you need to know where the amp is and why do you want to know what those modules are?

sh*t, I know why those pics dont work. I'll fix them in a second.

I need to know where the amp is so I can use this jumper to by pass the amp, right??

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I can't find an edit button, so here are the 3 pictures again.

The stock wiring for the unit.

https://www.pennswoods.net/~jllowe/Pics/Ford%20Stereo/DSC00235.JPG

The boxes on the back seat...

https://www.pennswoods.net/~jllowe/Pics/Ford%20Stereo/DSC00238.JPG

And, the jumper amp harness I got that came w/ the ford premium wiring package. Perhaps this isnt' the one I need? Cause it doesn't fit this black box. Or, the black box isnt' the amp. HELP!!!

https://www.pennswoods.net/~jllowe/Pics/Ford%20Stereo/DSC00244.JPG

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You need to read my first reply very carefully. There is no such thing as an amp jumper for this vehicle. You cannot make 5 wires turn into eight. This is a common ground input amp that uses 5 wires, not 8 like newer Ford amps. Unless you find the jumper plug (which is rare) behind the radio, you have to run wires to each speaker, no choice. Post back if you still do not understand.

Okay, so looking for an amp is pointless for this car.

If anything, I want to look for a harness behind the radio. If there is one, what do I do to it?

Also, I only need the one harness for the power, ground, etc? I gotta run wires to all 8 speakers??? This doesn't make very much since to me. I'm sorry.

How would I wire up 8 speakers properly to a sterio that has 4 outs?

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Do you have a JBL sound system?

Sorry about this, but I just read what you first said 3 times.

Your saying, there may be a harness behind my deck for the wires. If so, would it be plugged into anything, or not? And it would be on the right side for sure, not the left???

Also, you mention this other harness to by pass the amp. Where can I buy it, do you have a link?? And, what is the amp for this car? Or, what would the amp by pass do? Plug into the harness behind the deck, and then the harness I have plugs into that??

Sorry for the stupid questions, and thank you very much.

Jeremy

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tech460 wrote:

Do you have a JBL sound system?

I dont' know if I do or not. :(

The car has 8 speakers in it. 2 in the front dash. 2 in the front doors. 2 in the rear deck, and 2 more in ther rear deck firing up into enclosures. I would guess to be little subs???

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The amp jumper will be to the right and snapped into a brace. It is connected to another harness. I doubt you will have it though as the sound system you have in the car is a JBL and you won't find jumper plugs for that one. Because it is a JBL system I would not bypass it unless the speakers are bad or you are willing to install an amp to power the factory woofers. As far as bypass harness I never mentioned they exist but what I did suggest is an integration harness which I strongly suggest now. It is a Metra piece and it is 70-1768.

Thanks

What is a integration harness, and where can I buy it? Also, what does it do, and where do I plug it? :)

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I did some research and found this. Is this what I need???

https://www.installer-data.com/item/display_item.php?it=70-1768

Also, can you explain how this will work?

Thank you!

Jeremy

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You will need this: https://www.crutchfield.com/S-4Ai6YUb1y1z/cgi-bin/prodview.asp?i=142C4FDK5&s=0&cc=01u The $50 price is kind of steep so you might try to find it somewhere else on the net. It will let your mom keep the factory amp and subwoofers working with her new CD player.

Never mind that box that I mentioned above. I think you will just need this wiring harness https://www.crutchfield.com/S-4Ai6YUb1y1z/cgi-bin/prodview.asp?i=120705002&s=0&cc=01

customsuburb wrote:

You will need this: https://www.crutchfield.com/S-4Ai6YUb1y1z/cgi-bin/prodview.asp?i=142C4FDK5&s=0&cc=01u The $50 price is kind of steep so you might try to find it somewhere else on the net. It will let your mom keep the factory amp and subwoofers working with her new CD player.

No, mine doens't have a squre plug.

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customsuburb wrote:

Never mind that box that I mentioned above. I think you will just need this wiring harness https://www.crutchfield.com/S-4Ai6YUb1y1z/cgi-bin/prodview.asp?i=120705002&s=0&cc=01

That's what I have now. People are telling me I need this.

https://www.installer-data.com/item/display_item.php?it=70-1768

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What kind of HU are you using? The stock or an aftermarket? Lost in though... :errr:

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"I don't play games. I play Nakamichi and that for real yo" - Probably some japanese kid said this in the early 80's trying to sell stereo out of his trunk lol.

uthinkuknoaudio wrote:

What kind of HU are you using? The stock or an aftermarket? Lost in though... :errr:

I'm using the aftermarket radio.

The standard radio is not a premium radio from the serial #.

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Yes lillowek, that is the right harness, 70-1768. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise as I am 100%. Most people do not understand these older amp systems like I do. An 8 speaker system with woofers on the rear deck is a JBL premium. That online site you are looking at is also a good place to get stuff from. I have dealt with them before.

tech460 wrote:

Yes lillowek, that is the right harness, 70-1768. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise as I am 100%. Most people do not understand these older amp systems like I do. An 8 speaker system with woofers on the rear deck is a JBL premium. That online site you are looking at is also a good place to get stuff from. I have dealt with them before.

Thank you kind sir. :)

Can you do me a favor, explain this harness to me?

It has 4 sets of RCAs, but for what? My head unit only has one set of RCA outs. WOuld I have to purcahse 2 y adapters for this opperation?

Also, just how does this work, and what does it do. Thanks!!

Jeremy

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I'm sorry. I meant to explain that to you. An amp integration harness let's you input a signal into a factory amp. It can be speaker level or rca level. On common ground input amps like yours it has to be rca's as most aftermarket radios use high power floating ground outputs. Also, most have 4 channel inputs so you can retain your fader. If you only have 2 rca outputs on your radio you can use rca y jacks.

tech460 wrote:

I'm sorry. I meant to explain that to you. An amp integration harness let's you input a signal into a factory amp. It can be speaker level or rca level. On common ground input amps like yours it has to be rca's as most aftermarket radios use high power floating ground outputs. Also, most have 4 channel inputs so you can retain your fader. If you only have 2 rca outputs on your radio you can use rca y jacks.

Thanks.

Also, just curious. What do the RCA jacks on the harness plug into? Are they on the speaker wire harness??

Would I need to hook up all speakers like normal, then just plug in the RCA jacks, and it would all work properly??

And, lastly, using this harness, would it use the amp, plus the built in amps on the head unit? I don't want to blow the speakers w/ to many watts.

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Oh, by looking at this picture. It looks like there is no speaker wires on the harness. Instead it's RCA jacks. Is there anyway I can wire up my own w/ the harness I got? :)

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I called the local shop, and told him about this. He said he never had to use the amp integration harness on a ford before. He said he has it, and I explained to him what the deal was. He told me 100% what he has will work for what I got. 40 bucks though. :(

Thanks for the help. :)

Jeremy

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The rca jack inputs on the harness go to the rca jack outputs on the radio.

You do not need to hook up the speaker wires.

With this harness you will use only the factory amp.

The decision is yours on which harness you want to buy. If you would like comfort in your decision why don't you call Metra who makes the harness? There number is 1-800-253-TECH. Or call any manufactuer of harness'.

This is my last reply on this post. Good luck.

Thanks for the information! You have been a GREAT help!!! :)

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All that harness is is an expensive speaker level convertor. Just buy one of these

Both will take the RCA output from your cd player and turn it into a connection u can splice into your current radio harness. Unlike that harness you showed above you can use the level controls on both of these units to match the volume of your CD player to the volume of the factory amps. For the Peripheral LOC you will need to split the output so it can go to both inputs of the factory amp (front and rear).

Hmm, maybe this car has only 6 speakers in it.

Anyways, the guy at the stereo shop told me to fish around in there and find another plug to plug my harness into. I found it, and unpluged it and there was no sound from the stereo.

I hooked up the harness into that harness into my head unit. 4 speakers come on fine and sound great. However, the front 2 dash speakers don't come on.

Any ideas?? lol

Thanks,

Jeremy

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Can you take a picture of the front of the factory radio?

customsuburb wrote:

Can you take a picture of the front of the factory radio?

Sorry, no pics of the front right now. But, this is the back, and the side of it if that helps.

Like I said. I dug in to the left and uncliped the one harness from what it was to. The speakers stoped working. I plugged my wire harness to that, and they work now, all but the front 2 in the dash.

I think those wires are in the other plug that was originally into the radio w/ the 5 wires. Not sure though...

[img]https://www.pennswoods.net/~jllowe/Pics/Ford%20Stereo/DSC00236.JPG[/img]

[img]https://www.pennswoods.net/~jllowe/Pics/Ford%20Stereo/DSC00237.JPG[/img]

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