I have replaced many radios, but never have I had as much trouble as I have had working with the setup on my vic. I am trying to put an aftermarket radio in my car that I got for Christmas. It's a nice Pioneer CD player.

I have premium sound in my vic. The stock system works perfectly (After all this aggravation I am asking myself why I am even messing with it). I tried to read up on everything, and I have the vacuum and electrical book for my vic (it's an 89) so I tried to read up on everything so I could get it hooked up right the first time. When I went to the store, I got my install kit, which works fine, a wiring harness which was supposed to be for my year Vic, but I had to modify the wiring to get it correct, and then it also said since I had premium sound I needed an interface kit.

I get power to the radio just fine, everything turns on OK, but at first I had no sound at all. Once I added the interface kit, I get sound only out of the back speakers, and I have to turn the volume way up to get it to a normal level. The fade/balance settings on the radio are correct. If I put the stock radio back in, it works perfectly so the AMP is OK.

If anyone has replaced their stereo and can help please let me know!! Thanks so much, and happy new year everyone!

-Michael

Two words... Common Ground. Just bypass that amp (your new deck makes more power) with all new wiring from the deck and you will be happy!

Like he said. Ignore all the existing. It's alot easier, and faster to just run all new wiring. Plus, you'll have a thicker gauge speaker wire for future amp upgrades. That's what I did with mine, and it kicks a$$.

Did you buy the little box that converts the new receiver signal back to a preamp signal? I think I have one extra in my garage, it's needed to use the stock amplifier with 6 speakers, unless you want to rewire like everyone else said.

~Adam

a complete re-wire isnt nnecessary, but yu can by-pass the factory amp with a bit of re-wiring at the amp, and running 3 new wires.

actually i forgot what i did, but i used to have premium audio, and now i dont, but am using all 6 speakers.

I did purchase a box for about 20 dollars that was supposed to help me convert the signal to be compatible with the factory amp. Before I had the box, I had no sound at all. Now with the box I have only the rear speakers. I am thinking that bypassing the amp is the way to go as well. What re-wiring do I need to do back there? I know the amp is in the trunk, and if I am reading my wiring diagrams right, all of the speaker wires go back to the amp before going out to the speakers. Do I have to run all new wires from the radio or can I just rig up something at the amp to connect the speakers straight in? Crutchfield sells something that says it is an amp bypass harness. Anyone ever used anything like that?

Thanks so much for the help everyone. Happy New Year to all!

Got a link to the amp bypass thing? I wonder if it's just the box that converts the signal...

The Ford wire colors are pretty confusing, so I wonder if you have something backwards. I think the first time I hooked mine up, I had the fronts and rears reversed or something, so it took me a few times to get it right.

I did scan up the wire diagrams for the stereo systems, http://www.crownvicmuscle.com/CV_diagrams/Wire_diagrams/ it might be helpful in determining the problem.

I remember the Crutchfield kit I had told me what the original Ford colors meant, so I could eventually figure it out.

If Epi ever did a write up on how to bypass the amp, that'd be helpful too.

~Adam

Correct me if I am wrong, but can't you buy a harness for aftermarket decks that costs $10 at Wal Mart, and takes care of all of these problems, including bypassing the amp? I know you could for Thunderbirds with premium sound......

Can someone confirm at Wal-Mart? That'd be ideal.

Epi, if you can find you post or write-up from the V-connection on how to bypass the am, that'd be great. I will host it on the CVM site for you.

~Adam

Reformat!

Wow, that Dell (it wasn't really even a Dell anymore...just the case!) was like 5.5 years old! Some of those components are from 1999!

That's the longest lasting system I've ever built. You still have the parts Epi?

~Adam

easy fix - run new wiring. problem solved.