premium sound expl 98 2-dr

bsuciu · 10-02-2005, 10:34 PM

how do i determine without breaking my car to pieces if i have a premium sound ( if i have an amp or not, and where is it ?? )

thnx.
\

Rage1973 · 10-03-2005, 02:31 AM

My factory amp was located on the factory sub-box.

bsuciu · 10-03-2005, 06:35 AM

i do not have such box . a sub box is coming only with a Mach sound option , i think .

there are 3 sound options for 98 expl from all i know :
- no amp with 4 spk.
-with amp and 4 spk
-with amp and sub and 4 spk.

i am between first and second .

anybody knows ??

*cobrajeff* · 10-05-2005, 07:20 AM

What is the part number of the factory radio in your truck? I can tell you if you have Premium Sound or not based upon the part number of your OEM radio.

regards,

cobrajeff

*IAmTodd* · 10-05-2005, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cobrajeff

What is the part number of the factory radio in your truck? I can tell you if you have Premium Sound or not based upon the part number of your OEM radio.

regards,

cobrajeff

I do believe it will say on the radio if it is premium or mach. '98 and new had the amp for the door speakers internally. So you cannot tell that way. The only time an amp is external in a '98+ is if it had the Mach system.

*cobrajeff* · 10-05-2005, 02:41 PM

Todd -

I worked in Ford Audio Systems for over 20 of my 30+ years at Ford.

If I am provided the part number of the radio that originally came in the truck, I CAN tell if the truck came with Premium Sound, a Mach system, or a base system.

regards,

cobrajeff

TTG · 10-05-2005, 04:45 PM

Todd's right though... 98+ had the amp inside the headunit unless it was the Mach system's sub amp...

*IAmTodd* · 10-05-2005, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cobrajeff

Todd -

I worked in Ford Audio Systems for over 20 of my 30+ years at Ford.

If I am provided the part number of the radio that originally came in the truck, I CAN tell if the truck came with Premium Sound, a Mach system, or a base system.

regards,

cobrajeff

In no way did I say you COULDN'T I'm just saying that it also says on the radio what it was designed for.

bsuciu · 10-05-2005, 07:33 PM

ok i got the radio out and there r a few groups of nr

i cant see them v good _87f-18c868-c_ i think i am missing two letters i cannot descifre.

ref nr. sc133786

when i took the radio out i had two plugs in the back .

but i took the panel out inthe back and there is no amp

what do u think

i can send a pic w/ the label

TTG · 10-05-2005, 09:16 PM

The simplest way to tell if you have premium sound is if you have those little backseat controls. If you do, its premium sound. If you like doing things the hard way, you can look on your speakers. On the back they'll say Premium.

Just out of curiosity, why are you trying to find out?

bsuciu · 10-05-2005, 09:38 PM

on the speakers it says premium but i do not have an amp . i looked in the rear . weird ,no?

i need to know for my new stereo , if i have an amp soemwhere i want to replace it or at least bypass it . but nobody knows for sure what is going on with these systems .

*IAmTodd* · 10-05-2005, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IAmTodd

I do believe it will say on the radio if it is premium or mach. '98 and new had the amp for the door speakers internally. So you cannot tell that way. The only time an amp is external in a '98+ is if it had the Mach system.

werd

TTG · 10-05-2005, 09:41 PM

Todd knows.

*IAmTodd* · 10-05-2005, 09:59 PM

I'm sick of working on Ford's dumb audio systems. I don't even do it that much and I hate them!

TTG · 10-05-2005, 10:38 PM

It's not THAT bad... Toyotas you have to drill out rivets to take out speakers. At least Ford realized that speakers sometimes have to come out, even if they forgot about window motors needing to come out.

Lots of new cars are even worse, with weird head unit sizes and tricks and stuff. The new Accord sedan has this really odd shaped head unit thats motorized and flips down to reveal its 6 cd changer, but you only put in 1 cd at a time. I don't think you can ever replace something like that, haha.

*cobrajeff* · 10-06-2005, 07:16 AM

F87F-18C868-CA is a "Premium Sound" version of the Ford "T100i" Dual Media radio. The second letter of the suffix (that you could not read) is not as important as the first. The first letter tells the model type - an "A" suffix is for a Mach radio in a 4-door; a "B" suffix is for a Mach radio in a 2-door; and a "C" suffix is for a non-Mach radio.

Your radio has an internal amp (4x20W) and no external amp.

regards,

cobrajeff

bsuciu · 10-06-2005, 09:45 AM

thank u much for ur time

*cobrajeff* · 10-06-2005, 02:22 PM

Actually, you cannot depend on the Rear Seat Controls (RSC) or speakers to tell what Ford system an Explorer was originally equipped with. RSC's are NOT part of "Premium Sound", the base Cassette radio IS CAPABLE of interfacing with the RSC. The RSC option was SERIES dependent, not radio dependent (all XLT's, Eddie Bauers, and Limiteds have RSC's).

As for the speakers, well, there are three levels (Base, Premium, and Audiophile), same as the sound system levels. HOWEVER, at some time in 1997/1998, there was a cost-reduction action that eliminated the Audiophile two-way speaker enclosures in the rear doors, replacing them with plain "Premium" speakers (so, you might have an Audiophile system with Audiophile speakers in the front, and Premium speakers in the rear). At a later date, sometime in 2001/2002, a complexity reduction action resulted in even "Base" sound sytems getting "Premium" speakers.

The radio head unit, if it is the original one installed in the car, is the best way to tell what level the system is.

regards,

Jeff

10-02-2005, 10:34 PM	#1
bsuciu Wannabe Elite Explorer lynn, ma 98 Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 9 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	premium sound expl 98 2-dr how do i determine without breaking my car to pieces if i have a premium sound ( if i have an amp or not, and where is it ?? ) thnx. \

10-03-2005, 06:35 AM	#3
bsuciu Wannabe Elite Explorer lynn, ma 98 Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 9 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	98 premium sound ?? i do not have such box . a sub box is coming only with a Mach sound option , i think . there are 3 sound options for 98 expl from all i know : - no amp with 4 spk. -with amp and 4 spk -with amp and sub and 4 spk. i am between first and second . anybody knows ??

10-05-2005, 04:45 PM	#7
TTG Wannabe Elite Explorer Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, Florida '95 Sport Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 525 Vehicle Specs	Todd's right though... 98+ had the amp inside the headunit unless it was the Mach system's sub amp... __________________ My Cardomain

10-05-2005, 09:16 PM	#10
TTG Wannabe Elite Explorer Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, Florida '95 Sport Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 525 Vehicle Specs	The simplest way to tell if you have premium sound is if you have those little backseat controls. If you do, its premium sound. If you like doing things the hard way, you can look on your speakers. On the back they'll say Premium. Just out of curiosity, why are you trying to find out? __________________ My Cardomain

10-05-2005, 09:41 PM	#13
TTG Wannabe Elite Explorer Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, Florida '95 Sport Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 525 Vehicle Specs	Todd knows. __________________ My Cardomain

10-03-2005, 02:31 AM	#2
Rage1973 Wannabe Elite Explorer Yuba City, California 98 Sport Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 173 Vehicle Specs	My factory amp was located on the factory sub-box.

10-05-2005, 07:20 AM	#4
cobrajeff Elite Explorer White Lake, MI 2000 Mountaineer Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 257 Vehicle Specs	What is the part number of the factory radio in your truck? I can tell you if you have Premium Sound or not based upon the part number of your OEM radio. regards, cobrajeff

10-05-2005, 02:41 PM	#6
cobrajeff Elite Explorer White Lake, MI 2000 Mountaineer Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 257 Vehicle Specs	Todd - I worked in Ford Audio Systems for over 20 of my 30+ years at Ford. If I am provided the part number of the radio that originally came in the truck, I CAN tell if the truck came with Premium Sound, a Mach system, or a base system. regards, cobrajeff

10-05-2005, 07:33 PM	#9
bsuciu Wannabe Elite Explorer lynn, ma 98 Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 9 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	ok i got the radio out and there r a few groups of nr i cant see them v good _87f-18c868-c_ i think i am missing two letters i cannot descifre. ref nr. sc133786 when i took the radio out i had two plugs in the back . but i took the panel out inthe back and there is no amp what do u think i can send a pic w/ the label

10-05-2005, 09:38 PM	#11
bsuciu Wannabe Elite Explorer lynn, ma 98 Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 9 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	on the speakers it says premium but i do not have an amp . i looked in the rear . weird ,no? i need to know for my new stereo , if i have an amp soemwhere i want to replace it or at least bypass it . but nobody knows for sure what is going on with these systems .

10-05-2005, 09:59 PM	#14
IAmTodd Explorer Addict Johnstown, PA 1994 Explorer XLT Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 8,769 Vehicle Specs	I'm sick of working on Ford's dumb audio systems. I don't even do it that much and I hate them! __________________ 1994 Explorer XLT \| M5R1 swap \| 2" Lift \| 32" ProComp Mud Terrains 2006 Saab 9-3 Aero \| 2.8 Full pressure turbo \| 6MT \| 280whp/325wtq

10-05-2005, 10:38 PM	#15
TTG Wannabe Elite Explorer Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, Florida '95 Sport Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 525 Vehicle Specs	It's not THAT bad... Toyotas you have to drill out rivets to take out speakers. At least Ford realized that speakers sometimes have to come out, even if they forgot about window motors needing to come out. Lots of new cars are even worse, with weird head unit sizes and tricks and stuff. The new Accord sedan has this really odd shaped head unit thats motorized and flips down to reveal its 6 cd changer, but you only put in 1 cd at a time. I don't think you can ever replace something like that, haha. __________________ My Cardomain

10-06-2005, 07:16 AM	#16
cobrajeff Elite Explorer White Lake, MI 2000 Mountaineer Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 257 Vehicle Specs	F87F-18C868-CA is a "Premium Sound" version of the Ford "T100i" Dual Media radio. The second letter of the suffix (that you could not read) is not as important as the first. The first letter tells the model type - an "A" suffix is for a Mach radio in a 4-door; a "B" suffix is for a Mach radio in a 2-door; and a "C" suffix is for a non-Mach radio. Your radio has an internal amp (4x20W) and no external amp. regards, cobrajeff

10-06-2005, 09:45 AM	#17
bsuciu Wannabe Elite Explorer lynn, ma 98 Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 9 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	thank u much for ur time

10-06-2005, 02:22 PM	#18
cobrajeff Elite Explorer White Lake, MI 2000 Mountaineer Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 257 Vehicle Specs	Actually, you cannot depend on the Rear Seat Controls (RSC) or speakers to tell what Ford system an Explorer was originally equipped with. RSC's are NOT part of "Premium Sound", the base Cassette radio IS CAPABLE of interfacing with the RSC. The RSC option was SERIES dependent, not radio dependent (all XLT's, Eddie Bauers, and Limiteds have RSC's). As for the speakers, well, there are three levels (Base, Premium, and Audiophile), same as the sound system levels. HOWEVER, at some time in 1997/1998, there was a cost-reduction action that eliminated the Audiophile two-way speaker enclosures in the rear doors, replacing them with plain "Premium" speakers (so, you might have an Audiophile system with Audiophile speakers in the front, and Premium speakers in the rear). At a later date, sometime in 2001/2002, a complexity reduction action resulted in even "Base" sound sytems getting "Premium" speakers. The radio head unit, if it is the original one installed in the car, is the best way to tell what level the system is. regards, Jeff