1997 XLT Factory Amp??

[coliniscool]

I have a 97 XLT, and i just replaced the headunit with a panasonic which is putting out 4x50Watts to the speakers. The cd player replaced both the facotry headunit and the cd changer. is there a factory amp in my car?? and if so, will it be necessary to bypass it to achieve the best sound quality?? heres another question, when i first installed the new headunit, the sund quality sounded awesome, way better than with the factory system. but before i replace the headunit, the front passenger speaker would cut out sometimes, and if i cranked the volume for a second, it would turn back on. i thought the new headunit would fix this, but it still does it. anyway, the sound quality in my explorer doesn't sound very good a week later, it sounds muddy when i turn the volume up. im thinking its becuase of the speakers, and solely becuase of the speakers, which im pretty sure arent able to handle all 50Watts of power given to them by the panasonic headunit. has anyone got any ideas as to whats going on with my sound system?? im going to be replacing all the speakers soon with polk momo 5x7's, do you guys think that will solve all my problems?? thanks for the help guys

 

[badazz89lx]

if there was you 1)already bypassed it when you wired the radio in(if you used the wiring kit)..2)you wouldnt get any sound i dont think if you jerry rigged the radio in and had a factory amp....

 

[Kokanee100]

The speakers cutting out is the fault of the factory amp being over worked. It needs to be bypassed with a simple harness. Your sound quality will be a lot better and you will also get the correct volume range if you bypass it. The factory amp is rated at about 10% THD where your CD player will only be 0.01% THD so that stock amp needs to come out. Don't bother with the new speakers until the amp is bypassed. It is located behind the panel in the back passagners side cargo area.

Check out my thread.. http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=132894

 

[coliniscool]

i don't think there is an amp there, there is just a small cargo pocket ith a net, where i have been putting flashlights and other stuff like that, if its no tthere, would it be anywhere else??

 

[cobrajeff]

Your 1997 XLT should have a factory amp. You cannot see it with a flashlight looking at the cargo pocket - you have to remove the entire RH trim panel to get to it (see Kokanee100's photo).

cobrajeff

 

[coliniscool]

I just bought a scotche amp bypass kit, and i installed it in less than 15 minutes, the sound quality improved by a million times!!!!! now i just have to get those stock speakers out of there.

 

[redx]

I have seen the factory amp also located behind the driver side rear cargo panel. Also I recomend up gradeing the factory speakers, the sound qulity is always much better.