Head Unit Installation trouble

[Pdwight]

Yes

well the guy at my audio dealer place said that i just use the harness for the premium system and leave the back panel alone and it will work......so is he right...an din lamens terms is that ok...i'm not big on impedences and ohms so just give me the blunt of it if posible

These are exactly what you need, now you must By-pass the factory Amp no matter where it is. Ohms are pretty easy , Impedences is another story....I almost went crazy back in 1974 going through AC Theory.......No calculators, no computers...all long hand on paper:thumbdwn:

Dwight

 

[X6StringerX]

I thought the '98+ Explorers didn't have amps at all? I have the premium unit and I was told that I didn't have one.

 

[Pdwight]

Could be , but

I thought the '98+ Explorers didn't have amps at all? I have the premium unit and I was told that I didn't have one.

Why then would you have a AMP By-Pass cable if there were no amp to By-Pass ??

If you call Crutchfield and tell them exactly what you had factory or go on their website it will tell you.

Dwight

 

[X6StringerX]

I went to Crutchfield.com put in the required data. It said that my vehicle has an amp, possibly located in the back portion of the vehicle, that must be bypassed.



BUT


This comes directly from one of the stickies for this audio forum.


1) Base systems use a 4X6 Watt Midline radio (AM/FM, AM/FM/Cassette, or AM/FM/CD) with 4 speakers

2) Premium Systems use a 4X20 Watt Premium Radio (AM/FM/Cassette, AM/FM/CD, or AM/FM/Cass/CD) with 4 speakers the amplifier was external from 1990 through 1997; integrated into the radio from 1998 through 2001
the speakers are upgraded over the "Base" level speakers (1990-1997) in 1998, the "Base" speakers were upgraded to Premium level

3) Audiophile Systems these systems are branded; Ford/JBL from 1990-1997, Ford/Mach from 1998
through 2001 use a 4X15 Watt Premium radio (AM/FM/Cassette, or AM/FM/Cassette/CD)
the amplifier was external from 1990 through 1997; integrated into the radio from 1998 through 2001
the speakers are upgraded over the "Premium" level speakers the Audiophile Systems include a Subwoofer in a sealed enclosure with a dedicated subwoofer amplifier



So, which is it? Do I have an amp in my head unit or do I have an external one located in the cargo area somewhere? One place says one thing and one place says another...

 

[Dan Whitaker]

I went to Crutchfield.com put in the required data. It said that my vehicle has an amp, possibly located in the back portion of the vehicle, that must be bypassed.



BUT


This comes directly from one of the stickies for this audio forum.


1) Base systems use a 4X6 Watt Midline radio (AM/FM, AM/FM/Cassette, or AM/FM/CD) with 4 speakers

2) Premium Systems use a 4X20 Watt Premium Radio (AM/FM/Cassette, AM/FM/CD, or AM/FM/Cass/CD) with 4 speakers the amplifier was external from 1990 through 1997; integrated into the radio from 1998 through 2001
the speakers are upgraded over the "Base" level speakers (1990-1997) in 1998, the "Base" speakers were upgraded to Premium level

3) Audiophile Systems these systems are branded; Ford/JBL from 1990-1997, Ford/Mach from 1998
through 2001 use a 4X15 Watt Premium radio (AM/FM/Cassette, or AM/FM/Cassette/CD)
the amplifier was external from 1990 through 1997; integrated into the radio from 1998 through 2001
the speakers are upgraded over the "Premium" level speakers the Audiophile Systems include a Subwoofer in a sealed enclosure with a dedicated subwoofer amplifier



So, which is it? Do I have an amp in my head unit or do I have an external one located in the cargo area somewhere? One place says one thing and one place says another...

What is the build date on your Explorer. It it's an early '98 Ford could have used left over '97 stereo equipment.

My Mountaineer is a 1997 but has a build date of 12/96.

 

[gilbert383]

so what would happen if i didn't bypass the amp....?

 

[X6StringerX]

The build date on mine is 03/98. Hopefully, by March, they had already used all of the '97 parts up since they start manufacturing '98 models in about August of '97...

 

[X6StringerX]

I solved my display problem. I just bought a new takeout CD/MP3 unit from an '06 F150 off of ebay for $85. It still has the protective coating on the front. Its a T100 plug, so I don't have to do any rewiring either... direct fit and plug and play. It'll look a lot better than a gaudy aftermarket unit too.