Need amp bypass harness

[regulator]

I want to try to bypass my factory amp b/c some of you guys suggested it in in my last post. I need to find someone who makes it or who has the hook-up on one. I really dont feel like running wires from the back of the truck to the front. Ya Heard me?

 

[KaBoom]

regulator,

I just finished installing my system this past weekend in my 1995 4 door. Loaded it up with a AIWA CDC-MP32 and a MTX 45x4 amp. I'm waiting for the pioneers to come, but the wiring wasn't that bad at all. I didn't use a by-pass harness beacuse I ran RCA cables instead, but the way to connect them is pretty much the same. You have to remove the panels in the cargo area. Pretty much all the screws/fasteners you see, plus the screw (torx #50) seatbelt and the coat hanger (nut driver). Unplug the two connections from the factory amp, replace with the bypass and run the 8 wires (small ones) up to the headunit along side the carpeting. GO up through the dash cabinet because there is a ton of room back there and into where the HU sits. There is plently of holes and room to work with, it's simple.
I ended up putting my amp under the seat beacuse there wasn't enough room in the panel.
factory amp is a piece of crap.

-pete

 

[KaBoom]

oh yeah, get the bypass harness from anywhere
crutchfield, circuit city... etc

-pete

p.s. i would have sold you mine for cheap.. but i cut one wire off to use as a remote, sorry

 

[kps36]

KaBoom, last year I put in a Pioneer head unit and in the harness kit from CCity was an amp bypass. I didn't think anything of it at the time. I am going to try it. I have a 95 also, but 2dr. Am I correct to assume that the factory amp is located passenger side rear cargo area side panel. I am not to sure how to get into it. I don't want to destroy it, but remove neatly. Could you please advise w/ tips?
thnx.

 

[KaBoom]

kps36,

DEFINITLY bypass the factory amp. Not only is it weak, the new HU will put out more power and cleaner sound than the amp. I found this awesome website on how to remove/bypass the amp. It's for a 4-door, which i have, but shouldn't be too much different for a sport.

http://www.3drant.com/about/jay/Mountaineer/

great site with pictures and walkthrough. i only found a few things different, but otherwise on the ball.

Not only did i bypass the amp, i replaced it with a 45x4 MTX amp. Let me tell you how much better it sounds even though i'm running the stock speakers. i'm ordering 4 pioneer's ts-a6865 today for $59 each pair and when i hook them up, it should be much better!

i did this install without a problem, i'll be sure to take some pictures in the near future........

well, hope this helps

-pete

 

[tac0meat]

kaboom-did you mount your 4channel mtx amp in the same place/area that the factory amp is located? if so did you have any problems with overheating or anything like that?

 

[KaBoom]

tac0meat,

well, I had to mount/place the MTX amp under the rear passenger seat. THe space behind the cargo panel is real... picky?...

I built this real nice wooden mount for the amp, had it all screwed all and everything. Placed it (foam base) ontop of the wheel well and tried to put the panel back on.. Turns out the cargo cover sits like 3 inches over the well. SO no amp above the wheel well... wouldn't fit, cargo panel wouldn't go back on correctly.

THe other option was to mount the amp sideways like the factory amp. I didn't want to do this because it seemed sketchy to have only two screws in for the amp, so that it would be hanging from the metal under the window. Also, the factory wiring isn't the longest either. I would have had to spice some wire to make the connections. ANother thing that came up was the cargo side cabinet(some trucks have the sub). That got in the way if you mounted the amp sideways and too far back. I believe that the larger power amps, the bigger they are going to be than the factory. I wouldn't recommend putting the amp in the orginal place because it's trutly a bad position. Even if you did put the two screws in, mount sideways, it 'might' bang around. Also i didn't even try putting the cargo panel back on with it in place. THe weight of the amp and two screws thing irk me.

Another thing about putting it in the cargo panel. What if you wanted to tweak your amp? You would have to take the whole thing apart again! I'm getting speakers shortly and wanted access to the amp to tweak the music.

Under the seat was the best bet. THe weight of the amp keeps it in place and it doesn't move during driving. I didn't screw through the carpet, just let it sit there! WIring fits great, excess can be put next to the jack and under the carpet. Can't see the amp from outside (under the seat/ tinted windows). Can access gain/passes/wires/connections easily. AIr circulation is great, i like my music clean and loud. So i *CAN* feel slight heat from the fins of the amp during extensive playing. Also, you can put the seats down, doesn't interfere/crush the amp although it might hinder air circuilation a little.

hope this helps, let me know what you plan on doing or if you have problems.

-pete

 

[kps36]

KaBoom, thnx for the link. Unfortunatly, I took off the panel and NO Amp.
Is the factory amp in a different location for a 2-dr.????????
Mind you, I am not sure I have a factory amp. When I finally got the right harness, after 3 attempts, the one with all the right plug-ins was for a '96 w/factory premimum sound! Included was the factory amp bypass 'ribbon'. Unless the 2dr factory amp is somewhere else, I'm at a loss.
Someone w/2dr please respond.
thnx

 

[kps36]

bump, help?

 

[donaldbc]

KaBoom,

did you use that oem harness like that guy did on the link that you gave us? I am glad to hear that there is a relatively way to put in an aftermarket amp with the stock HU. Do you have any idea how I can get one of those harnesses? You can't buy directly from www.pac.com
thanks
Brian

 

[KaBoom]

DOnaldBC,

No, didn't use the aftermarket harness to byass the factory amp. I used 2 RCA cables (front & rear) to run to an MTX amp. I ripped out the old factory amp and tossed it across the garage.

I also didn't use the stock headunit. I"m running an Aiwa CDC-MP32. I also finally installed 4 Pioneer's ts-a6865 3 ways. Also, i finally took pictures. I'm at work now, pics are at home. SO once i put them together and clean them up, i'll post them.

buy the factory amp bypass at:

www.crutchfield.com
www.sounddomain.com
www.circuitcity.com

um... few others, look around for a ford explorer factory amp bypass, they'll know what you're looking for. HArness with like 20ft of wiring

 

[SCEXPLORER]

How would you knoiw if you have a factory amp?

 

[jimbo74]

if you have the factory premium stereo system or a subwoofer than you have the amp....

 

[Brian's98XLT]

There is a simple wat to tell. If you have 2 plugs that are the same size you probably do not have a factory amp. One will be black and one will be gray, both will have the same nimber of wire locations.
If you have a large plug and a small black square plug you have a amp.

 

[TheMattDaddy]

does the amp bypass harness look like the regular harness you use on the headunit, but instead it has 8 wires coming out, 2 per speaker? If that's it.. then it came with my headunit wiring harness from sounddomain and I didn't even know it!

Maybe I can actually get my pioneer to sing to me now.. that would be nice.