New Stereo Install - No sound

[tecknoplasma]

97 XL

I've installed many stereo's but I just cant seem to figure this one out, I took the factory stereo out, and replaced it with a new sony deck. However, I can't seem to get any of the speakers to work (they worked fine with the factory deck). I have all the power running smoothly, aux/ground all that fun stuff aswell. Im just wondering if theres a trick to putting a deck in an explorer?

Thanks

 

[Crankcase]

Uh, lots of info here:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90274

Welcome to the site!

 

[axionplaya]

Try to check your connections, you might have a misconnection.

Roy
________________________
1996 Ford Explorer XLT
4WD
4.0L SOHC V6
K&N Filter
Flowmaster

 

[CdnCory]

problem is that the deck is Sony.....

 

[FexplorerV8]

im not sure if u have a factory amp this amp has to be powered in orther for the speakers to work u might wanna bypass this amp or rewire ur speakers i'v got a nice Sony HU and it took me a while to figure out what was going on, the trick was in the factory amp just rewire the speakers its the easiest way out good luck! :exp: btw SONY HU are the best.

 

[have2goski]

i 2nd that it is probably a factory amp problem. You can do 3 things to get it working.

1) send power to the amp so it turns on and functions as it did with the factory HU. (+) this is the easiest thing to do as the connection is behind the HU and you just have to send power down the line. (-) your sony HU can probably produce louder and clearer sound on its own

2) get a factory amp by-pass kit. (+) takes the factory amp out of the loop and will allow your higher powered aftermarket HU to actually be pushing your speakers. (-)have to a) get the by-pass harness and b) get to the factory amp which is behind the rear panel to install the harness.

3) run new wires to your speakers (+) probably the best option for "performance" (-) you have to actually run the wires to all your speakers...aka. you are gonna have to go from the main body to the doors. Not impossible by any means put there will be trim removal as well as the task of fishing the speaker wire through the door jam gromets.

I personally would suggest (and did) option number 3, but it takes a little longer and as i said you have to pull some of the trim peices off. good luck with finishing your install

 

[blugrad4x4]

Do check the connections from the deck to the factory wire harness. Did you buy a wire harness. I used barrel connectors and wired it up direct. I don't like having all the mess of connectors and junk. Wire it direct and you should have no problems. If you still have no music from the speakers you definetly need to bypass the stock amp.

 

[sfhighroller]

i have a 95 and i was going to bestbuy to get a aftermarket cd player i have a cassett right now. but anyway they said that if you have a retractable radio antenna that you have to keep the stock radio deck plugged up and hide it somewhere because your power locks and power windows run off of that radio so from what i got out of it you should have 2 radios in your console but i am not too clear on it. you should go to a best buy or some electronics place where they install car stereo systems.

 

[Scormunch]

i have a 95 and i was going to bestbuy to get a aftermarket cd player i have a cassett right now. but anyway they said that if you have a retractable radio antenna that you have to keep the stock radio deck plugged up and hide it somewhere because your power locks and power windows run off of that radio so from what i got out of it you should have 2 radios in your console but i am not too clear on it. you should go to a best buy or some electronics place where they install car stereo systems.

Thats completely bs... with SOME new cars, the navigation system houses the computer which controls lighting/locks/windows, but you won't run into this problem with an explorer, let alone a 97' xl model.

When I installed my first deck into my 97' EB I ran into the same problem as you... the deck powered up but I got no sound. I fished around the forum and discovered the deal with the factory amps in the cargo area, and ended up running new wiring to all the door speakers. When I dynamatted the truck I ended up taking the amps completely out anyways.

You WILL have to run up to Best Buy/Circuit City and buy a modulator for the antenna, which will run to the antenna directly from the headunit rather than running through the amps.

 

[thewishkah]

I just ran new speaker wires i ran 16 g and it wasnt hard took about 3 hours and i have never done it before sounds 50x louder and clearer then with the stock amp the hardest part is the door gormets but i just used my anttena lol cause i wasnt near my house and it wasnt a power anttena worked well lol when all else fails get inventive lol

 

[4FordFamily]

check ground.

 

[cifer]

problem is that the deck is Sony.....

exactly....heheehe

 

[4FordFamily]

Agreed

Sony - Home entertainment

 

[CdnCory]

yes, but I still wouldnt buy Sony speakers for my home system

 

[92xlt4x4]

from my personal opionion, sony is horibble in car audio. i sell and install the stuff everyday. i just put a new pioneer deh-p860mp in my 92 x and i didnt hook up the remote wire (the blue and white one). i install like at least 20 cars a day. but i didnt hook it up. i thought i bought a faulty cd player. its expensive so i was pissed. then i thought oh yeah factoy amp duh.but i works beautiful now.

 

[CdnCory]

i sell and install the stuff everyday. i just put a new pioneer deh-p860mp in my 92 x and i didnt hook up the remote wire (the blue and white one). i install like at least 20 cars a day. but i didnt hook it up. i thought i bought a faulty cd player. its expensive so i was pissed. then i thought oh yeah factoy amp duh.but i works beautiful now.

Whats the moral of that story??

 

[FexplorerV8]

why do every1 talk **** about Sony, i love my HU cdx8800 its better than any other HU in its price range even the pioneer, i paid about 350 dollars for it and its worth every penny.

 

[j0hnny]

I have the same issue. On the diags I have I can't find which is the power wire for the stock amp. Can anyone describe it to me?

 

[blugrad4x4]

I agree with 92xlt4x4 I'm all about pioneer. I have yet to have a problem with pioneer and I have been messing with stereos for about 9 years now. Home and car audio, in fact just about any thing dealing with sound, Pioneer has my vote!

 

[chuggy]

This is an old thread, but make sure that your remote wire is hooked up to the blue and white one and not the blue one. I had them fliped on an install, and it wont power on your amp otherwise, i'd also suggest using the bypass noted above because your gonna get better sound with your deck pushing your speakers rather than your amp.