Premium Sound ?

[Rodeo Joe]

I've been doing searchs going through everything but really haven't found an answer. Is there a way to tell if my 97 has Premium Sound just by looking at it? I know where to look for the amp in the passenger side quarter panel, but I really don't want to be tearing it apart. Are there any markings on the dash or HU, something to look for? It has the AM/FM/cassette with the CD button but no changer. Thanks.

Joe

 

[cobrajeff]

Premium Sound in 1997 Explorer

Yes, it is fairly simple to tell if you have Premium Sound or not on a 1997 Explorer.

There were basically only three choices offered in Explorer for 1997: 1) AM/FM radio; 2) AM/FM/Cassette radio with Premium Sound; and 3) AM/FM/Cassette radio with Ford/JBL. The AM/FM radio was only installed in 1 or 2% of Explorers. The AM/FM/Cassette with Premium Sound was used in about 75-80% of 1997 Explorers. The balance, about 18-20% had the AM/FM/Cassette with Ford/JBL (at various times in the Model Year, JBL may have been standard or optional on Eddie Bauer Explorers and restricted from XLT's - they kept changing it).

You most likely have Premium Sound. The Ford/JBL radio for 1997 Explorers was the "Lux" model radio - it has a DSP button in the upper right hand corner, and "pop-out" controls beneath the display for B/T/B/F. If you have a cassette radio without pop-out controls, you have Premium Sound .

If you pull the radio out, the Premium Sound cassette radio will have a base part number of -19B165-; the Ford/JBL "Lux" cassette head unit will have a base part number of -18C852- .

regards,

cobrajeff

 

[Rodeo Joe]

Thanks for staightening that out for me cobrajeff.

Joe