Stereo questions

[firepop5]

I have a 96 Explorer that was manufactured with the JBL System. In 2005 I had an aftermarket radio/CD player installed at Circuit City. I knew at the time about the amplifier in the back that had to be bypassed. That aftermarket unit has now bit the dust and I picked up a used Explorer radio/CD player at a junkyard like this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/98-99-00-01...t=Car_Audio_Video&hash=item4176ff689f&vxp=mtr

I have made all the wiring connections. The tuner and power antenna work, the CD player draws in the CD and runs, the clock works, but there is no sound coming from the speakers. I am fairly certain this radio (model # XL2F-18C868-BB) has its' own built in amplifier. I went to check out the original amplifier connections and found out the amp was taken out of the car when the after market radio was installed. The bypass harness between the dash and the rear area has 9 wires: 8 speaker wires and the trigger wire for the power antenna. There is also the antenna cable itself. I assume the cable or cables that went from the dash to the rear when the car was new was also removed when the aftermarket stereo was installed (I guess it was worth some money at the time). Since the amp is gone altogether, I don't know why I am getting no sound. Maybe the junkyard radio is no good, but before I go back I was wondering if there is anything else I am missing.

 

[pmonahan]

I have a 96 Explorer that was manufactured with the JBL System. In 2005 I had an aftermarket radio/CD player installed at Circuit City. I knew at the time about the amplifier in the back that had to be bypassed. That aftermarket unit has now bit the dust and I picked up a used Explorer radio/CD player at a junkyard like this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/98-99-00-01...t=Car_Audio_Video&hash=item4176ff689f&vxp=mtr

I have made all the wiring connections. The tuner and power antenna work, the CD player draws in the CD and runs, the clock works, but there is no sound coming from the speakers. I am fairly certain this radio (model # XL2F-18C868-BB) has its' own built in amplifier. I went to check out the original amplifier connections and found out the amp was taken out of the car when the after market radio was installed. The bypass harness between the dash and the rear area has 9 wires: 8 speaker wires and the trigger wire for the power antenna. There is also the antenna cable itself. I assume the cable or cables that went from the dash to the rear when the car was new was also removed when the aftermarket stereo was installed (I guess it was worth some money at the time). Since the amp is gone altogether, I don't know why I am getting no sound. Maybe the junkyard radio is no good, but before I go back I was wondering if there is anything else I am missing.

The eBay link does not list the 96 Explorer as being compatible. The radio itself probably does not have any amp in it at all; hence no audio out. It might rely on the amplifier that has been removed.

 

[DjDom]

The eBay link does not list the 96 Explorer as being compatible. The radio itself probably does not have any amp in it at all; hence no audio out. It might rely on the amplifier that has been removed.

Not correct, the newer radio, 98+ had the amp inside the head unit, however the JBL system used an external amp for the Sub in 98+.

In 96, there was a separate amp in the rear panel.

I recommend you just go to a scrap yard and grab all the original wiring, the original radio and amp.
No point in upgrading to a newer radio.

 

[tgibbonsfordluv]

Get on ebay or amazon and find yourself a cheap aftermarket radio. Something that will wire right up to the conversion circuit city has already made. I suspect you can get one for $40 or so. Maybe less.

 

[firepop5]

More information

The junkyard radio came out of a 99 XLT. There is no amp or subwoofer in the rear quarter, there is no CD changer in the console. I'm assuming (you what happens when you assume) the radio was a stand alone unit that had its' own amplifier. The radio has 2 harnesses on the back. Like I said earlier, the speakers, power and ground wires seem to be connected properly. These wires (15 in all: 8 speaker, 2 power in run, 1 constant power, 1 from headlight circuit, and 3 grounds) all go into the rectangular 16 cavity plug. 1 cavity is empty. The other plug is square and has 20 cavities. There is a total of 10 wires coming from this plug and 11 empty cavities. 1 is for the power antenna, 3 are supposed to go to the rear seat radio controls, 5 are for the CD changer (which the donor car did not have). The last wire is for the speed sensor(to increase volume at higher speeds). The original JBL system did not have this feature.
Is it possible this speed sensor wire has to receive some voltage for the radio to work properly? Do the rear seat radio controls have to be wired in for the radio to work?

 

[tgibbonsfordluv]

To be honest, If all you're saying is correct I see no reason it shouldn't work. For grins you can try hooking a voltmeter up to one set of speaker wires and see what you're getting, if anything.

The 96 JBL system did not have 8 wires coming out of the head unit for speakers. It was only 4 and it was just stereo from the cassette player. I would assume that since yours has all 8 it didn't need an amp (but I'm assuming too). If the donor truck never had an amp and radio module in the back, I'd guess the deck is toast.

Seriously, check walmart for something cheap. You'll be surprised what you can get for cheap audio that's still nicer than the garbage Ford put in it.