Hi.

Hope someone can help me out here. I bought myself a used 1996 Econoline Conversion van. It came with an in factory cassette radio. This week I replaced it with an Alpine Cd stereo (Head Unit # CDA-9856). The van itself looks like it has 6 to 8 speakers in it. The aftermarket harness did match up with the Ford wiring. Power for one, Sound for the other. O.K., heres the problem. The factory cassette player has 3 plugs ins - in the back of it. Power, Sound, and then (When looking at the back of the unit) up at the top right corner, another plug in. I tested it (The plug with the wiring going back under the dash) with a continuity light. Key on, Key off, Headlights on, Headlights off, nothing. So, I just pushed it on back when I put the new Alpine in. Now I have no sound. Could this connection be running a hidden amp for the speakers?, Cause everything else on the Alpine works. This connection has a light blue wire with a stripe and an off reddish brown one. What is this for? You can contact me at gmaxx79@yahoo.com

I used to work as an Electrician. This one has me stumped. Any solution will be appreciatted.

 

Was the original radio a Ford factory radio? I replaced the facotry Ford cassette player in my '94 E150 conversion van (6 speakers) with a CD?MP3 deck and the facotry radio had 2 plugs on the back (see this link for what the connectors looked like)...

http://www.installer-data.com/item/d...php?it=70-1770

The only additional connector was for the antenna (standard coax type connection). I used an adapter (like the one in the link above) to make a wiring harness to the new radio; leaving the dash wiring all intact. It all worked great.

Maybe the 3rd plug is for a seperate amplifier. Does your van have the factory "Premium Sound" option?

 

YOu have the premium sound option. That "third" connector is for the factory amp. You will need to bypass it as it's a common ground system and will damage most aftermarket head units. You'll need to rewire the speakers in the van, and there should be six speakers. One in each front door, one in the slider, or front side door, then one behind the driver's seat, then one in each rear door.

 

Thanks everyone.

The connector in the right top corner with 2 wires is a remote wire run to an optional Ford factory CD changer. My van has an Amp...and I didn't connect the remote (blue) wire from the Alpine to the Ford harness because I didn't think it had an Amp. I was sure the factory stereo went directly to the speakers. Hooked it in, GOT SOUND !!! That's what I get for thinking. Turning something simple into a complex problem. But now I know.