Howdy,

I have a 93 F250 pickup w/ factory radio/cass.
I want to take that radio out and put in a factory radio/CD player. The radio/CD says it will only work with premium sound, so what's the easiest way to find out if I have premium sound??

Thanks in advance,
Gr8ride

 

Does anybody know??



Gr8ride

 

Do you possibly have the original window sticker (I keep mine for sentimental reasons) or the owner's manual? The sticker would say what kind of sound system is installed. The manual should have instructions for all the different stereos available for that year, just match up the pic with your stereo.

If none of that helps, I believe my old SHO actually had 'premium sound' written on the cassette door.

I don't know if you're trying to keep the truck looking stock, or can get your hands on a factory CD for cheap, but I would think an aftermarket stereo would cost less.

 

Thanks for the reply GotBeer.
I am the second owner so I don't have the window sticker.
As for the owners manual the previous owner kept it.

I can get a rebuilt factory radio/cd player with a 1yr warranty
for $120. You guessed it, I like to try to keep the truck looking factory, and I really like the quality of sound from the stock system. Also I don't care for the aftermarket radios with all the tiny buttons.

Thanks for the suggestions,
Gr8ride

BTW can I ask audio questions for makes other than Ford here??

 

To find out if you have premium sound, you have to get the numbers of the back of the radio and call your Ford dealer and they will tell you. I found that I don't have premium sound, ohwell.

Gr8ride

 

humm, do you have the cd player for the premium sound, or were you thinking about getting it?? i'm looking for one for my 92 grandmarquis, with premium sound

 

I was thinking about getting it. The one that I was looking at was on ebay, there seem to be quite a few on there.

Gr8ride

 

Pull out your radio and look at the connection and you will be able to tell if it is premium sound. Check this link for the type you have http://www.installdr.com/InstallDocs/FLM/F-150.html Go down and you will see a drawing of the two different harnesses.

 

Thanks for the link. A lot easier than calling ford.


Gr8ride

 

Um... Don't take this wrong but you sound like monkeys flying the space shuttle. Premium Sound is how many watts your system is, Premium Sound usually is around 100 watts, 25x4or 50x2 depending on how many speakers there are. Secondly if you have 96 or newer truck with passive anti-theft if you take out your stock deck and disconnect it from the power supply or disconnect the speaker multi out din your car will not start again without the proper code from ford to re activate your anti theft. back to the system if you don't have premium sound then all that is required is changing your speakers so if you put in the cd player deck and your speaker arn't rated to the decks output power then you should change your speakers too mach or exceed the output power. Ohh and by the way nice link though a little out dated, I just installed some Boston Acoustics NX87 in my ranger and none of the listed colors exist beyond black/ground.

 

ceaser, dont take this the wrong way. but, p/s is a completly different system than some of the older systems that are single din and have pwered head units. the p/s (premium sound) system needs an amp to push the factory cd player that fits a single din. so please do your homework before you start calling names. and i hpoe this answers any other questions.

thank you and good day

 

I did do my homework but i never venture to take my radio out again to continue the research because last time i did that passive theft thing kick over and my car wouldn't start. so i went strictly by owners manual and ford service tech. No offense taken though.

 

boy that "passive theft system" sounds really stupid and dangerous. suppose you have to park in a bad neighborhood, and someone steals the radio, YOU'RE STUCK THERE!!!!!!!!!
great concept

 

i though so to but it is supposed to be part the key reader or something like that was what i was told by ford.

 

Hello,
Think I'll put my bit in.I installed a ford factory am/fm cd player in my 89 f150 that i bought off ebay,it was sold with the factory amp.yes you need the amp for the premium factory unit.How do you know if ya got one,just what the previous poster stated pull out the radio player and look for a square metal shielded cable,thats the cable that runs to the amp,the cable is the color and size of a factory spark plug wire.The amp in my 96 bronco is located just above the gas pedal.Its not hard to install this set up but you will need the head unit and amp.And cable.Now it was sho nuff good having the amp with my purchase,but i needed the plug end,ie.. cable end to connect to my speakers which i proceeded to search several salvage yards to get. A Lincoln Mercury Mark8 supplied the needed plug end.The big question now is how did all this sound?Not that great.But it looks good!

Billy.