Can't Isolate Front Speakers
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Can't Isolate Front Speakers
I'm hoping that somebody can help me out with this. The factory unit in my 1993 F-150 Supercab was playing fine, but I upgraded to a new Pioneer CD system. It came as a kit with four new speakers and the head unit. I also bought a Scosche connector to try and keep the wiring simple.
I can use the fader and balance controls to listen to the RL and RR speakers individually. But whenever I try to listen to the FL and FR speakers individually, I still hear both speakers. I can't narrow it down to one or the other.
After checking and rechecking my wiring, I exchanged the head unit. Same problem. I figure that something has to be wrong in the wiring, but I'll be darned if I can figure it out. Scosche's tech support wasn't very helpful (IMHO). Any help would be appreciated. I want to get this thing working properly before I put my dash back together again!
Ron
I can use the fader and balance controls to listen to the RL and RR speakers individually. But whenever I try to listen to the FL and FR speakers individually, I still hear both speakers. I can't narrow it down to one or the other.
After checking and rechecking my wiring, I exchanged the head unit. Same problem. I figure that something has to be wrong in the wiring, but I'll be darned if I can figure it out. Scosche's tech support wasn't very helpful (IMHO). Any help would be appreciated. I want to get this thing working properly before I put my dash back together again!
Ron
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From: B/CS, Texas!!
Are you sure that the Front Left +/- and Front Right +/- from the headunit are not touching in any point? Did you use harnesses?
When putting in the new speakers, did you keep the stock wiring? If so, the problem is right behind the HeadUnit.
When putting in the new speakers, did you keep the stock wiring? If so, the problem is right behind the HeadUnit.
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I can be pretty sure that I don't have positive and negative wires touching. I can't be quite as sure that I didn't solder the wrong wires together (but it all looks good to me) where the stereo harness meets the adapter connector from Scosche. The Scosche connector allowed me to use the factory connectors without having to butcher any of my old wiring.
I did cut the factory connectors off of the speaker wiring and spliced in the speaker wire that came with the new Pioneer speakers. That allowed me to use Pioneers connectors to attach to the speakers.
I did cut the factory connectors off of the speaker wiring and spliced in the speaker wire that came with the new Pioneer speakers. That allowed me to use Pioneers connectors to attach to the speakers.
Last edited by amsuco; Nov 9, 2004 at 09:52 PM.
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If I remember right, the pioneer colors probably didn't match up with your scosche adapter... I would recommend looking in the Pioneer manual to make sure you hooked them up right... It's sounds like you have a a positive for one side with the negative for the other side....
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You may have common ground speaker wiring too. Look at the Scosche adapter where it plus into your factory harness. Are there different colored wies on the other end? Or are some of the wires the same. I suggest disconnecting the Pioneer harness and getting a 12v small battery to "pop" the speaker wiring. Ford is known for not having LF+ and LF- or RF+ and RF- in the same harness. Same for the rears. Pop each set of wires, then start mixing wire colors (speaker wires only-LF white, RF grey, LR green, RR purple) untill you have identified each speaker.
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Front Speaker Wiring Solution
Hey Guys,
To recap, I installed a new receiver and speakers in my '93 F-150 Supercab. My old receiver played through the new speakers fine. But with the new receiver installed, both my front speakers had sound regardless of how I had the fader and balance controls set. I finally gave up and turned my truck over to a professional stereo installer.
He just now gave it back to me (along with a bill for $45.) and told me that the factory had the LF- and RF- wires reversed in the factory connector. He then proceeded to explain why the factory's use of a common ground allowed the old receiver to work OK like this, but not my new Pioneer. I can't really say that I followed all of that, but then again I don't need to. As long as it works...I'm happy. But I appreciate all of the help provided by you guys and wanted to let you know what the culprit ended up being.
To recap, I installed a new receiver and speakers in my '93 F-150 Supercab. My old receiver played through the new speakers fine. But with the new receiver installed, both my front speakers had sound regardless of how I had the fader and balance controls set. I finally gave up and turned my truck over to a professional stereo installer.
He just now gave it back to me (along with a bill for $45.) and told me that the factory had the LF- and RF- wires reversed in the factory connector. He then proceeded to explain why the factory's use of a common ground allowed the old receiver to work OK like this, but not my new Pioneer. I can't really say that I followed all of that, but then again I don't need to. As long as it works...I'm happy. But I appreciate all of the help provided by you guys and wanted to let you know what the culprit ended up being.
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Bixby, OK
A common ground would make it mono on the front and not stereo.. this is weird, sounds like someone at factory wired it wrong..
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Joe Kucinski
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Joined: Nov 2003
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From: El Paso Texas
I had this exact same problem on my 89 F250. On the advice of a forum member, I reversed the grounds for the front speakers, and it solved the problems.
In other words, I wired it the left speaker with left positive and right negative, and the right speaker with right positive left negative.
Now the balance control works for both front and rear.
It appears the factory harness is backwards on some of these trucks. The problem isn't the Scosche wiring connector. Ironically, I wired it the way it should be on my 96 F150 and didn't run into the same problem.
At any rate, glad you have it solved.
In other words, I wired it the left speaker with left positive and right negative, and the right speaker with right positive left negative.
Now the balance control works for both front and rear.
It appears the factory harness is backwards on some of these trucks. The problem isn't the Scosche wiring connector. Ironically, I wired it the way it should be on my 96 F150 and didn't run into the same problem.
At any rate, glad you have it solved.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,240
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From: Dallas, Texas
Originally Posted by RomerB2
How hard is it to run new wires? I have a lot of 16 guage wire, because I found it on clearance, so I got some.
