Where is the Amp?
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Freshman User
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Where is the Amp?
I just installed a aftermarket CD player in my 95 Aerostar. I have a cracking sound from the front speakers. I have read in the forums that this may be caused by the amp for the rear headphones. I want to make sure this is the problem and not blown speakers. The system is a 180 watt system which is about 45 watts/channel. I will appreciate any info on this subject.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,014
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From: SoCal
The amp that comes with the premium sound system is usually part of the graphic equalizer. If you don't have that, it is usually screwed to the lower or back part of the main radio.
The front speakers are not part of the rear controls, which only control the rear speakers.
The front speakers are not part of the rear controls, which only control the rear speakers.
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Freshman User
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Okay,............two questions, first, define premium sound system, I have(had) a am/fm cassette with the bass, treble, fader, balance and dolby controls. Does this qualify as a premium system? Secondly, si the amp the black box located under the ashtray just above the floorboard?
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,452
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From: Southern California
Quint:
1) No, that does not qualify as premium.
2) No, that black box is the computer for the Rear ABS.
3) The CD player you installed might have floating grounds for the speakers, i.e. each speaker has its own negative wire. The wiring in the Aerostar is different. All speakers share the same common negative wire. That might be where your problem is.
1) No, that does not qualify as premium.
2) No, that black box is the computer for the Rear ABS.
3) The CD player you installed might have floating grounds for the speakers, i.e. each speaker has its own negative wire. The wiring in the Aerostar is different. All speakers share the same common negative wire. That might be where your problem is.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: North Jersey, New Jersey
The common ground is the problem when I installed a new radio in one of my Accords (a JVC) that manual specifically stated if your vehicle used a common ground it can cause problems luckily my car didn't.
According to Cooper the Aeros have common grounds for the speakers so you have no choice but to rewire the speakers so that each speaker has its own ground to the radio.
I'm not sure if you used a conversion harness or just cut the factory one away I personally use a conversion harness in case I ever want to return the factory radio.
Anyways if you look at the diagram with the radio I'm sure you have 2 speaker grounds unoccupied. Just to fathom a guess I would say that they have a common ground for the rears and another for the fronts. I'm sure Cooper will be able to deny or confirm this one.
According to Cooper the Aeros have common grounds for the speakers so you have no choice but to rewire the speakers so that each speaker has its own ground to the radio.
I'm not sure if you used a conversion harness or just cut the factory one away I personally use a conversion harness in case I ever want to return the factory radio.
Anyways if you look at the diagram with the radio I'm sure you have 2 speaker grounds unoccupied. Just to fathom a guess I would say that they have a common ground for the rears and another for the fronts. I'm sure Cooper will be able to deny or confirm this one.
Last edited by krankshaft; Apr 1, 2007 at 04:27 PM.
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Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Southern California
The factory radio has two connectors. One is for power, ground & a permanent (hot at all times) wire to keep the station memory and clock, etc...
The second connector has 4 wires for the front left/right and rear left/right positive wires and one single common negative wires for all speakers. The rest of the pins are for remote up/down station searches & volume controls etc... from the rear panel on the left side of the leftmost second row seat.
I recommend that you ignore this second connector and wire the speakers directly. Fortunately, you can tap into the rear speakers from a connector right below the fuse panel and it makes the job a whole lot easier. let me know the year and engine size of your van and I'll see if I can scare up a picture or two of the connector you need to mess with.
The second connector has 4 wires for the front left/right and rear left/right positive wires and one single common negative wires for all speakers. The rest of the pins are for remote up/down station searches & volume controls etc... from the rear panel on the left side of the leftmost second row seat.
I recommend that you ignore this second connector and wire the speakers directly. Fortunately, you can tap into the rear speakers from a connector right below the fuse panel and it makes the job a whole lot easier. let me know the year and engine size of your van and I'll see if I can scare up a picture or two of the connector you need to mess with.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Lanham,MD
I had the problem in my 95, but I installed a pac line level converter. I don't have the EQ but my speaker have premium on the back and it wouldn't play until installing the converter for common ground.
Former ******
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,901
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From: Salt Lake City, Utah
So are you saying that to get really good sound out of the system you should run new wires so that each speaker has a return negative to the the amp? If this is so, then I need to change my system. I've noticed that even with new speakers the sound is sometimes weak sounding, and I do get some craking, even though the speakers are rated to 135 watts on the front, and 75 watts on the rear.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 312
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From: Lanham,MD
PAC II car audio line level converter comes will instructions and lets you use the factory stereo with after market amps or high powered stereo to Ford commom ground system with good sound quailty. www.Crutchfield.com carry it .
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Freshman User
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Thanks a lot Copper, I wired the front speakers directly (a real pain on the drivers side) and they work great. I am going to try and find the connector for the rear speakers. I am going to try an old trick I learned that uses a AA battery to find the correct speakers to wire. (You can still provide the picture of the connector). Wish me luck!!!