Ford Premium Sound problems

On my '86 Country Squire, I believe the amp has given up the ghost. Why do I say that? Because when the power is turned OFF to the stock head unit, the speakers will still have static and will "pop" for up to a minute before it quits.

Where is the amp on a Country Squire wagon??? I want to try the easy fix first, by checking grounds and cleaning connectors first, before pulling the whole works and putting in aftermarket speakers, wiring and a new head unit and amp.

 

I've taken one from a 1989 Lincoln Sedan. It was behind the back seat. My guess is that on your wagon, it would be in the rear cargo side panels OR, if you don't have a center speaker in the dash, that's where it will be. The Lincoln also had a 6-CD box unit and an equalizer but I never bothered to pull that. The AMP was similar to my stock, in-dash amp, even on that newer Lincoln.

 

The amp in an '80s Panther platform is in the top center of the dash. Access is from the top, after removing the dash pad. Norman, I still haven't been able to get to my amp (I have a bad heart and it's buried in storage), but if I did and Patrick needs it, I'd like to offer it to him, even though I had promised it to you.

 

By all means! I've got 2 of them.

If Patrick has a stock equalizer or electronic radio vs the knob-type. He needs the right amp:

http://www.fordpartsgiant.com/parts-list/1986-mercury-marquis/radio-radio-amplifier-system.html

 

I've got a regular Ford AM/FM/cassette I bought from Hobo a while back that I was going to use in another car. My understanding on the radios is that it's possible to install the normal radio in place of the PS unit, and simply plug it into the proper spot that will bypass the AMP wiring harness entirely, without any cutting.

L to R: Spare radio, current radio, back of the spare.

 

The Spare radio goes with a regular AMP. The current radio is an Electronic Radio - you need the AMP for that one, per the link I posted earlier. The electronic radio has the AMP switch built into it. The Spare uses an external switch, mounted close to your RH knee, either below the dash or just above. That white connector is missing connections to the external AMP switch.

Here's the EVTM Pages (Electrical and Vacuum Troubleshooting Manual) for a 1986 Mustang:

 

Check here with the 18B849 core part number:
http://www.rearcounter.com/results.php?s=18B849

AZ, BZ, SZ, ZZ or even OZ, not 0Z. E6SZ or E5AZ, etc. TZ is for Truck models (Bronco, Ranger, Aerostar, F-series)

The -A, -B, -C suffixes are Engineering change numbers (ECN). Not necessarily the type of AMP.

Your connector is wrong for a normal Stereo radio. Looks more like an Aftermarket adapter, that some previous owner had.

 

Mmkay. I have someone I'm lining up to help me in my storeroom in the next few weeks, so hopefully I'll find the amplifier. I also have an 'electronic' radio with an equalizer, so I should pull it out (I forgot about it years ago), snap a pic, and post it for sale, since I never did use it.

 

Let me know! I'd rather keep a factory unit in the car, versus having to go through all the nonsense installing an aftermarket unit.

 

I'm not sure it'll work for you, as I think it's a 1990 unit, IIRC. But I'll check it out and photograph it, then post them up.

 

It's a shame that Ford is NOT like Chrysler's factory units. From 1975 on to about 2002, the chassis for the radio is identical, as are the mounting points and plug-ins. Only difference are that the earlier radios use a common ground for the speakers, which means you have to run new speaker wire in the older cars.

 

Hey, I'm getting ready to post the pics but I sent you them by phone; did you receive them?

 

I got the pics, but I'll need to send them to my wife's phone - I have a 3G phone and a tiny little picture!

 

Wow! I'm not touching that with my ten-foot pole!

 

I wanted to wait to post the pics here since I only get to do it once. If you have any problems sending them, let me know and I'll post them here, instead of the For Sale section.