QuestionQUESTION: I just installed an aftermarket stereo in my 96 ford explorer. there is power to the stereo but no sound. it has a factory amplifier and i dont know if htat has anything to do with it.
ANSWER: Hi Aaron,
The factory amplifier could certainly be the problem. When you install a new head unit, you'll either need to bypass the amp, so that all the speakers are connected directly to the head unit; or you'll need to integrate it, so that the factory amp still runs all the speakers. If you integrate, you'll need to activate the amplifier. This is done by connecting the factory amplifier's turn-on wire to the remote output wire on your new head unit. In your vehicle, the turn-on wire is at one end of the gray 8-pin plug (the opposite end from the main power wire).
Bypassing the amplifier is preferable, but it's more work, because you need to remove the right side panel in the cargo area to expose the amplifier.
A few of these vehicles are equipped with premium JBL audio systems, with a rear-mounted tuner. They can be recognized by the absence of an AM/FM antenna connection at the factory head unit location. If your Explorer is equipped with the JBL system, then your only option is to bypass the amplifier.
Hope this helps!
Brian
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QUESTION: Well it turns out the people at best buy do not think it is a factory amp because it has the name "The Hott Set-up" on it and a light to indicate it has power. but it has no visible place to hook up subwoofers or speakers to it. can i still integrate it the way u said or is there something else i should do?
AnswerWow--haven't seen those in a while. The "Hott Set-up" amplifiers were actually made by Orion, and were sold only by Best Buy--about ten years ago. They weren't around very long, and the early models didn't have speaker and power terminals like you see on all modern amps; if I recall correctly, it just had power and speaker wires coming out of it, and you had to know which color was which.
Anyway, that's definitely an after-market amplifier, not factory. However, that doesn't mean you don't also have a factory amp. The Hott Set-up amp may have been used for a subwoofer which has since been removed, rather than used for the front/rear speakers. If you have a factory amplifier equipped (and they're very common in the Explorer) then it will be located under the side panel on the passenger side of the cargo area, and not visible unless you remove the panel.
The trouble is, since it's clearly had after-market equipment installed at some point, then there's no telling what kind of alterations have been made to the factory wiring. The factory amp may still be equipped; or it may have been bypassed. The speakers may still be connected to the factory wiring, or they may be connected to the Hott Set-up amplifier, or they may be connected to wires running to some point you haven't found yet.
Did the vehicle have a working factory or after-market radio installed before you put the new one in, or did it just have a hole in the dash?
Unfortunately, it's not very likely I'll be much help to you if there's been significant alteration of the original wiring. You'll need to take some panels off, do some testing, and figure out where the speakers are currently connected, before you'll be able to make the new head unit work.
Good luck!
Brian
