stereo system

Does anyone know before I start ripping out my system if on a 2002 tuarus sel stereo system with a 6 disc changer it can be adapted or changed to hook up an amplifier??

Do you already have the amplifier? Does it have the capability to accept high-level inputs?

You could utilize the speaker level (high-level) inputs if the amp has that, or purchase or build a line-level converter to convert the speaker level to low-level (RCA).

You may also need to adapt the remote turn on or find a switched ignition input.

Does your car have the Electronic Automatic Temperature Controls (EATC) or manual (knobs) for the Heat/Vent/AC controls? If you are planning to upgrade the deck, then you hopefully have the manual controls. So far I'm not aware of anyone who makes an adapter plate for the EATC.

-Rod

I already have the amp,speakers and subs from my old car and yes it has eatc,which I understand is not a good thing whn it comes to stereos!!
Does anyone know if I can just adapt the amp to hook up to the current system thats in the car???

I already have the amp,speakers and subs from my old car and yes it has eatc,which I understand is not a good thing whn it comes to stereos!!
Does anyone know if I can just adapt the amp to hook up to the current system thats in the car???


yah, I'm doing the same thing to mine this weekend. I also have eatc, but I purchased a line level converter from ebay for 9 bucks including shipping and it arrived today. I'm just going to patch into the two rear deck speakers from the trunk with the converter and then run that into the amp RCA inputs. I read somewhere here that the blue wire on the stereo "brains" located in the trunk of all tauruses is good for a remote for the amp. It controls the power antennea, which my car does not have (I think only the wagons had it). Then just run like a 10 or 12 guage wire with fuse to the battery up front and a ground and you should be good to go. I'll post back if I run into anything problematic once I get into it.

Hey umina,if that works out for you this weekend can you give me a shout here?? I would like to get mine changed over asap as well and dont really want the hassle of ripping eveything out if I dont need to!!
Thanx!

If the amp you already have has high level inputs, you will not need the line level converter. Many high-end amps do not have a high level input option, but it's worth checking.

If you are interested in electronics, you can fairly easily make your own line level converter with 4 resistors and two capacitors, about $1 worth of parts.

-Rod

Well i'm an idiot, this thing is nothing like my old thunderbird. I can't find a place to run the power lead through the firewall. Theres like NO room and the one rubber gromet I can find (to the outboard side of the power steering booster) does not seem to lead into the car. Anyone point me to a spot i'm missing, or will this require drilling a hole in the firewall? I'm not sure I'm that gung ho about it if it means putting a hole in the firewall that wasn't there before. Let me know if anyone knows anything.

Also, which "blue" wire on the control unit is the remote lead for the power antennea, I counted several......
Thanks again!

Well i'm an idiot, this thing is nothing like my old thunderbird. I can't find a place to run the power lead through the firewall. Theres like NO room and the one rubber gromet I can find (to the outboard side of the power steering booster) does not seem to lead into the car. Anyone point me to a spot i'm missing, or will this require drilling a hole in the firewall? I'm not sure I'm that gung ho about it if it means putting a hole in the firewall that wasn't there before. Let me know if anyone knows anything.

Also, which "blue" wire on the control unit is the remote lead for the power antennea, I counted several......
Thanks again!

As for a spot to come through the firewall, I cannot help you on that. You may need to run a wire down the underside of the car (fuse protected near the battery) and come in through the floor of the trunk.

Assuming your Taurus is also a 2002 model year:
As to the "blue" wire you can use, terminal 10 of connector c388a is the remote turn on lead for the power antenna. This wire will have power whenever the audio system is powered on (radio, cassette, or CD). The wire is a Red wire with a pink tracer in the 14-terminal connector at the RCU in the trunk.

-Rod

Yep, I second the suggestion right above, it's easier to run the wire under the car to the back, then in... I did it with a large wire for a power inverter, it's a whole lot easier, you can do a nice neat job too,,there aren't many access points to get a wire thru the firewall that are easily done, besides there's so much stuff, I'd be afraid of damaging an important part