Contemplating my sound system install...

[whiteguy3]

Couple tips for you:

1. Zip-tie/tape the front door speaker wires to the inside frame. If not you could one day have a speaker cut out from the window winding down and catching it, and breaking the connection.

2. Zip-tie the bundles of wires behind the headunit to keep them clean and secured, not just tossed back there.

3. When you install rear deck speakers or front speakers rewire them directly to the headunit (only if you are not using an aftermarket amp.) Most of these newer headunits can power 4 speakers just fine. You can use 12-14awg for speakers.

4. Techinically, the best thing for connections is soldering, I usually do not but it is best to. If not, you can use crimp connections, but heat shrink and e-tape the connections afterwards.

Those are just some simple tips for you. Hope they help. All the supplies needed to do it right are very cheap and can be had for under $20 from harbor freight.

 

[the4biddendonut]

I'm pretty sure the HU has the cage so no worries there, thanks for pointing out what it was to me. After doing some further research, I've read that I can find the extra plug behind the din slots that go straight to the speakers and get the regular ford wiring harness instead of having to buy the amp bypass harness (I know exactly what plug this is, we've used it on my brother's 90). Any one care to clear this up?

There are two harnesses back there. One is gray and one is black. I found mine tucked away on the upper left side of the radio.

 

[Cl-Slick]

I'm going to try and tackle all this sometime between work and school this week. I should be picking up the HU tomorrow, then I'll go to wal-mart and get the harnesses that I need and go from there.

 

[hawkeye18]

Thanks for all the help guys! I'm going to start running the wires for everything this week! Anyone know a good place to run the cable from the battery to the amp through the firewall?

There's a grommet above the brake pedal that makes an excellent entry point. A bit hard to see, but if you stick your hand up above the brake pedal you can feel it. On the engine side, it's on the firewall under the brake booster. You can't see it from any angle, you'll just have to fish for it with your arm.

 

[Cl-Slick]

There's a grommet above the brake pedal that makes an excellent entry point. A bit hard to see, but if you stick your hand up above the brake pedal you can feel it. On the engine side, it's on the firewall under the brake booster. You can't see it from any angle, you'll just have to fish for it with your arm.

Sweet, no drilling!!! So to clarify my question...If I use the stock bypass connection behind the din opening, can I just get a basic wiring harness from Wal-Mart or do I still need to get the amp bypass harness from Crutchfield?

 

[the4biddendonut]

You won't need the bypass. Just remember to disconnect the stock amp.

This is the harness you need. http://www.crutchfield.com/p_120705002/Receiver-Wire-Harness.html?search=ford+harness

 

[Cl-Slick]

You won't need the bypass. Just remember to disconnect the stock amp.

This is the harness you need. http://www.crutchfield.com/p_120705002/Receiver-Wire-Harness.html?search=ford+harness

Thanks a ton!!! I just bought the stereo, came with the cage and everything. I'm going to buy the harness after classes today and try and get started on the wiring.

 

[Cl-Slick]

I bought the harness from Wal-Mart tonight. It was for the regular, not premium sound stereo systems, but it has the two long connectors show in the pic from Crutchfield, but also has two extra plugs. I'm guessing that's because Mazda uses the same wiring harness?

 

[whiteguy3]

what do you need the harness for again?

Even if you are going to keep the stock speakers I would rewire them. At least after that new speakers are even easier to do because the new wiring is already done.

 

[Cl-Slick]

what do you need the harness for again?

Even if you are going to keep the stock speakers I would rewire them. At least after that new speakers are even easier to do because the new wiring is already done.

Beacause I don't feel like running all that mess. I just want some more bass for the time being.


James told me in chat last night that the best route was to get the JBL harness from Best Buy and wire it up that way. Hopefully I can get all this done before work today.

 

[the4biddendonut]

what do you need the harness for again?

Even if you are going to keep the stock speakers I would rewire them. At least after that new speakers are even easier to do because the new wiring is already done.

A lot of work for little pay off.

A little off topic, but just something to think about. If you want top notch performance, the amp bypass harness is definitely not the way to go. Think about how long your speaker wire runs will be to the front speakers. The speaker wires go from the deck to the amp bypass harness and all the way back to the front of the car. Short speaker wire runs are best.

 

[K-Dawg]

Yeah, and IIRC, the wires from the headunit to the trunk are small. Skip them if you can.

 

[Cl-Slick]

Ok, so I talked to James and went to Best Buy to get the JBL wiring harness. I have everything wired up and plugged in, everything works. There is just one small problem...When I change the radio station or the source (cd,radio,aux,ect.) a popping noise comes through the speakers. It doesn't do that when I change tracks on a CD or anything, just radio stations and sources. Any Ideas?

 

[the4biddendonut]

I don't know what you mean by JBL harness.

Was it this kit?



Or this kit maybe?

 

[Cl-Slick]

It's the 1st one pictured, but instead of having to splice wires on the small square harness, mine has RCA jacks that plug into the new HU. My guess is that the stock amp is messed up and should probably be bypassed. That would take all of 5min. because I bought the non-JBL harness too. All I have to do is splice the black rectangular plug in and disconnect the amp and it should be good to go.

 

[Cl-Slick]

FIXED IT!!!! I just used the black plug, wired it all up, unhooked the amps in the back and now I'm good to go! Sounds so much better and there is no popping!!!

 

[Cl-Slick]

Installed the subs yesterday, blew a speaker or too. Just ordered some Kicker speakers for the front and rear. Hoping to have those in by the end of the week.