Factory Amp Cable Issue?

[Rockledge]

I've decided to hook up my new bare bones Kenwood HU to the factory JBL premium sound system on my SHO, using the Metra AW-WHFP adapter kit. I've already done a cursory "walk through" type of installation and it actually sounds pretty good, but I think I'm having a problem with the amp cable which I want to clear up before I do a more permanent install.

Here's the deal: when I have it all hooked up, if I twist the very end of amp cable (the part that is plugged into the Metra adapter/connector) I get a lot of static and speakers cutting out, that kind of stuff. It's definitly something in the cable plug that causes the problem(s), not something in the Metra female connector. All the pins on the Metra connector get firmly planted into the holes on the cable plug. If I leave the cable alone, or twist and crimp other isolated parts of the connection, the sound remains fine. I did a lot of twisting and tapping, and I'm fairly certain it's something in the plug itself. So my questions are as follows:

1. Does it sound reasonable that the amp cable-end (plug) could be messed up? They can and do fail, right?

2. If the cable plug is indeed shot, if I cut the gray wire will I find individual wires within that I can splice the Metra connector directly into (i.e., bypass the plug-end)?

3. Is it worth picking up another amp cable (used) and trying it out?

TIA

 

[Rockledge]

Just a quick FWIW.

I decided to go ahead and cut the gray cable, since I know the plug was shot and it was not usable as it stood, and sure enough all the individual wires are contained within it, so I am going to just wire the radio's own harness directly to those wires (essentally rendering 1/2 of the Metra adapter kit I bought unnecessary). I already tried it out that way and it works fine, so I guess that's the end of the story.

 

[Markus]

1. It's possible that there's a flaky connection at the plug although this is rare in my experience. The plug is rarely (if ever) removed from the back of most factory HUs and the opportunity for stressing the connections is therefore low. I realise that the plug often needs a bit of encouragement to come out of the HU and it's possible that this can stress the connections.

2. If you cut off the connector you will find 8 conductors and a ground shield inside the gray cable casing. You could splice the new Metra kit to these wires or you could splice in a new Ford connector. This way if you ever want to put the factory head unit back in you won't have to do any more splicing. These connectors can be easily obtained at a junk yard. If you can't find one I have a bunch of them - you can have one for the cost of shipping. If you need the wiring diagram please let me know - I'll send you one.

3. Removing an exisiting cable is not hard but it is time consuming (I'm assuming you'll be pulling one out of another Taurus). You have to separate the cable from the wiring harness that runs down the side of the car underneath the sill plates and carpet.

 

[Rockledge]

Markus, thanks for the response and offer of plugs.

My SHO's amp cable plug was indeed messed up, when I looked at it closer today I could see broken/crushed female ends inside the plug. With that in mind I figured I had nothing to lose by cutting the cable to see what was in there. Finding the 8 wires, I proceeded to temporarily hook them up to the radio harness connector using wire nuts, and at that point I was able to confirm quality sound without any hitches, even after shaking around the temporary setup pretty good. None of the speaker cut-out and static I was getting before with the plug.

Your suggestion to splice in a regular Ford connector (in lieu of the now dismembered plug-end) is a good one, I think I even have one lying around somewhere, so I'm all set there.

 

[Ace]

ive had that happen to me with my amp cable as well its actually a more common problem than people think...i did the same thing and made my own harness...i may have a couple of plugs myself if you need one...