Where should I start?

[johnny5]

I just picked up a 1989 SHO with the Premium Sound System and have a problem with it. It will not tune in stations very well (the antenna is plugged in securely) and sometimes it will cut out and not work at all. At this time, there is only static. The display still works and shows it is on. When it was working, the speakers only played out the left side and adjusting the balance still would not let them play out the right side. Am I dealing with a radio or amp issue? Any help would be appreciated.

John

 

[rodnock]

When you are dealing with stereo components in a car that old, the best thing to do is get a wire diagram and swap things around to find what the problem is.
Find out what wires going to your amp are left side and right side, cut them in a spot that will be easy to crimp them back together with a butt splice.
Swap the left side and right side (before they go into the amp) and see if it still only plays out of the left side. If it still only plays out of the left side, its your amp. If it switches and now only plays out of the right side, its your head unit.
Most people just install a new head unit and amp, being that stereos are so inexpensive to buy now. They are also made alot better as far as picking up stations compared to 1989 designs.

 

[badcamelot]

Static or poor reception and no sound through one side or another are not directly linked with eachother. The above suggestions are good, but before that (it sounds to me like your head unit is not too healthy) try turning and giggling the balance button on the head unit. If you can hear that the side not working does get sound going through it or trying to, then you likely have all kinds of soldering issues needed with your head unit. Intermittent connections usually indicate that the connections on the circuit board are bad. The most effective way to test right and left are as suggested above, but before you cut wires just try giggling the balance dial. IC amps (the parts that drive the amplified signals for left and right) either work or they dont. If absolutely no luck with either suggestion, then you likely need to have those internal parts replaced. Be aware these units dont have parts available any more, but dont discard you head unit. Go to the local junk yard and find a couple of stereos the same as yours (remember too that other Ford products likely have the same stereo so dont just look for Taurus models) and either buy the whole thing or just remove the guts - if the face is broken or bad the internals still may work - then keep a couple for when they evetually break. That way you can always have a stock unit.