T-Bird Radio Help

[FFWFD12]

hello! I've got an 88 thunderbird turbo coupe. It was given to me by a family member, it's got every option available for the two years it was made and in pretty good shape. One thing wrong with it was the volume knob on the radio, everything else worked so I was going to replace the radio. Got a radio, hooked everything up and there was no sound? I've seen some things on the internet about there being a factory amplifier, possibly in the trunk, and that it needs to be unhooked for an aftermarket radio to work. But I can't find it. Does anyone know what I am doing wrong or where the amplifier is??? Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[i386]

Re: T-Bird Radio Help

Did you buy a wiring harness to interface the stock plugs or did you cut wires?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: T-Bird Radio Help

Behind the back seat (access thru the trunk...maybe behind a thin panel) is the amp..... you have to buy an adapter that bridges the amp wires and removes the amp from the system..... the current amp will only work w/ford radio.

 

[jsfinn]

Re: T-Bird Radio Help

I've seen them where Bob_VT says in Fords - kind of behind a thin plastic panel to hide wiring. I've also seen them mounted on the top of the trunk - not the lid, but the "roof" of the trunk. Or, sometimes if the back seats fold down, they are under there too.

 

[BeerMonkey]

Re: T-Bird Radio Help

did you hook up the blue/white wires on the harness you got? if not try that. also around those years ford like to use a common ground system for radios which i a pain in the *****. or it could be a common ground amp'd system .

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: T-Bird Radio Help

Provided you used the corrrect wiring harness from the back of the head unit and didnt do the ole chop n' splice to the factory wires... BobVT it right, there is a silver box loacated underneath the rear deck, usually on the right side, although some Crown Vics and other fords had them on the left bolted to the seat back. You need to by a wiring harness that bypasses it. Most audio stores sell them, just dont try splicing it yourself.