1997 Lincoln Town Car radio with JBL to aftermarket

[marquisman]

Im trying to install my pioneer head unit that I have from my old lincoln, into my new to me '97 town car. The car has the JBL system. So, I bought a harness that intergrates the factory amp and head units pre-outs... so I thought. This is what I have




Only problem, the green plug wont fit. The green plug and the plug from the car look like they should match but, they dont.


Is this what I need?

http://www.installer.com/item/display_item.php?it=ROEM-FRD2

Anyone have experience with this shit and can help me out? Thanks!

[miamibob]

Not sure on your vehicle but in my '87 GM the second photo shows what I used to integrate the Premium Sound System (Amp) with my Alpine HU. IIRC the amp only works the front speakers (two dash and two doors). Bobby

[marquisman]

Also, The flat grey power pig tail is good. It powers up my deck and all the wires match. Its just the speaker side going to the amp. I have used the intergration harnesses before for the 88+ premium sound sytems. I am quite familiar with the older stuff. This is my first newer car, so I dont have much experience with the newer stereo installs.

[marquisman]

Or do I need this?

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_12668_Metra-70-5601.html

[tjc78]

You need the last one you posted. The "radio" in the dash is just a control head. The unit in the trunk is everything else. You have no antenna plug in the dash, correct?

[gadget73]

first thing should be correct, but its probably for the wrong type of head unit. Likely someone mixed up JBL and premium connectors or something. I used a similar one, though with the older type connector, to put an aftermarket radio in Scott's Mark VII and it worked fine. I test ran it in my Mark and it also worked well.

[tjc78]

The 95-97 LTC has a weird setup. The radio tuner, amp, and all the speaker wires are in the trunk. The unit in the dash is just a control head. You need the last kit MM posted so you can get power/ground at the head unit and then bring up all the speaker wires and antenna connection from the trunk to the head-unit. Sucks!

[marquisman]

Well that sucks. I was really hoping the regular harness would work, so I could avoid much install work. One thing Im confused about, how can the line level speaker wires connect to the amp? You would think the RCA pre-outs would be used. Or does the amp get by-passed and the harness taps into the speaker harness, like the older style by-pass harnesses?

[tjc78]

Yes, the amp is by-passed and you are tapping into the speaker harness. It really is a crazy setup. I assume you can't interface with that system at all since the box in the trunk is more than just an amp, it is the radio tuner and brain of the whole system. I think the kit you linked also has the antenna extension, you will need that.

[marquisman]

Well, I found this. But, cant get much info. The pig tail looks like the back of my radio.

http://www.builderdepot.com/browse.ihtml?step=5&prodstoreid=12711&pid=1650901

If I could get a part number, I could maybe get a more detailed aplication.


But yes, your right. I think the fact that the radio is actually just a "remote tuner", makes this install a bit more involved and crazy.

[gadget73]

oh, its that bullshit. yay.

[marquisman]

Yes indeedy. It is bullshit. Oh well, got to do it if I want to install my newer deck. Listening to conventional radio is killing me. So, not having an antenna does not bother me lol. Local caraudio shop is a pioneer and metra dealer. Guess I will call and order this shit tomorrow.

[marquis_82_withneons]

rip the shit out and hard wire that mofo.. lol

[fmansfield444]

Not sure if my 2000 is all wired to the back like yours, but I know my CD player is in the back.

I added basically just a jumper harness to mine to play my iphone rather than the CD player. It all worked up at the head unit. I still use my factory unit though.

Do you have steering wheel controls? If/when you wire your pioneer up and if you're able to keep the steering controls let me know how you did it.

Also I'd imagine hard wiring it all yourself would be just as much of a pain since its gotta go all the way to the back of the car

[marquis_82_withneons]

its significantly more work obviously.. but the result of new wiring and your own amps is well worth it.