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Topic: Stock stereo...no sound - 87 TC (Read 4307 times) previous topic - next topic

Stock stereo...no sound - 87 TC

I will be the first to admit that I don't know much about the stock stereo systems in these cars.  I bought my 87 TC with no stereo so I bought a factory tape player to put in.  The TC came with the premium sound option with no equalizer and so did the donor car.  The factory stereo plugs were intact so I just plugged it in and got power to the stereo but no sound.  I pulled out one of the dash speakers and it was some cheap aftermarket unit, but it was connected to the factory wiring.  I looked in the trunk and the factory amp is unplugged.

So here are my questions.  Can I keep the stock head unit and put in all aftermarket speakers?  I don't need an awesome stereo, just some music to drive around but I would prefer it to sound decent.  I used to always put aftermarket stereos in but honestly, I am tired of carrying around stereo faces with me.  Assuming that I can use aftermarket speakers, can I run them from the factory amp or should I put in an aftermarket amp?  Can I add a subwoofer if I feel the need?  I don't have a problem running wiring, splicing into things or whatever, just need some direction to guide me.

Thanks, and sorry if these questions have been answered before.
1986 Mercury Cougar - 2.3T/T5 swap, TC brakes and suspension and rearend, 3" exhaust, 255 lph fuel pump, Stinger BOV, Gillis MBC @ 18 psi
2003 Chevy Suburban Z71 - Daily driver
2015 Chevy Volt - Wife's daily driver

Stock stereo...no sound - 87 TC

Reply #1 –
Did you try plugging the factory amp back in ?
Fox-less at the moment

Stock stereo...no sound - 87 TC

Reply #2 –
Sorry, I meant to say that.  Yes, I plugged it in and it made no difference.
1986 Mercury Cougar - 2.3T/T5 swap, TC brakes and suspension and rearend, 3" exhaust, 255 lph fuel pump, Stinger BOV, Gillis MBC @ 18 psi
2003 Chevy Suburban Z71 - Daily driver
2015 Chevy Volt - Wife's daily driver

Stock stereo...no sound - 87 TC

Reply #3 –
There are two speaker plugs in the cars that have the amp in the trunk, one runs the audio through the amp the other bypasses it... Fish around in the opening above the radio(usually on right) for the second plug, if you find it disconnect the premium amp and see if you have sound...

BTW if the unit you bought is for the cars that had the EQ(slide balance control on radio) it has no internal amp to drive the speakers or amp, there is a amp for that in the EQ...

Stock stereo...no sound - 87 TC

Reply #4 –
Well I found some stuff out.  This car originally had an EQ.  The factory speaker plug was the one with only 3 wires and the EVTM shows a amp filter in the trunk by the amp (not shown for non- EQ cars) which this car has.  So I bought the wrong head unit because I assumed the cubby hole was there from the factory and not added on to delete the EQ for an aftermarket stereo setup.  I didn't find the extra plug for the amp bypass either.  Also on closer examination the speakers were connected to the factory wiring at the speaker but aftermarket wiring behind the dash and cut off. 

Ok, so what can I do with the stereo that I have?  What speakers does it power and what speakers does it leave to be powered by the amp?
1986 Mercury Cougar - 2.3T/T5 swap, TC brakes and suspension and rearend, 3" exhaust, 255 lph fuel pump, Stinger BOV, Gillis MBC @ 18 psi
2003 Chevy Suburban Z71 - Daily driver
2015 Chevy Volt - Wife's daily driver

Stock stereo...no sound - 87 TC

Reply #5 –
This is what is in there now.

1986 Mercury Cougar - 2.3T/T5 swap, TC brakes and suspension and rearend, 3" exhaust, 255 lph fuel pump, Stinger BOV, Gillis MBC @ 18 psi
2003 Chevy Suburban Z71 - Daily driver
2015 Chevy Volt - Wife's daily driver

Stock stereo...no sound - 87 TC

Reply #6 –
The radio/tape you have does have a internal amp and should drive the speakers with or without the amp... Apparently you have a wiring issue or that one is defective... The EQ head doesn't have the four controls below the tape opening, only a slide control for balance...

BTW there should defiantly be a second speaker plug, it's generally taped to another harness above the EQ opening... Crystal found the one in hers, keep looking... When using the 2nd plug that bypasses the amp in back must be unplugged or it will smoke(many of us have verified that for a fact)...

I'd like to see someone fit one of these Mustang Mp3 units in a Fox Bird/Coug, I have this one in my '98 Grand Marquis driver...

http://members.pen 15s.net/turbocoupe50/gmmp3.jpg

Stock stereo...no sound - 87 TC

Reply #7 –
The radio/tape you have does have a internal amp and should drive the speakers with or without the trunk amp... Apparently you have a wiring issue or that one is defective...

BTW there should defiantly be a second speaker plug, it's generally taped to another harness above the EQ opening... Crystal found the one in hers, keep looking...

Stock stereo...no sound - 87 TC

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Loaded87IROC;339856
This is what is in there now.



I have a near mint stereo just like that in the garage.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Stock stereo...no sound - 87 TC

Reply #9 –
Too bad I don't have 40 bucks  :hick:

I think this radio works fine, just have wiring issues/questions.
1986 Mercury Cougar - 2.3T/T5 swap, TC brakes and suspension and rearend, 3" exhaust, 255 lph fuel pump, Stinger BOV, Gillis MBC @ 18 psi
2003 Chevy Suburban Z71 - Daily driver
2015 Chevy Volt - Wife's daily driver

Stock stereo...no sound - 87 TC

Reply #10 –
I have the extra plug to,it was behind the glove box.
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +

Stock stereo...no sound - 87 TC

Reply #11 –
Just to update this.  I took radio back out and hooked it up to a battery and hooked a speaker up directly to it.  The radio powered up fine, but no sound, just a little bit of static.  So the radio doesn't work.  Great. 

Thanks for the help though guys.
1986 Mercury Cougar - 2.3T/T5 swap, TC brakes and suspension and rearend, 3" exhaust, 255 lph fuel pump, Stinger BOV, Gillis MBC @ 18 psi
2003 Chevy Suburban Z71 - Daily driver
2015 Chevy Volt - Wife's daily driver

Stock stereo...no sound - 87 TC

Reply #12 –
You can have mine for $35.00 shipped.It needs a home.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..