Factory amp needs to be plugged in for speakers to work?

SwapMeet · 11-25-2004

I have a 2000 Mustang and had Best Buy put in my Kenwood head unit to replace factory AM/FM + CD Player (non 460). I look and I see what looks to be a small amplifier. After a lot of work, I take it out, thinking I probably don't need it. Besides, isn't that what my head unit's for? To give it a little bit of juice? I take it out, thinking it was redundant, since if it was there, it would be amplifying an already amplified signal from the head unit. I plug everything back in.... no worky. Does the factory amp complete the circuit or something? Any way I can keep the damn thing out of my car and still connect the speakers? The wiring harness for that thing is ridiculously hard to get to. Took me forever to get it off the thing. It would take me days to crimp a connector on it.

bgt98 · 12-07-2004

where was this AMP located? behind the radio inside the dash or on the rear deck? If your speaker wires run through it it means that its kinda needed to make the speakers work. I wouldn't see any reason in taking it out. An amp increases your RMS to the speakers for better sound quality.

SwapMeet · 12-07-2004

It's located behind the radio, slightly below it, mounted to the floor. I ask because I'm planning on putting an aftermarket amplifier into my car. I just wonder what happens to the signal if I add the aftermarket.

Originally [Factory Head Unit - Factory Amp Thing (described above) - Speakers]
Now [Kenwood Head Unit - Aftermarket Wiring Harness - Factory Amp Thing - Speakers]
Future [Kenwood Head Unit PreOuts - Aftermarket Amp - Aftermarket Wiring Harness - Factory Amp Thing - Speakers]

The third setup is what has me worried... what happens if you amplify an already amplified signal?

I've taken a look at the way it's setup, and it would take A LOT of work to rewire the speakers to the amplifier if I were to forgo the existing speaker wires that lead to the wiring harness.

bgt98 · 12-08-2004

yeah, i hear that. What i did was bypass my amp in the dash. There should be a quick connect on either side of the amp. The installer gave me a bypass harnness. Ovation in lexington, ky had the do-hickey. I've never seen one other than this. But i did re-wire the car. Larger gauge wires run down the center of the car to an amp mounted on the backside of the seat and then back to the speakers. I hate using small small wires. It was quite a job though. Esp. if you're not savvy with whats going on.

White_Noise · 05-01-2008

I have a 92 Mustang GT with the Ford Premium Sound System. When i got a new 4 channel amp i just ran RCA's from the deck to the amp and speaker wire off of the amp to the speakers. There are no Speaker wires coming off of the deck there for automaticly eliminating the factory amp. If you wanted to bypass the factory amp W/out an aftermarket amp just run new wire to the speakers off the deck. I had to take out the factory amp to i would have room for my wires off of my deck and EQ.

quickpony1982 · 05-01-2008

Yes you need that amp to make a complete circut of all your audio with out that you will have nothing, you can either replace it or go out and by a newer model amp and mount it under your passanger seat or into your truck and just run the wires from the harness of the stereo to the amp, but as i said with out that amp you will have nothing hope this helps have any more questions please feel free to ask, i can answer most of your questions as i work for a car audio store have a great day

snowboarder7710 · 05-17-2008

you need the metra harness 70-5513. you only use the larger plug on it and cut off the other. it plugs into the amp harness that goes directly to the speakers. just wire it to the deck and its long enough to reach from where the plug is to where the new radio is. that is what i did when i installed my g/fs stereo in her 2000 mustang. the factory amp sucks!

DEEZNUTS · 05-20-2008

take the stock out

94mustangblue · 06-23-2009

hope someone can help. I have a 94 mustang all stock original. The radio has problems. 1) tuner wont tune to any station. 2) no sound of any kind, not even with a cassette. however, it makes a very faint pop thru the speakers when you turn it off and on. I have checked all fuses... they are good. it has power and display.

Is this a problem with the head unit or the amp? there is a small amp mounted to the hump below the radio. i pulled the radio to make sure everything was still plugged in tight and noticed it. i wouldnt have thought that the basic am/fm/cassette would have had an amp... but it does. and it is factory.

any help would be appreciated.