Switching to JBL Sound System...

[JustinMarkVII]

Today, I picked up a free JBL audio system (speakers, amp) from a '94 Town Car to put in my '94 Town Car with just regular premium sound.

Anyways, I went ahead and installed the rear 6x9 speakers... but, I'm a bit confused about the amp. It has a dual amp type setup with a subwoofer. I know it will bolt in because the holes are there for the bolts, but will the plugs from that currently power the premium sound amp work on the JBL amp or is it a different wiring harness? Anyone know?

[ August 11, 2003: Message edited by: JustinMarkVII ]

[Charles A.]

It should be a different wiring harness. Perhaps the main amp uses the same physical connector, but the wiring will be different.

You need the following for JBL:

--JBL head unit
--Front JBL speakers
--Rear JBL speakers
--RCU (remote chassis unit, i.e. main amp)
--Subwoofer amplifier
--Subwoofer enclosure and speaker
--JBL wiring harness

It doesn't sound like you have everything you need yet.

Now I am not that familiar with pre-1995 systems, but I do recall that my '92 with JBL did not have any labels on the head unit. But my understanding is the head unit is different because the JBL system uses a differential signal to the amp.

BTW, I am in the process of doing this to my '95 as well but I don't have all the stuff needed either.

Do you have a factory wiring diagram for your year? If not, get one!

BTW, "Ford Premium Sound" and JBL are basically the same thing. The Town Car came standard with a system that was sometimes called a "deluxe" system but Premium was always optional except on Cartier models where it was standard equipment.

[ August 11, 2003: Message edited by: Charles A. ]

[JustinMarkVII]

Thanks Charles. I know the '90-'94 headunits for the cars are all the same, though... the JBL isn't different. Thanks for tellign me abou the speaker designations as well, too.

BTW, How do you wire the subwoofer enclosure/subwoofer amp into the main system? Are there plugs somewhere hidden? Or does the main JBL amplifer have the plugs that lead to the subwoofer amplifer? What's it like on the 95+ system?

[ August 11, 2003: Message edited by: JustinMarkVII ]

[JustinMarkVII]

Hmm... just for giggles, I got my spare JBL amp from my Mark VII, and its got the same plugs as the non-JBL Town Car amp... weird indeed!

[Charles A.]

Hmmm. . .

Well, step one in any project like this is get a wiring diagram! smile.gif

I don't have any diagrams for anything prior to '95 so I don't know. From what you've said it sounds like the head unit is the same so the wire harness may be as well but perhaps there is a separate harness that runs from the RCU to the sub amp? Again, without a diagram there's no way to tell.

Starting in '95 the JBL system is wired completely different from standard and requires a separate head unit.

[rj]

My recollection on a 92 is the input to the subwoofer amp is fed by the rear speaker wires.

[Tman70]

Since this topic is still open, may I ask also, "Has anyone completed this changeover yet?" I, too have "all" the parts "needed" for the swap or so I was told... The main problem I have at this point, is that my RCU (F5VF-18C851-BD) does not have the necessary connector (C414) to plug in the subwoofer. There is a spot for it in the unit, but it is blanked off! The other 3 connectors (C451, C416, C452) are there. Looking at the wiring diagram, C414 appears to be a shielded pigtail coming out of the RCU. Can anyone confirm this? By the way, this is a 95 TC with cell phone and no CD but with a JBL HU installed that I just swapped in(sounds better already!). So, I guess I'm looking for a RCU from a 95 TC with JBL and cell phone that someone wishes to "part with" for a nominal fee. I've read most of the posts on aftermarket stuff, but I'd like to be different and stay as original as possible. My high frequency hearing is gone anyway, so...

[groover000]

I guess I will jump in here now too. I have a 95 Cartier, but the stereo is not working. When the unit is on there is no sound until it is turned up almost all the way and then you can just barely hear it. Does anyone have any idea of what the problem is and how I might go about fixing it. My wife and I just had a baby and I can't afford to put a complete new system in right now, but I am going crazy not being able to listen to anything; even if it is just the radio. Any help would be appreciated.

[rj]

Either head unit or rear amp. I'd vote for head unit. Might try ebay.

Moving to audio...

[Tman70]

You'll have to reformat this...

Retrieving Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs)

The luxury audio system has on-board diagnostic capabilities and is equipped to check for every component available in the luxury system even if this specific vehicle is not equipped with all components. This will set a DTC for the missing components. These DTCs can be ignored if a System Configuration Self-test is performed first and determined that the vehicle is not equipped.

The battery must be fully charged for proper audio system operation. The ignition switch must be in the ACC or RUN position. Turn the system on and tune in a strong AM station and verify good reception. After an AM station is checked, tune in a strong FM station. The system is now ready to enter the diagnostic mode.

Using Audio System On-Board Diagnostics
Diagnostic Mode:

Note: Battery must be fully charged for proper audio system operation and self-test.

Enter diagnostics mode by pressing pre-set button 3 and the SEEK DOWN button simultaneously for three seconds. This will suspend all normal radio functions and display DIAG.

1. Note: To perform diagnostics, press the appropriate buttons as instructed.
System Configuration Self-Test:
Press pre-set button 1. This will check for connection of all possible devices and log the DTCs for any device that does not respond. The display will flash SELF while gathering the DTCs, then stop flashing when complete. To exit System Configuration Self-test, press pre-set button 1 again. To retrieve DTCs, press the TUNE UP button. This will display the DTCs if any exist. Continued pressing of the TUNE UP button will display the next DTC. Record codes and compare with the following table. To exit the Retrieval Mode, press pre-set button 1.
CONFIGURATION SELF-TEST CODES
Code Description
0 No codes logged
1 No response from rear chassis unit
2 No response from tape deck
3 No response from bezel micro
4 No response from Digital Audio Compact Disc Player
5 No response from Steering Wheel Control Module
6 No response from mobile phone
7 No response from Remote Climate Control Module
8 No response from navigation unit
9 ROM check sum verification failed
Remember, system configuration will test for all possible equipment connections. Inspect the vehicle to determine actual equipment installed.

2. Front Control Unit Display Test:

To enter the front control unit display test, press pre-set button 5. This check will light all segments in the front control unit. The system will automatically exit this test after five seconds.

3. Front Control Unit and Rear Chassis Unit Identification:

To enter this test, press pre-set button 3. This test identifies the software level of the front control unit and rear control unit. The front control unit is tested first, followed by the rear control unit. The completed test will exit automatically. For code identification, refer to the following table. The display will have two sequences of five codes each. The first sequence is for the front control unit, the second sequence is for the rear chassis unit.
SOFTWARE IDENTIFICATION CODES
Product Description Product Description
Type Code Variant Code

11 Front Control Unit 1 Base Analog
2 Analog with Digital Audio
Compact Disc Player
3 JBL°/Digital Signal Processing 4 JBL°/Digital Signal Processing with
Digital Audio Compact Disc Player
5 JBL°/Digital Signal Processing with
Digital Audio Compact Disc Player
and Clock
5 JBL°/Digital Signal Processing and
Clock

31 Rear Chassis Unit 1 Analog
2 Digital
3 Midline

4. Rear Chassis Unit Self-Test:

To enter this test, press pre-set button 4. This test will check the rear chassis unit read only memory (ROM), and electrically erasable programmable rear only memory (EEPROM) memory chips. The completed test will exit automatically. For code identification, refer to the following table:


REAR CONTROL UNIT SELF-TEST CODES
EEPROM Check sums
Code ROM EQ Seek Variant Stereo Variant
0 FAIL FAIL FAIL FAIL
1 PASS FAIL FAIL FAIL
2 FAIL PASS FAIL FAIL
3 PASS PASS FAIL FAIL
4 FAIL FAIL PASS FAIL
5 PASS FAIL PASS FAIL
6 FAIL PASS PASS FAIL
7 PASS PASS PASS FAIL
8 FAIL FAIL FAIL PASS
9 PASS FAIL FAIL PASS
A FAIL PASS FAIL PASS
B PASS PASS FAIL PASS
C FAIL FAIL PASS PASS
D(a) PASS FAIL PASS PASS
E FAIL PASS PASS PASS
F(b) PASS PASS PASS PASS
(a) - Analog unit which is OK
(b) - Digital unit which is OK

Speaker Walk-Around Test

To enter this test, press pre-set button 2.

Included in the luxury audio system on-board diagnostic capabilities is the speaker walk-around test. This test will automatically adjust the volume to mid-level and display SPKR on the front control unit. The fade and balance will then select each speaker as follows: RH front, LH front, RH rear, LH rear.

If a diversity antenna system is detected, the speaker walk-around will be performed twice: first with the sub-antenna only and then with the main antenna only.

After the antenna test is complete, the system will then send a signal to the subwoofer speaker (JBL® only).

The system will then exit the test automatically upon completion of the test.