1995 Lincoln TC Aftermarket radio installation

Laidbak2 · #1 October 22nd, 2009, 01:14 PM

I want to install an aftermarket radio in my 95 TC and I was told that I have to have a different wiring harness than the one that comes with it. One that has to run from the trunk to the front, and I read in you Tech articles that you can use a 1996-99 Ford Taurus harness for the job. How sure is this process because I have found one for $25, when Ive just been recently told that it would cost $100 from the audio shop near where I stay. Please tell me that you are sure that this will work.

SignatureSeriesOwner · #2 October 22nd, 2009, 03:51 PM

Is your car equipped with the JBL system?

Laidbak2 · #3 October 22nd, 2009, 11:26 PM

Yes I believe that it is, would that be a problem? And just in case I'm wrong, what if I don't have the JBL system?

JeepOwner · #4 October 23rd, 2009, 07:21 AM

I wrote that article. It shouldnt matter if you have the JBL or not, but if you do have the JBL, expect to lose your subwoofer, and steering wheel controls. but it's a pretty straight foward install.

let me know if you have any questions.

Laidbak2 · #5 October 23rd, 2009, 08:42 PM

OK, right now I dont have my steering controls because just the other day my horn and steering controls just went out for some odd reason, but how would that kill that options, and what subwoofer is iin the car that will be lost as well? Also, if you could tell me why my horn and radio steerin controls aren't working anymore or what could have caused that problem, I would really appreciate that as well.

SignatureSeriesOwner · #6 October 23rd, 2009, 08:57 PM

Sure. Your clock spring is broken. It is essentially 2 wire strands, and one retracts ,and one extracts as you turn the wheel. Eventually, one breaks. You need to replace it You need to disconnect the battery, and remove the air bag. Not very hard.

When you replace it, you will regain all of the controls.

JeepOwner · #7 October 24th, 2009, 04:25 AM

usually the clockspring will also yield the air bag light to come on and start flashing a code.

lets get one thing straight. do you have the JBL sound package? heres how to tell.

easily you can look on the radio, on the casette door, it will say JBL, same on your speaker grilles on the front doors.

CartierBear · #8 October 24th, 2009, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeepOwner

usually the clockspring will also yield the air bag light to come on and start flashing a code.

lets get one thing straight. do you have the JBL sound package? heres how to tell.

easily you can look on the radio, on the casette door, it will say JBL, same on your speaker grilles on the front doors.

95+ doesn't have labels on the speakers, i think the cassette door and the Rear control unit say JBL

JeepOwner · #9 October 24th, 2009, 12:53 PM

my 96 had the JBL logo on the speakers

Laidbak2 · #10 October 24th, 2009, 01:43 PM

yeah it has it on the cassette door and in the trunk unit. how does that affect everything and what you mean by the subwoofers messing up? also would the steering wheel problem would that also cause the lights to go out in the controls of the steering wheel

JeepOwner · #11 October 26th, 2009, 01:44 PM

Yeah, the clockspring is like a measuring tape. It winds in and out. all your wires for everything on the steering wheel will go out when it goes.

If you have the JBL, then there should be a factory subwoofer that sits in the trunk bolted up between your rear speakers. if you infact have that, when you go aftermarket, you are gonna lose it.

Laidbak2 · #12 October 26th, 2009, 04:03 PM

So what does the subwoofer do for my system, what does it help or really affect? The sound for the speakers? Will I lose any sound for my speakers or what? I want to know how my car sound will be affected to see if it will be worth losing, also if I could do anything to even include the subwoofer if that is an option? Also, I think I have found a clock spring, but I want to know if I can use one from a 95 Continental or a 95 Mark VIII 8 vehicle?

SignatureSeriesOwner · #13 October 26th, 2009, 05:05 PM

No. You need one from a Town Car.

Laidbak2 · #14 October 26th, 2009, 05:11 PM

Where would i be able to find one because it seems to be impossible to find

CartierBear · #15 October 26th, 2009, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeepOwner

my 96 had the JBL logo on the speakers

Ive looked at all the pics of doors i have an none of them have it was ti the same emblem on the 90-94s??

Laidbak2 · #16 October 27th, 2009, 12:28 PM

NO I mean where do I find a clock spring? And I still don't know what the subwoofer does for me that is in the trunk?

yorker · #17 October 27th, 2009, 08:58 PM

I recently bought a 97 TC and tested about 4 others. At lest some had the JBL system as my car does.

NONE of the radios sound anywhere as good as the plain system in my 97 Dodge truck.

I think the woofer is inoperative in my car. Someone here has a post on replacing them. Seems they all go bad.

You would think the remaining speakers in the system would have reasonable bass but they do not.

For an expensive complicated system with an amplifier they suck.

If you go aftermarket,the speakers you have may sound better with it, not sure.

JeepOwner · #18 October 29th, 2009, 06:30 PM

laidbak - rockauto.com will be your best bet for a clockspring. I would ask over in the towncar forum for instructions on replacing it, dereck might even have a pic for you of what it is.

the subwoofer is in the trunk, up by where the spare tire is supposed to be on the shelf of the trunk.

cartierbear - yea same logo.

yorker - ford subwoofers are junk and they ALL go out in every vehicle. (town cars, explorers, expeditions, just to name a few). I have replaced a subwoofer in a 98 towncar, a 2002 expedition and a 96 explorer. my ultamite suggestion is if you dont mind going aftermarket, get a small 10" woofer that doesnt take much power handling, and put it in the trunk, and run wires to it instead of the factory subwoofer. if you want to stay factory look, a kicker 6.5" shallow mount subwoofer is pretty cheap online and can be installed in the factory location without too much hassle. you lose all bass in these cars with the JBL system because they have crossovers in the ampllifiers, so ALL of the low frequencies go to the subwoofer, and the end result when your sub dies is a AM radio expierence.

Laidbak2 · #19 November 5th, 2009, 04:55 PM

OK, is there a way that I could possibly hook up the steering controls up to my aftermarket radio? Also, I still need clarification that the 96-99 Ford Tarus harness will work for my 95 town car.

JeepOwner · #20 November 9th, 2009, 03:03 AM

the harness WILL work for a 96-99 taurus. and yes you can get a adaptor that will make the steering wheel controls work, but only on certain decks.

Laidbak2 · #21 November 9th, 2009, 03:29 PM

What kind of modifications can I do with the SUB that is already in the car? Can I use a bigger one with the same wires? Could another AMP be substituted with the factory? etc... What can, can't, and maybe can be done.

JeepOwner · #22 November 10th, 2009, 01:50 AM

if you are going with an aftermarket deck, yhen just go aftermarket with a amp/sub. the factory stuff is not worth keeping around, if you are upgrading.

just run a pair of RCA's to the trunk, power, remote wire, and tap into a ground and you have your needed wiring for an amp in the trunk. simply remove the factory sub, and you just put in a port into the cabin to give you better bass.