I have a 97' F-150 XLT with a AM/FM Cassette with CD control for the 6 disc remote CD changer. Does the factory head unit have RCA jacks to hook up an amp? Just wanted to check before I pull it out.
Thanks

 

I've never seen an OEM head unit with RCA pre-amp outputs. That's any OEM, not just Ford or the F-150. You could use a line output converter or buy any new $80 HU.

 

Nope. It definitely does not have RCA outputs.

To hook the factory stereo up to an amp you either need a line level converter or an amp with speaker level inputs (aka high level inputs). I prefer going with the amp with speaker level inputs over the line converter. Much more simple and reliable.

 

Anyone know what wires in the radio harness go to the rear speakers (to splice into an RC converter) I have the same setup... 97 F150 with factory 6 disk changer and I'm trying to add an amp to my factory head unit.

I have 2 harness that go to the head unit... they are..

1st plug has 16 wires... they are
1. Grey
2. Purple
3. Orange / Black
4. Green / Red
5. Green / Black
6. Black
7. White / red
8. Green
9. Brown
10. White / orange
11. purple / white
12. Lt. Blue / Black
13. Lt. Blue
14. Yellow
15. Lt. Brown
16. Lt. Blue / pink

The other plug (I think goes to the disk changer) has 6 wires...

1. Green / Purple
2. Black
3. Black / Purple
4. Lt. Blue / Black
5. Black / Green
6. Dark Blue

Anyone know which of these wires are for the rear speakers?

Thanks.

thanks.

 

Sounds like it's the Metra harness 805511, if so the wires should be...

+12V DC Battery(Constant) Lt.green/purple
Switched Accessory Black/pink
Ground Black Also black/light green
Remote Turn On(output) Lt.green/black To CD changer pin 8
Illumination Lt.blue/black
Mute Dark blue
Left Front + Light green Line level output
Left Front - White/orange Line level output
Right Front + White/red Line level output
Right Front - Brown Line level output
Left Rear + Lt.blue/black Line level output
Left Rear - Yellow Line level output
Right Rear + Purple/white Line level output
Right Rear - Light blue Line level output

The speakers should be the 6 pin plug (the plug should be a square black/metal...if not)

metra 801771 =

+12V DC Battery(Constant) Lt.green/violet
Switched Accessory Black/pink
Ground Black & black/light green
Remote Turn On(output) Lt.green/black To CD changer pin 8, and to rear integrated control panel pin 10, if equipped.
Illumination Lt.blue/red
Left Front + Orange/lt.green
Left Front - Lt.blue/white
Right Front + White/lt.green
Right Front - Dk.green/orange
Left Rear + Gray/lt.blue To the rear integrated control panel, pin 7.
Left Rear - Tan/yellow To the speaker and to the rear integrated control panel, pin 8 (if equipped).
Right Rear + Orange/red To the rear integrated control panel, pin 5.
Right Rear - Brown/pink To the speaker and to the rear integrated control panel, pin 6 (if equipped).

 

I found that my truck has a factory amp... That would explain the awesome sound from my factory radio in this truck. Only thing it lacks is some real bass, that's why I wanted to keep the factory radio and wire in a sub.

Anyway the amp is barried in the dash under the radio. I found a plug from the amp that has the wires I was looking for.

RR + black/purple
RR - orange/maroon

LR + brown/yellow
LR - gray/lt. blue

So I could tap into these wires (after the amp) or I could tap into the line level outs on the radio plug.

Which do you guys think is better?