[brainfreeze]

I am going to pick up my 06 Milan on Saturday and I wanted to get a jump on putting a little junk in the trunk

Does anyone make an amplifier output or line out converter with a wireing harness built in? Or can we get a harness extnention to tap into. I guess what I am getting at is, is there a way to install a line output for a subwoofer without having to cut into the factory wiring. I think its called a T harness or amplifier integration harness. I have found some for other years but not an 06 Milan. I think the 05 "ford" ones I have seen will work but I havn't seen them cheaper then $30.

 

[ming321]

I'm not an expert, but here's what they did with mine when I added a 12 sub and mono amp in the trunk. I had it done at Tweeter/Hi Fi Buys and they used a line level converter (I think that's what it was called). As I understand it, the speaker wire goes in, and out the other side comes line/RCA wires. That is then connected to the amp. I was told, though some may disagree, that the sound quality is better if the signal into the amp is RCA vs speaker level. The one they used was about $25. I guess this doesn't answer your question, but the sound quality of mine is excellent, even though they did tap into the speaker wires.

Also, I assume you are keeping the factory head unit since aftermarket head units have sub and RCA outputs.

 

[brainfreeze]

That is exactly what I want to do but I don't want to cut any of the factory wiring. I want to get T harnes and cut that. Or if the factory radio has a line level output that would be great as well. Some do like the "audiophile" deck. I was hoping the stock deck does too thats what an amplifier integration harness is for. It lets you use the line out that would be used if you got a factory installed sub.


This is what it would be like in crude ASCII drawing style using a T Harness

[Factory Deck] -->[Front of T Harness] --> [Tap into speaker level output] --> [Back of T Harness] --> [Factory wiring harness]
||
||
L====> Line level converter ====>[ Sub Amp]


It looks like the T harnesses usually have a power on 12v out as well so I can run that to the amp switch.

Some day I hope to put in a carputer but with a baby on the way and me getting a new car the wife would just laugh. The wife was convinced I couldn't get a car seat in the back of my cougar so its a four door for me. :? For now I just want to do the least amount of damage to the factory wiring as possible. I like to put things back where they were when I trade in 8).

 

[sternyy]

The head unit has to have a line-level out to begin with. If it doesnt have a line out from the head unit to the harness... trying to find a harness is useless.

You will have to peel back some insulation on the speaker outs to hook up a line-level out converter for a sub if this is the case.

 

[ming321]

You've gone past my expertise on this one. I don't see tapping into the speaker lines as being major surgery, and you can always return it to stock at trading time. To my knowledge, none of the Ford head units have traditional RCA outputs for an amp or sub, like you find on an aftermarket deck. I haven't seen the back of the audiophile, but my guess is no RCA outputs.

 

[sternyy]

yeah i havent seen the back of the audiophille but my guess would be that it doesnt have RCA outs. I heard somewhere that the 6 disc premium and audiophile are the same head units but they are programmed differently. Could be totaly wrong though... just a rumor.

It's fairly easy to strip back the insulation on the speaker wire... its jsut a pain in the butt to get the wires to run back to the trunk totally hidden. Best bet is to just take it to a shop... usually they got free installation deals when you spend some money And if you leased and have to turn it in they usually have free un-installation too.

 

[ming321]

Doesn't the audiophile have speakers in the rear deck. If so, you can tap into those speaker wires and won't have to run far since you are already in the trunk. The only reason I can see that wouldn't work is if those rear deck speakers were dedicated subs, and recieving only low frequency signals. If they are full range, you can tap into them. But like Sterny said- a good shop will know how to wire it with no problems.

 

[brainfreeze]

I will throw a multimeter on the rear deck speaker wires and see what it reads. Most likley the wire was ran back there. On my merc cougar all the equipment for the fog lamps was installed even though mine didn't have the option. All I had to do was buy the bulbs and I had working fog lamps. I won't be taking it to a shop I am just a DIY kind of person. I have done plenty of car installs but this is just my first new car and I would prefer not to use wire taps if at all possible. If we are extremly lucky the output to the rear deck will be on and it will be a line level output. Should be able to just hook an amp right up to it then, but I highly doubt it. I am just not that lucky.

Where is the amp located for the audiophile package? The wires might stop there and I will have to find them.