Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Audio Problem disconnecting factory radio

I just bought a 1999 Contour SE Sport. So far I love it, great car but the sound sucks. So I took my pioneer out of my Dead Neon to use in the contour.

Here is the problem I got the radio almost out but I cant pull the radio foward enough to get to the back of it to disconnect the harness. The farthest Ive been able to get it was mabe a 1/8 of an inch gap to see anything. Is their any kinda clamps or what ever holding the wires back? Im kind of scared to yank real hard because I dont want to mess anything up seeing as I just got the car.

Another question I also have is how can I tell if I have a factory amp in the car? It has a CD deck, I went to a local audio shop and they told me that if it has an amp in it it should say premeum somthing on the speakers(mines just say sterio). I dont put too much faith in what those guys say because half of them dont know what the hell they are doin anyways which is why I am here pleading my case here. Thanks.

I'm not sure what to tell you about disconnecting the wires, I don't remember having the problem.

As far as the external amp goes, it resides on the firewall directly behind the glove box.

Shouldn't have to pull too hard on it, maybe use a screwdriver or something to pry to harnesses off if you can't pull it back far enough. As for the amp, open the glove box and then push in the tabe to lower it all the way and look behind it, that is where the amp would be if you have one, and it sucks!

-Nick

Don't know how small or large your hands may be but if you still can't get it out try dropping the glove box down and coming from behind it on that side. There should just be two clips that you can release to let the glove box drop down completely on its hinge (this will also make it a little easier to see your amp if you have one). They told me when I changed my head unit out that I needed to buy an additional wiring harness to go from the stereo to the harness which is attached to the factory amp. Something about that amp only being able to put out like 15w max per channel. They said that it would not work for me to hook my head unit (45x4) up to that, that it would destroy the factory amp and I would have to end up bypassing it anyway. So I just made my own harness and saved the $25.00 they wanted to charge me at Best Buy and Circuit City (couldn't find one anywhere else). Hope this helps.

Thanks for your help guys. I found that the wire harness was stuck behind the rail that the radio sits on, so I stuck a screwdriver inside and poped it free.
I also saw that I did have an amp installed (that thing was a POS) I quickly disconnected it. The power from my pioneer puts that thing to shame, why would they even put that garbage in these cars anyway, any how thanks again.

Yes, you have the amp. All our cars with CD players have premium sound, and all our cars with premium sound have an amp.

You forgot the most important part. All our cars have crappy stereos. (Yes hard to believe as it is, the Focus had a crappy stereo )