Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Audio Need assistance with stereo removal and replacemen

I have a friend who owns a '99 Contour with the stock AM/FM Casette player. She's on a pretty tight budget these days but would like to upgrade to an in-dash CD player. I'd like to help her out by purchasing a replacement on E-Bay if I can find one that's fairly inexpensive. Can anyone give me some general advise/instructions on replacing a stock unit with something better? I think these are standard DIN size. Is there a separate AMP that needs to be by-passed? Any advise from someone who has done this themselves would be appreciated.

Thanks!

take out the center console screws and then uncrew where the cup holders are. every thing unsnaps from there. Take it out of the car to get it out of the way. There are screws father back that you can not get to with out taking out the center console on the black peice surrounding sterio. Unsnap the black peice very carfully once all screww holding it on are off. Pull it out and diconnect all the wires and then reconnect the new cd player and reverse. If i left out anyhing someone fill in i have to eat dinner.

some contours did come with a built in amp if yours has it it will be behind the glove box. as for removing your current deck good luck because u need a special 4 pronged tool to remove it they did this to make them harder to steel.(as if someone wants a ford oem am/fm cass radio) go to this sight wireing dig to get a wireing digram fot the car.


and good luck

You can make a removal tool with a wire hanger, just make them into a U Shape and insert into the slots, insert them as far as you can you will feel it come loose and forward. also try the instructions for removal at crutchfield.com or try this


http://installdr.com/InstallDocs/FLM/PDF/356041.pdf

Also i reccomend getting the wiring harnesses so you can connect the new stereo to the existing car connections.

Wow, AWESOME instructions GLD, EVERYTHING is answered, including my questions about bypassing the factory AMP. THANKS!

Hey is that factory AMP like a greenish blue color?

There's a shot of the bottom of it... It is an aluminum color and has a heatsink going around it... It is right behind the glove box...

Search the Audio forum for very detailed instructions. It's not too bad, just get the wiring from any auto parts store, and it's an easy plug-in, once you get by the amp. It might be worth it to do speakers, though, the stock ones really, really suck. A $100 HU and $150 worth of speakers would be a huge improvement, although I would spend a little more to get better quality.

'95 Sleeper, do you recommend bypassing the factory AMP or keeping it integrated? I agree, upgrading the speakers is a good idea. I did that on my '96 Mustang and it helped a lot.