Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Audio New head unit...amp bypass???

I am replacing the stock head unit with a Clarion DB415, and I am wondering if I will have to bypass the stock amp in the car?

The car is a 1999 SVT.

Thanks.
Patrick


------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'99 SVT #2003/2760
Born on 04/22/99
Still plays with cars
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You will unless you hook the stock amp to the pre-outs somehow.

The only thing is, unless you can find the Scoche FD-15 bypass cable (I think that's the right part number) specifically made for the recent Contours, you'll have to do a little modification to the Metra one that everyone carries (5511 I think).

I wrote a little how-to on what I did with the metra kit, some extra wire, a little cutting and soldering and heat shrink tubing, in order to get the bypass to work right without cutting up the stock wiring. (I wanted to be able to put it back to factory.)

It's at: http://contour.org/forums/Forum5/HTML/000865.html

Hope that helps, it's a little confusing if you don't have the wiring harnesses right in front of you, but you'll get it if you see them and take out your factory amp.

Cool.

I will try that. Where do you buy this kit/wire harness from? Circuit City, Best Buy any of the normal places?

Thanks,
Patrick

------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'99 SVT #2003/2760
Born on 04/22/99
Still plays with cars
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

most likely any CC, BB, walmart, car stereo place will have the Metra harness. You can ask about the Scosche part, but it was impossible for me to find one at any of the 6 placed I went/called. It's cheaper to just modify the metra harness anyhow...

You can order the HU installation kit from crutchfield for $20. It comes with all of the necessary wiring and harnasses to install the radio and bypass the factory amp, so you don't have to cut any factory wiring. Easy as pie.

BTW, it also comes with the removal tools for the stock deck. They're a bit easier to use than the 'ole coathanger method.