Im in the process of retro fitting a aerial amplifier unit from a XR3i to my bogo Mk4 Escort with old pull up style mast so i can have the car aerial built into the heated rear window.

So far iv connected the aerial from head unit to amp and the two wires coming off to the heated screen are no problems but the bit thats got me stuck is the other 2 spade type connectors at either side of the unit and where the wires lead off to..? Is one a power feed and the other a negative?

Had a look at the haynes and both seem to head towards the back of the head unit but theres no indications as to what they are or where they go?

All iv got to go on is one wire is thicker than the other


Could anyone help?

Thanks

 

Yes one is earth and live as you say, you may well find a supply to the oe aerial place for a lecky aerial containing these already there.
What colours do you have ?, are the terminals the same size, there should be some kind of marking, if not a resistance test to earth will most likely show one terminal has connection to the metal body of the unit, this is earth the other is live.
tabetha

 

Say i lift up the boot and the amps infront of me, on the left handside nearest the wiper motor end on the amplifier theres a wide terminal which houses a blue and black wire and on the right a slim terminal with a slim red and white wire.

In the Haynes it shows 2 wires running to the head unit from the amp. Was thinking, bit strange how the earth would need to run the full length of the car. Was wondering if one wire is permenant live and the other ignition on or something?

 

Red/white = switched live from headunit
Blue/black = ground at headunit

Thats what they are on my sierra anyway Had no end of problems trying to get good reception on the original rear screen unit so ditched it all now and use an amplified one on the roof

 

Need to be a bit careful here, have you got the same wire colours at the stereo end ?
Ford use BLACK as a SWITCHED live, always, never ever earth, this is brown on fords, white is alternate earth colour on lots of things.
Me car sparky mate is on hols till friday, but if still stuck pm me and I'll ring him friday.
tabetha

 

Mmm, definetly red/white is switched live out from the h/u on mine and blue/black is ground but I agree its definetly worth checking as ford have been known to do some weird things wiring wise and of course it could have been altered by some one else.

 

From memory non of the amp wires match mine but id need to double check.

Might be easier if i take a pic of the loom on the back of the head unit and post it up? see if that gives any clues.

Would be ten times easier if the Haynes had of marked the pin outs on the head unit diagram grrrr lol