Mark VIII

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frankjc

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What is needed to replace the reciever in my 1995 Mark VIII. I have read a bunch of stuff about bypass harnesses, adapters, etc.
 
When you say receiver, I am assuming you mean headunit?! If so then are you going aftermarket or stock?

If you're going aftermarket there is a simple adapter you can get at Wal-Mart for ford "premium" sound systems. You can't bypass the amplifier unless you want to run all new wiring to the speakers.
 
Yes, sorry. I mean the head unit. I would be going aftermarket. I want to keep it simple, but do it right.
 
Walmart/Best Buy/Circuit City ANY audio installation place will have said adapter for you to buy. Its a plug the directly plugs into your factory harness and on the other side is all the wires color coded for you to connect to the wires on your new stereo. VERY simple if you know how to use butt connectors. :)

10.99 shipped on eJay.

Fits Most Ford, Lincoln, & Mercury Vehicles 1986- 2004

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Shopping on the Crutchfield website, it does not recognize Mark VIII. I took a chance, and looked it up for a 95 Continental, and under installation details, it had this >>Installation Details for your 1995 Continental

» Your vehicle is factory-equipped with a special sound system, and Crutchfield supplies a harness which bypasses your factory amplifier. You'll need to run the included wires from new receiver to the location of your factory amplifier.
Am I correct in assuming that the Mark and the Continental are compatible?
 
frankjc said:
You'll need to run the included wires from new receiver to the location of your factory amplifier.
Click to expand...

WTF? No...that doesn't sound right AT ALL. The factory amplifier has wires at the back of the stock stereo. LOOK AT THE picture I posted....is that the correct harness plug?

The big one is for the basic stereo/speakers, the other two are for the amplifiers I believe.
 
You DON'T need to re-run any wires.

Jesse posted the correct picture with the correct adaptor. Crutchfield does NOT have a Mark VIII in their system. You have to tell them that you need one for a premium ford audio system as stated above. Make sure it is the one with 3 connectors though.
There are many different ones with 2 connectors but they won't work.
 
Actually, I haven't taken it apart yet so I don't know.
My problem with the existing system is the cd changer. I suppose I could get a fm modulator cd changer and be done with it, but I never liked having to go to the trunk to change discs. Besides, I saw a deck that had XM, which means I would have it all in one instead of the extra XM reciever.
 
FYI the stock CD changer won't work with any aftermarket HU. Besides a single mp3 CD will hold about as much as a CD changer.
 
frankjc, unless you are in backwoods, USA, it is MUCH easier and probably less expensive to just go to WallyWorld and get what you need as J says. Forget Crotchfield. If you are getting the radio from there, Google the brand/model and you'll find IT at a better price elsewhere too.....
 
Whats wrong with you changer? If you need to fix something.....do that, don't change everything to fix one thing.

Does the factory changer give you a "NO CD" warning? If so...thats sometimes an EASY fix, for $4.
 
I am not trying to get the cd changer to work with an aftermarket head. I was looking at single disc players.
I am already finding the same products cheaper in other places besides Crutchfield.
The cd changer skips too much, even over the slightest bumps. It was having the no disc message, but I jammed a piece of cardboard between the sliding door and the magazine and that stopped.
Can you tell me more about the $4 fix? Would that have any affect on the skipping?
Thanks.
 
Ok, I know you're NOT trying to get the changer to work, I merely was suggesting fixing the changer vs. spending all this money on other crap when it could be a simple fix.

If the CD changer is skipping, you should buy a CD cleaning kit and try cleaning the laser first. I imagine its NEVER been cleaned, or had some air blown through it. Buy some "air in a can" or use your air compressor and give it a few squirts of air. Then clean it thoroughly with the CD cleaning CD with a brush thingy.

The $4 fix.......there is a fuse inside the CD changer that goes bad and keeps the changer from turning on. This will throw the "NO CD" code a lot of times and people will just give up and toss their changer. You can take apart the changer, find the fuse, go to Radio Shack and buy a new fuse and solder it in.
 
J.. I am going to take your advice before I spend money. You are probably correct about it NEVER being cleaned. I will pick up a kit and see what happens.
It seems that i have stopped the no disc error..I can use it all day without the error. Even over bumps. It's the skipping that makes it unlistenable.
 
Sounds like the Silicone filled shock absorbers on the CD drive are hardening. Either that, or the Laser lens focusing system is going south.
 
J said:
Buy some "air in a can" or use your air compressor and give it a few squirts of air. Then clean it thoroughly with the CD cleaning CD with a brush thingy.
Click to expand...

I'm going to quote myself just for you Matt :) lol

Frank.....let us know how it goes! We are here to SAVE you money, so if we can do that, than GREAT!
 
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SammyK said:
Sounds like the Silicone filled shock absorbers on the CD drive are hardening. Either that, or the Laser lens focusing system is going south.
Click to expand...


Sammy, are you just making up stuff now? Hehe. While it sounds like you know what you're talking about, this doesn't really help him does it? If you said, replace the silicone filled shock absorbers with some maxipads wrapped around popsicle sticks it would have been more help than just theorising whats wrong. :)
 
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