A simple radio install...
 

Well, I am on a roll this week, but the interwebs are silent on this particular issue.

So installing an old Alpine CDA-9855 to replace the stock crap brick in my 2007 Crown Vic. Basic harness, no frills, using Metra Ford harness. Everything connected, Alpine deck powers up and works but no sound at all from the speakers, not even white noise.

I tried tapping speaker wires around at random to see maybe somehow there is a difference. Nope, no sound, stock "deck" works.

I have done quite a few decks in my life this is the first time I come across something like this. Anyone have a no sound issue with aftermarket install in a CVPI ?

Re: A simple radio install...
 

This is just fishing, but is there a factory amp?

Edit: Google says probably not. I don't really know those cars. I'm guessing that your old Alpine is not working?

Re: A simple radio install...
 

No AMP, simple 2 wires to a speaker. It's possible the Alpine deck is dead but not likely, going to hook it up to a spare battery and a speaker and see whats up. This is what it all looks like:

Alpine hooked up

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-a...317_080504.jpg

Back of stock deck
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--...317_080601.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-g...317_080609.jpg

Stock harness
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-G...317_080547.jpg

Re: A simple radio install...
 

Easiest way to tell if you have an issue in the harness. Pill the deck out like out have it, and snip the speaker wires for the front left speakers. pop the front left speaker out, and run aftermarket wire from the speaker to the radio. If it works then, there is an issue in the harness, most likely some sort of factory amplifier that runs the factory speakers.. IF the speaker still fails to work, try a aftermarket speaker. If that fails, it's more than likely the old head unit.

Re: A simple radio install...
 

You might want to disconnect the orange dimmer or illumination wire until you get things figured out. If that wire is hooked to the wrong polarity it can cause weird problems, which is why many head units have separate dimmer and illum wires.

Re: A simple radio install...
 

Is there a crossover switch on top, do you have it in full range (should say FRS or something like that) and 3 way active.... that should probably be in FRS if you're just running speakers straight off it, and AI net should be set to normal

Re: A simple radio install...
 

You could try taking a multimeter, set it on Hz, probe the + and - for one of the speakers and see if it reads anything at all with the radio on and volume up. If it doesn't read then there's no output from the radio.

Simple process, cut the white and white /black wires, then using a tone tester (or if you don't have one, a simple 9v battery will do) touch the white wire to + and the white/black - . You should get a popping sound from the driver door if you release and reapply the white wire to the +. If the speaker makes sounds, you can rule out wire, amp, speaker connection, most likely the radio.
Hope it helps.

Re: A simple radio install...
 

You could bypass most of that because the stock head unit works and has audio, so you can immediately rule out wiring and speakers as possible problems.. The only thing it will tell you is if a stock amp is not turning on and passing signal.

Re: A simple radio install...
 

Id check the alpine deck and hook up a speaker and test all 4 channels.

Never heard of that issue with an aftermarket stereo not working in a CVPI, though many departments had the front speakers disconnected so it could be wired up to the 2 way radio.

Me personally, unless you gotta have the alpine id swap the stock deck out for a lincoln, ford explorer, econoline van radio. http://www.idmsvcs.com/2vmod/radio/index.html

And BTW if you need anything CVPI related let me know, I got manuals, wiring diagrams, and tons of POLICE ISSUE CVPI PARTS!!!!!!