Radio Error

[HGFireHazard]

I'm going to be replacing my head unit and the entire Mach 460 sound system next year, but it isn't doable right now because of the green. I went out and bought a cassette adapter so I could use my portable CD player because my radio reception and choices are bad and low. Low and behold I come to find that it doesn't do a dang thing except spit out "error 1" at me. Does anyone know what this means? Can I take apart the radio and fix this myself? I've tried looking up radio code errors but have had no luck yet, please help, thanks.

 

[urban96]

i cant give you any help on the error message but i will say that a decent aftermarket deck would be a better investment then mach 460

 

[HGFireHazard]

From what I understand, buying just an aftermarket deck and nothing else actually makes the system sound worse than with a stock radio. Is this true or am I mistaken? If not, is there something else I need to purchase in order to have an aftermarket CD player work with the Mach 460 system?

 

[Chythar]

There's an adaptor kit you can buy at most any car stereo store, though they may have to order it. It's made by Metra, model number 70-5514, and it's only $15-$25. Make sure you get the 94-98 Ford Premium sound system kit (same for Premium Sound and Mach 460). The Mach 460 kit available (70-5519) is only for 2000-2004 Mustangs - don't get it.

The problem with aftermarket decks is with the adaptor used. Basically, the head unit must make use of the Mach 460 amps, and NOT its internal amp. You have to wire up the pre-outs into the Mach 460 amp for it to work correctly. The generic wiring adaptors don't do this properly, and you end up over-amplifying the music. I've used the 70-5514 Metra kit above in my Mach 460 system, and I've had great success with it. No audio problems at all.

Instructions are vauge with the kit, but each wire is marked on the wire what it's for. Just splice all the available wires together between the Metra harness and the one that came with your head unit. If you end up with a few from the aftermaket harness that don't match up, that's OK. The important ones are all there.

 

[urban96]

i wired my alpine deck up that way (with the wiring kit from crtuchfield that bypasses stock amp) and it sounds great

 

[Chythar]

I'm still using the stock Mach 460 amp, still sounds good. Most of the Mach 460 troubles I've had is the "muddiness" of the mid-range sound. Eliminated most of it by putting sound insulation in the doors.

The stock Mach 460 amp that's under the radio is only used for the four tweeters. the amps in the trunk tray are for the woofers. Weird, huh?