SOMEONE WITH STEREO KNOWLEDGE HELP ME PLEASE!

cb18201

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Oct 25, 2003
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when i turn on my stereo i hear some static no matter how low the volume is, and when i turn my blinkers or headlights on they thump in my speakers, like as the signal goes it just keeps thumping along with the signal, someone said it is the radio filter, which is a little black box that filters out static and other noises i guess. also i have an after market cd player but i still have the whole mach 460 system. also the stock tape deck is gone. i have no clue what is causing this, could my front speakers be blown? thanks
 
Noise

You are probably experiencing a ground loop problem with the Mach Stereo. I have had friends with a similar problem. The problem is in the Amps which the Mach stereo uses. You can either replace the amps or remove the stereo completely and start from scratch.
 
P.S my friend has a 94 convertible, with the mach 460 stereo. Exact same problem you have. We replaced the head unit with an aftermarket unit and it still did the same problem. we eventually found out it was the amps that were creating the problem. If you need more info contact me
 
Call Crutchfield or visit www.crutchfield.com and tell them the problems you are having with the system. You'll probably have to talk to a sales rep, instead of online. I had to buy some sort of wire patching kit to cut the factory amps from my system. It did fix the problem, but now the only amp is off the head unit. Still sounds great, and there is no noise at all. I know they make a patch kit. If you want another option, try getting a "ground loop isolator" from Radio Shack. I had similar noise with another system I did - and it solved it. Good luck!
 
how can the amps just be bad? there has to be some way to fix it. it started right after i blew the radio fuse, but i fixed the fuse an then it did it. i just noticed that when i turn my lights on my cd player shuts off, almost like it loses power when i switch them on and then goes back on after they are switched on.
 
Have you added anything recently (ie gauges or lighting) in the interior? If you did, your ground for these might be interfering with the ground with your head unit. Since you probably used the same ground for the aftermarket stereo, this problem would persist.

If you haven't added anything, try changing your ground location for your head unit.

If you have added something, move its ground.

Another sign would be if the noise came from only the front or back speakers. If it only comes from the front, you have a ground interference with the front amp(s). If it comes from all your speakers, the ground problem is with the head unit.
 
i added this tiny light,a little LED,i used power from the cd player but grounded it to metal framing on my car behind the dash, but then i took it out because this happpened an it still does it, would my cd player work if it wasnt grounded?
 
cb18201 said:
i added this tiny light,a little LED,i used power from the cd player but grounded it to metal framing on my car behind the dash, but then i took it out because this happpened an it still does it, would my cd player work if it wasnt grounded?

How did you connect it to the CD players power? Did you splice the wire or use a proper power splitter? MAke sure all the wires (power and ground) are properly shielded. If bare wires are showing on the power or ground, you will get interference.
 
the kid before me who put this cd player in had wires that were not covered by a wire nut nor tape, they were exposed wires, so i found a wire that would light up the little light, and hooked it onto that, then grounded it then taped them all up, but while i was doing it one of the exposed wires this kid left touched something and made a tiny spark an blew my radio fuse, i fixed it and since then it has been actuing wierd like this.
 
I think that it is to do with your wiring. Electrical tape shields wire somewhat but will not be as effective as properly shielded wire.

Double check all the wiring. That is the problem.
 
it woundlt have anything to do wit ha dead battery would it , because my battery is almost dead, my car wont even start its so worn out. when i turn my lights with the stereo on an the car off the stereo shuts off then comes back on, almost like there isnt enough power to keep both on at taht same moment
 
My experience with these things are that noise or static has a source. It could be ignition noise(spark plugs firing, alternator, etc.). You may have a situation of inadaquate grounding. Poorly grounded wires act like antennas that can pick up radiated noise. Check all grounds including the ground strap under your hood that goes to your hood liner(which is conductive on one side). This helps shield the antenna from ignition noise coming thru your fiberglass hood. Mostly for AM radio though. Try re-seating the connectors on the radio. Can you hear the static change pitch with change in RPM? Does it go away if the engine is off? Keep in mind that an amplifier is just that, an amplifier. If radiated noise gets into the amp. via poor grounding, unshielded wires, it'll kick it out to the speakers. One other possiblity...assuming that at one time everything was working at one time, the spark that you referred to when the hot wire touched ground may have taken out a suppression capacitor in the amp. Try placing a capacitor between the +12V wire and ground close to the radio and/or amp. and see what happens. Radio shack can hook you up....BUT... make sure you get the polarity correct or you risk blowing the capacitor up. One more option, call a Ford dealer and ask. It can't hurt. Try strapping the radio and / or amp. case to chassis, basically making your own ground. Multiple wires to gound make a lower impedance path. This might help. I'll check with some more people tomorrow and see if I can dig up anything else.
 
This may be a stupid question but has anybody tryed replacing (I believe its called) the condisor capacitor next to your coil? From my understanding that is what is used to keep outside noise out of your radio?
 
JJ95GTID said:
I would get the wiring digram for the cd player you have and start over with connecting the wiring using proper connectors. Sounds like the kid that did it was not too worried about a quality job.

of course he didnt , it was after i had already gave him the down payment so he didnt care at all.