Stereo Installation on 2003 Mustang?

[Indybird]

Well, I've finally gotten tired of the stock Ford stereo in my '03 Mustang and have decided to buy a new stereo. Right now I'm 100% sure I'm going to get this reciever (http://www.clarion.com/us/en/products/2009/audio/source_units/double_din/DUZ385SAT/us-en-product-pf_1172408778425.html).

I found one for pretty cheap, which is good because I am on a limited budget.

Here's my predicament: because I am on a limited budget I really can't afford an installation (I'm assuming that would be like $50+). I was wondering if anyone could help me with replacing the stock stereo. By the way, I've already tried google but to no avail.

Thanks alot,
Indybird

[BuzzKillington]

http://www.installdr.com/InstallDocs/FLM/PDF/356045.pdf

Not exact but similar. I have an 04 and have been thinking about upgrading my deck as well.

[Mark_Hardware]

what are you looking for help with? wiring? ?

You can get the harnesses at walmart, as well as an adapter bezel, if needed. The harnesses make installation a total breeze!

[BuzzKillington]

what are you looking for help with? wiring? ?

You can get the harnesses at walmart, as well as an adapter bezel, if needed. The harnesses make installation a total breeze!

Ya, plug and play pretty much but you could save a few bucks if you wanted to make a few snips.

[Mark_Hardware]

Yeah but the adapters are like 8 bucks. I know, some poeple are cheap (me) but another benefit is if you sell the car putting the factory unit is equally easy.

PLus you can solder and heatshrink the wires inside then take the stereo with the connectors out to the car. :up:

Sorry, I don't mean to sound like I'm debating, I apologize. :D


I am currently fighting with my car stereo lol

Edit: that is a nice looking head unit, btw

[Indybird]

http://www.installdr.com/InstallDocs/FLM/PDF/356045.pdf

Not exact but similar. I have an 04 and have been thinking about upgrading my deck as well.

Unfortunately mine doesn't have those Ford quick release holes, but thanks for the pdf anyway. I'm really having trouble finding a tutorial on how to remove the stock stereo...


what are you looking for help with? wiring? ?

You can get the harnesses at walmart, as well as an adapter bezel, if needed. The harnesses make installation a total breeze!

I don't have a soldering gun, would that harness prevent the need to solder? Like plug-n-play?

+rep for all the quick responses

Thanks,
Indybird

[BuzzKillington]

As long as you twist the wires well and tape or heatshrink them, I doubt solder is needed.

[Mark_Hardware]

yeah solder is not needed. I've done lots with even just wire nuts
lemme see what I can find for your specific car, I'm intrigued now. Plus maybe I can live vicariously through your car, since I can't get mine to work :wallbash:

[Mark_Hardware]

maybe this will help.
http://mustangforums.com/forum/audio-visual-electronics/2417-removing-radio.html

[OvRiDe]

This is what I used when I had my audio shop.

http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/attachments/remotes-cables-accessories-tweaks/12694d1235502403-comprehensive-guide-splicing-speaker-wire-butt-connectors.jpg

And they are pretty inexpensive.

I highly recommend the wiring harness. It takes all the guess work out, and if you decide to change radios, or have an issue with the replacement, its a whole lot easier to get out.

[Indybird]

Alright, it looks like I'll be getting this wire harness (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000AS28P2/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance) along with the head unit.

Furthermore I'm going to get a mountable USB Port extension that I'm going to put in the arm rest storage so I can hook up a flash drive to the head unit and its out of sight.

When I get everything in I'll post step-by-step pics.

Thanks again for all of the help,
Indybird

[Mark_Hardware]

Cool. The "usually ships within 1 to 2 weeks" is concerning lol.

[Indybird]

Cool. The "usually ships within 1 to 2 weeks" is concerning lol.

yeah after seeing that I ordered it from another site... I was not going to wait for that.

-Indybird

[Mark_Hardware]

I would have got it from wally world lol.

[Indybird]

I would have got it from wally world lol.

I have a flaming hatred for the employees at our local walmart. They are unbelievably rude and inattentive.

Allow me to describe my final experience with them. I know its long, but if you wanna know why I hate them so much please read.

I got a Walmart gift card for my birthday 3 years back, so I go there and buy a video game. Well apparently my friend had already bought me that exact game and was about to give it to me. So I accept his and take the purchased one back. I go to the returns and ask to return it, the rep. types something into the computer then the phone rings. They answer it and completely stop working on the return. So he finishes his call in like 5 minutes. He keys in a few more numbers and requests the game and receipt. So I give him both, he puts the game in a crate, looks at the receipt and says "One moment" and walks away. So now I sit there for 10 minutes (yes I checked the time), before I decide I'm getting real tired of that. I catch a passing by employee and tell her the situation with the returns person. Now she says "I'll find my manager to see who is supposed to be working there", and gestures that I wait there. Whaddya know just like the last, she leaves me standing there for nearly 10 minutes again. At this point I'm just about fed up with this, so I go searching for someone who looks like a supervisor or manager. After walking around for a sec I find one talking to an employee pricing items. I patiently wait for him to be done talking, and when hes done he turns around and says "Yes?" (one could argue in a put-off tone). So I explain the whole situation to him (with names included). He walks over to the returns desk and gets on the computer. He keys in something, then gets on the intercom thingy and calls someone over. So another guy comes over and the supervisor tells him to take care of me. The supervisor leaves and this new person asks "Hi, what do you need?". I describe how I was returning an item (but hold back on mentioning the last employees). So then they ask me where my receipt is.
Me: "Well...I gave it to the last person; but they left and never came back"
Them: "Hmm, well need a receipt to complete the return."
Me: "The last person took it and put it behind the somewhere behind the counter there."
Them: "...and they never gave it back?"
Me: "No."
Them: "They left and never gave it back?"
Me: "Yes."
Them: "Let me call my supervisor."

So they call their supervisor over (not the same one as before), and describes the problem. Now this is the part that kills me. The supervisor pulls them aside (and away from me) and tells them something. The employee walks away and the supervisor walks over to me, "Do you have the item you are returning?". "No, I gave it to the first guy, he put it right over there." I point to the game sitting ON TOP of the pile. He says "That pile is only for completed returns and if you're return was not completely processed it would not be there."

Now I am mad; straight up. "I gave my receipt and game to [original employees name] at the returns, then before they finished they walked away!"

He walks over to the computer and keys something in. He looks up at me and says "what time did you return this at?" I look at the clock, its been 38 minutes since I originally started the return, so I tell him the time. Now watch out here's the kicker. He now tells me that there has been no one attending the returns for an hour. "I GAVE MY RECEIPT AND GAME TO [employees name], THEN THEY WALKED AWAY." He looks up and thinks for a second and then tells me "Sir, they got off two hours ago it must have been someone else."

I realize that was going no where so I lower my tone a little bit. "Please, my receipt is somewhere behind that counter and that's my game on the top of that pile right there." He walks behind the counter, doesn't find the receipt, and says "I'm sorry sir but I can't help you".

At his point I walk out.

Sorry for the long story; I wrote this down a while back and send/post it whenever someone suggests that I go to Walmart.

I'm not trying to be rude to you, I just felt like sharing that :D .

-Indybird

[Bopher]

wow, even my wife who works customer service at wally world said that was messed up.

[Mark_Hardware]

that is messed up. But they have lots of cameras there, if you make a big deal about it they can review it. plus a call to 1800walmart (yes thats the number I have called it on them)

course, thats long ago and far away so nothing you can do about it now. I have to say I would have flipped and I guarantee I would not have left empty handed. But I understand the not going there anymore lol. I don't think anyone really has good stories about them.
I don't like what walmart does or stands for. They take over towns and puts local businesses out. I only go there cause I'm poor. Oh and cheap.

[Indybird]

Despite how angry I may have made myself sound, I'm really quite passive (and I wasn't thinking at the time).

But anyway back to mustang stereo discussion.

I was told from multiple sites that I needed an adapter frame so that aftermarket stereos fit cleanly. I ordered one; please tell me that I actually did need it...

-Indybird

[Mark_Hardware]

A lot of times you will need one yeah. I think I mentioned that before, when I mentioned the harness adapter. If not oopsie sorry

[OvRiDe]

I was told from multiple sites that I needed an adapter frame so that aftermarket stereos fit cleanly. I ordered one; please tell me that I actually did need it...

I would concur with that. I have seen some cars that an aftermarket will fit into with no issues, but my experience with a lot of GM Chrysler and Fords with DIN openings, they will fit but usually not as well as you would like. Lots of times there will be some sort of a gap or it just won't seem tight and will jiggle around. I think you made a wise choice.

[Indybird]

A lot of times you will need one yeah. I think I mentioned that before, when I mentioned the harness adapter. If not oopsie sorry


what are you looking for help with? wiring? ?

You can get the harnesses at walmart, as well as an adapter bezel, if needed. The harnesses make installation a total breeze!

Don't be sorry, I should've been paying attention!

-Indybird

[DaveW]

Maybe I'm missing something, but why does it come with a remote...

-Dave

[Airbozo]

Maybe I'm missing something, but why does it come with a remote...

-Dave

In case you need to upgrade the music selection from the ah, er, backseat... wink wink nudge nudge...

[Luke122]

..or from outside the car. In competitions, once the mic is placed inside the vehicle, you have to active the stereo from outside, due to the rules regarding hearing safety. :)

[Mark_Hardware]

I find it easier to use a remote to use the stereo while driving. I memorize the location of the buttons on the remote, then I never have to take my eyes off the road to change the song. Really it's not that much different than steering wheel controls.

[Indybird]

Well I got all of my stuff in the mail today, but I didn't get home until it was dark, so Im not starting on the actual installation yet.

I decided, that I should do everything I can tonight to get it ready for tomorrow. So I go to match up the new wire harness to the aftermarket wire connections. The scosche harness came with three adapters; the main adapter, the cell-phone mute adapter, and the external amp adapter.

Everything went fine until I got to the external amp adapter. Just like the main adapter it had wires for the front left pos. and neg (along with a ground, and amp turn on). Well I had already plugged in my front left pos. and neg. to the main adapter.

So now I check to see if I even have an external amp. Apparently I have the Mach 460 audio system in my car. Also, apparently after 2002 ford integrated the tweeter amps into the in-dash CD player, and sent bass to two bass amps in the trunk.

After a little bit of searching on the internet I found this. (http://www.bmcforums.com/showpost.php?p=204695&postcount=17)

I can honestly say that after spending $200 on the head-unit and accompanying adapters I am not happy about this.

So heres the rundown:
-My current ford Mach 460 head unit has two sets of speaker outputs. One set directly powers the tweeters and the other is a low-level output to the woofer subs in the back. There is a built in crossover in the head unit.
-My new head unit also has two sets of speaker outputs (One set thru the harness and another via RCA cables). The speaker outputs thru the harness directly can directly power the tweeters. The line-level RCA cables could possibly send the signal to the woofers. I am assuming there isn't a built in crossover in the new head unit.

After doing a little more searching I found this. (http://www.crutchfield.com/p_120705519/Ford-Receiver-Wire-Harness.html?tp=2977)

What do you guys think about that adapter? Should that finally get me goin!?

Sorry about the long post, had a lot to say.

Thanks,
Indybird

[Mark_Hardware]

OK man let me see what I can do. I can't see that link cause I'm at work and it's blocked.
From what I can gather, the factory unit has both high and low level outputs, in other words speaker level and rca. The rca cables are designed to go to an amp, as the signal is not strong enough to provide a quality source for speakers.
As far as the aftermarket stereo. You are correct, it will not have a internal crossover. Well, the chances are slim to none anyway. Aftermarket stereos typically have the high and low level outputs. This is for people that either wire there speakers directly (using the high level outputs), wire all their speakers through an amp, (using the low level outputs), or, more commonly, use the high levels to wire the speakers a set of the low levels to run their subs.
Oh now I feel like I'm rambling lol. But you may not necessarily need every single wire in those adapter harnesses. They are trying to acommodate a wide range of setups. Once I see a few pics I may have a little better idea what wires your car is using. Sorry, I'm at work like I said so I can't see pictures.

[Indybird]

OK man let me see what I can do. I can't see that link cause I'm at work and it's blocked.
From what I can gather, the factory unit has both high and low level outputs, in other words speaker level and rca. The rca cables are designed to go to an amp, as the signal is not strong enough to provide a quality source for speakers.
As far as the aftermarket stereo. You are correct, it will not have a internal crossover. Well, the chances are slim to none anyway. Aftermarket stereos typically have the high and low level outputs. This is for people that either wire there speakers directly (using the high level outputs), wire all their speakers through an amp, (using the low level outputs), or, more commonly, use the high levels to wire the speakers a set of the low levels to run their subs.
Oh now I feel like I'm rambling lol. But you may not necessarily need every single wire in those adapter harnesses. They are trying to acommodate a wide range of setups. Once I see a few pics I may have a little better idea what wires your car is using. Sorry, I'm at work like I said so I can't see pictures.
My aftermarket stereo has RCA and high level. The factory had low and high level, but they were both standard wiring, no RCA.

The harness I linked has RCA connections (for my aftermarket stereo) that go to the external amp adapter block, so I'm nearly 100% sure that's what I need; in fact I'm going to order that right now to try and get it by Saturday.

The only remaining question is what I should do about the crossovers. I'm assuming the tweeters don't really need em, but the subs will sound mushy...

-Indybird

[Mark_Hardware]

crossovers are typically a high pass filter to keep low frequencies from distorting your tweeters

[Indybird]

crossovers are typically a high pass filter to keep low frequencies from distorting your tweeters

So for the subs I just get an inline RCA low pass filter; should also get inline high pass filters? If so where can I get inline filters that don't use RCA?

-Indybird

[Mark_Hardware]

lemme look, I know they have them.
Dontcha love it when something starts out so simple and just keeps getting more and more complicated? It starts with a simple putting a new stereo in. Next thing you know you are buying half of the crutchfield magazine and re-wiring your whole damn car.

[Indybird]

lemme look, I know they have them.
Dontcha love it when something starts out so simple and just keeps getting more and more complicated? It starts with a simple putting a new stereo in. Next thing you know you are buying half of the crutchfield magazine and re-wiring your whole damn car.

Man, seriously; I started off, oh well I'll just get this cool Clarion radio. Oh wait, I need mounting hardware, ok. Oh, a harness makes it 100% easier and cleaner to install, ok I like that. Wait the harness I ordered isn't compatible with my specific stereo?, fine, I'll order this other one. lol.

I'm still pretty limited in the cash department, so I'm not goin past ordering this new harness and the filters. If I can't run the aftermarket stereo with the factory sub amps then I'm going to forget about it for now; it would just be too much money wasted.

-Indybird

[Mark_Hardware]

dude, I am going through exactly the same thing. Got a new car. Oh the stereo doesnt work, well I'll get a new one. Wait a minute, the car has factory amps? and those don't work either? great!
Don't worry buddy, we will get through this!

Edit: OK, having some trouble finding a cheap crossover.... if the front and back didnt take different types of inputs it would be so much easier. grrrr

[Mark_Hardware]

hey I just thought of something. Are you sure the rear speakers need a crossover? Sure, they are amplified, but that doesnt necesarily mean they need a filter. Tweeters need a high pass crossover, and subwoofers need a low pass crossover. If the rear speakers with factory amps arent subs, they are just, say a pair of 6X9's, then your golden dude. Just a high pass for the tweeters. Or, F the tweeters for now, as I'm sure there are a pair of 6" speakers lurking around in the dash that won't need a Xover

[Indybird]

hey I just thought of something. Are you sure the rear speakers need a crossover? Sure, they are amplified, but that doesnt necesarily mean they need a filter. Tweeters need a high pass crossover, and subwoofers need a low pass crossover. If the rear speakers with factory amps arent subs, they are just, say a pair of 6X9's, then your golden dude. Just a high pass for the tweeters. Or, F the tweeters for now, as I'm sure there are a pair of 6" speakers lurking around in the dash that won't need a Xover

All of the tweeters are 2.5". The rear woofers are 5.25" and the front woofers are 5.5" x 7.5".

Do I need crossovers?

Thanks,
Nick

EDIT: By the way what do you suggest wire twists or wire crimps?

[Mark_Hardware]

you shouldn't need Xovers for those. Those are full range drivers. But yeah, you'll want one for the tweeters, at least eventually. You coud get away with not using one for a little while, till you get the cash to pick one up. Just remember, those tweeters are not designed to take full range sound, so they will fail eventually with no Xover

As far as wire crimps, do you mean like the ones ovride had pictured? Yeah I would recommend those over a wire nut in a car.

[Indybird]

you shouldn't need Xovers for those. Those are full range drivers. But yeah, you'll want one for the tweeters, at least eventually. You coud get away with not using one for a little while, till you get the cash to pick one up. Just remember, those tweeters are not designed to take full range sound, so they will fail eventually with no Xover

Assuming I'm not cranking the audio until I get the Xovers I'll be fine right?

As far as wire crimps, do you mean like the ones ovride had pictured? Yeah I would recommend those over a wire nut in a car.

Ok, cool I'll pick those up today.


Alright so I already got the tracking info, and the Mach-compatible harness is coming in tomorrow!

Thanks,
Indybird

[Mark_Hardware]

oh yeah I forgot about that! lol I'm gonna take a look at that link right now.

And yeah, you should be fine. If your worried about it, like I said before, just don't hook up the tweeters yet.

Edit: Ah hell man he said it will sound like crap! sonofa.... mebbe you could use the high level wires and bypass the factory amps

[Indybird]

oh yeah I forgot about that! lol I'm gonna take a look at that link right now.

And yeah, you should be fine. If your worried about it, like I said before, just don't hook up the tweeters yet.

Edit: Ah hell man he said it will sound like crap! sonofa.... mebbe you could use the high level wires and bypass the factory amps

Wowowoh, what link said that? The harness I ordered is designed to integrate an aftermarket head unit into a 2003 or later Mach system.


Thanks,
Indybird

[Mark_Hardware]

After a little bit of searching on the internet I found this. (http://www.bmcforums.com/showpost.php?p=204695&postcount=17)


Well, lets try this adapter, hopefully it will work. If it does end up not working, or not sounding good, we'll try an alternate method. One step at a time.

[Indybird]

Oy, they changed the delivery date from the 12th to the 15th :(. I CAN'T WAIT THAT LONG.

I love music, and I love being in my car. Now...it is a fairly standard feature in cars to listen to music in them, yet I can't because a simple stereo installation isnt so simple.

I guess it will be worth it in the end, but seriously, I can't wait.

-Indybird

[Mark_Hardware]

that blows. I feel your pain, brutha. Been using my headphones on the way to work....

[Indybird]

Alright, so the Mach stereo finally completely conked out on me. It didn't even power up anymore. Heres my chance to get started with my new stereo. Even though the new harness is arriving on Tuesday, I decided I wanted to get as much installed as I could (i.e. everything except the harness that runs to the sub amps).

I started off by splicing the Scosche harness to the Clarion wire block.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a29/Indybird/Mustang%20Stereo/IMG_0105.jpg

I then soldered the ground wires together.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a29/Indybird/Mustang%20Stereo/IMG_0107.jpg

Next up I removed the shifter panel and stereo/vent panel.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a29/Indybird/Mustang%20Stereo/IMG_0108.jpg

Closeup.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a29/Indybird/Mustang%20Stereo/IMG_0109.jpg

I then attached the Scosche harness to the Ford blocks.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a29/Indybird/Mustang%20Stereo/IMG_0110.jpg

And to the back of the head unit. I taped back all of the cables I'm not going to use.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a29/Indybird/Mustang%20Stereo/IMG_0111.jpg

Here you can see where I grounded everything to the chassis.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a29/Indybird/Mustang%20Stereo/IMG_0112.jpg

I then ran the USB cable from the head unit under the center console, and popped out the inside of the armrest compartment.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a29/Indybird/Mustang%20Stereo/IMG_0113.jpg

Closeup of the USB coming up.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a29/Indybird/Mustang%20Stereo/IMG_0114.jpg

I got a mountable USB cable and attached that to the head unit's USB cable.
I cut a square hole in the armrest compartment next to the power point. I then painted the included screws black and mounted the USB.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a29/Indybird/Mustang%20Stereo/IMG_0115.jpg

At this point I reconnect the negative on the battery and turn the power on. Here's the moment of truth...SUCCESS. Everything turns on and worked exactly as I expected. Stereo works and sounds great (I ignored the fact that the woofers weren't setup yet) and the USB worked quite nicely with my friend's iPod. So I put the panels back on, sat back, and enjoy the fruits of my labor.

Here's a drivers view of everything installed.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a29/Indybird/Mustang%20Stereo/IMG_0117.jpg

Closeup of the console. Pretty clean for a first stereo installation eh?
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a29/Indybird/Mustang%20Stereo/IMG_0116.jpg

And then some nightshots, here's a closeup of the unit w/ the screen off.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a29/Indybird/Mustang%20Stereo/IMG_0120.jpg

Then the whole console, w/ the screen on.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a29/Indybird/Mustang%20Stereo/IMG_0118.jpg

So two things stereo related left to do:
-Install the new harness that's compatible with the Mach 460 woofer amps
-Install inline high-pass filters on the tweeters

Now about that last thing, does anyone have any suggestions as to which high pass filters to get? So far I haven't been able to find any specs on any of the speakers in the Mach system, so I don't know what types of filters to get...

-Indybird

[Mark_Hardware]

well, I have spent some time looking around, and I'm not finding any cheap options. Really you just need a high pass crossover. You have several options, bi or tri way, active or passive. Here, this (http://www.crutchfield.com/S-UcMz6G7wjqB/learn/learningcenter/car/crossovers_install.html) might help.

[OvRiDe]

Looks great!!


Now about that last thing, does anyone have any suggestions as to which high pass filters to get? So far I haven't been able to find any specs on any of the speakers in the Mach system, so I don't know what types of filters to get...

I found this online.. there is quite a bit of information here and some downloadable wiring schematics.

http://www.flemworld.com/Mach460/Mach.html

[billygoat333]

good clean install, esp. for your first! :) +rep

[Indybird]

Looks great!!



I found this online.. there is quite a bit of information here and some downloadable wiring schematics.

http://www.flemworld.com/Mach460/Mach.html

I've actually been using that site for reference on some things, thanks again tho.


good clean install, esp. for your first! :) +rep

Thanks bro.

Ok, so after a little bit of searching the web (that seems to be all it ever takes), I found this (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NWHVY8/ref=ox_ya_oh_product). Checked with a friend to see if that'll do what I need it to and sure enough they do. I got the last 4 from a seller for $6 apiece.

-Indybird

[Indybird]

Ok, so I got the proper harness for the Mach amps in. It works great except one thing. I'm getting a lot of muddy low-mids coming out of the woofers; I'm guessing that they actually do need some kind of crossover (which means more money). I'm getting my high pass filters in tomorrow so I'm going to be putting those in, but that should be simple.

Anyways, other than the muddy mids the system sounds great and the clarion radio works perfectly with everything.

-Indybird

[Mark_Hardware]

muddy low mids, huh? hmm im not real sure.... have you tried some other equalizer settings?

[Indybird]

muddy low mids, huh? hmm im not real sure.... have you tried some other equalizer settings?

Yeah, right now I have the treble and bass cranked to balance out the mids. However, I'm starting to think that the mach sub amps do not have built in crossovers and/or the subs are not full-range.

-Indybird

[Mark_Hardware]

ah I know what you mean now. Damn it just wont give up will it