hey guys i have a 2001 expedition with the mach audio system. Im having problems with the radio or speakers im not sure if the speakers are going bad or if something is wrong with the headunit. Both are stock and im running it with 2 12" subs on high low converter. When im running the radio almost all of my stations come in scratchy, some worse than others. Now it is not terrible but i can hear it. My question is is this a sign of my headunit going bad or my speakers going bad? Ill replace either one to aftermarket if that is the problem. Im just looking to see if anyone has any experience and could tell me. thanks

 

i would say the speakers but i wouldnt be for sure. cause i have a 2001 f150 and when i got my subs they said that if i didnt replace the speakers they would sound like **** after awhile cause i would be tryin to get to much out of them. but im not for sure. take it to an audio store and have them do some tests on it.

 

Tests? Theres nothing to test other then listening to it and then starting to replacing stuff.

If it were me, id be replacing the headunit first for a couple of reasons.

1. Easier to replace then door speakers
2. Better control over your eq, plus all the added freatures of an aftermarket deck
3. Eliminate the need for your line out converter.

IF that doesnt fix your issues, then I would replace speakers. Either all 4 at once, or front two, then rear two.

 

thanks for the help, i've got about $150 to spend on a headunit any recomendations? i want an indash but i know that is WAY out of my price range but ill be looking over my local craigslist to see if i can find a deal.

 

uhh yeah there are. cause i thought my speakers were blown and audio store hooked up the wires to some handheld thing to test them... idk what its called but they did it.

 

How are you getting blown speakers or messed up head unit from weak radio stations?

Check the solar weather. Maybe the solar winds are to blame for the stations coming in weak.

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/today.html

How long have you owned this vehicle and is this a new development? Maybe the antenna came unplugged from the head unit.

 

A speaker tester will do the same thing as listening to it through a radio. And besides, in order to get the speaker out to test it using a speaker tester, you have to get to speaker wire. Best places to tap speaker wire...at the speaker, or at the HU. So its the same amount of labor to test 8 year old factory paper-coned speakers? Sounds like a plan.

 

What kinda features you lookin for man? For your price range I like the Pioneer DEH-2100. Comes with the Ipod cable to run to the flovebox/center console. Alpine's got some nice H/U's as well, but their base models are usually a lil more expensive then the Pioneers.

 

my apologizes for being so late to this thread i hadnt seen a response in a little while and forgot about it, but the problems im having are only with radio stations. i was wondering what it might be because the stations come in clearer on our other cars around the house, so i didnt know if it was the speakers or the head unit. when i hook my ipod up to the casette player (the little adapter thing) it usually comes in clear but the radio comes in scrathy for local stations that in other cars would come in clear so i wasnt sure of the problem

 

Might sound obvious, but did somebody jack the antenna off your fender?

Some stole mine...drove around for 3 weeks without it (i think, maybe longer) before I even noticed.

IF thats not it, id tackle your head unit first. See if that fixes it.

 

X2 If you get a new head youor gonna want new speakers though! Jsut do it all at once you'll love it

 

ok so this is a noob question but where exactly is it located because i just looked at my car and for some reason i couldnt find it, i think its an internal antenna but im not sure can someone tell me where its at? thanks