I'm at wits end! I've been trying to install a system in my wife's 2003 Ford Focus ZX3, and I am stumped! As far as I know, there were no issues with the factory system or speakers, she just wanted to upgrade and be able to hook her IPOD in, plus I had a bunch of equipment from a previous system I had installed. Here's the scoop:
Head Unit: KDC-MP438U (Kenwood 22w x 4 RMS) I just noticed this is 4 to 8 ohms
Speakers: 2 sets of Infinity Kappas 682.9cf (6x8 two way) These are 2 ohms
AMP: Sony XM-7557 5 channel 75x4 @ 4ohms and 220x1 @ 4ohms.
So, I hooked the HU up following the wiring diagram from
Crutchfield and the schematic from the HU manual. I installed the speakers and then tested to make ssure the channels were correct using the balance and fader controls. Everything sounded fine. After about 30 minutes of playing (not necessarily consecutive time), the right rear speaker started to sound distorted (all hi-end no bass). I checked the speaker and no wires were pinched, but I did note that the magnet fit tightly into the mounting hole. I tried switching the LR and RR speakers and the RR that was originally the LR sounded fine, but the LR that was originally RR still sounded like crap, and this time the cone on the speaker would not move at all after removed from the mounting spot. I took the speaker back and got a replacement, thinking it was defective. The next day, it sounded like crap again. This time I called Best Buy and spoke to someone in installations. He said it sounded like the HU had a bad channel, so I took the speakers and HU back and had both replaced. This time I hooked up the AMP thinking they may have been underpowered.
I ran 4 ga power wire down one side from the battery to the rear and the preamp speaker wires for front, rear and sub down the other side to the amp. I ran new 16 ga wire from the amp to the speakers making sure to keep the wire away from the power. I disconnected the speaker wire connections from the HU harness to the factory car harness and taped them off. I plugged the RCA cables into the HU preamp outs and confirmed the constant power, accessory power, ground and remote were connected properly. I fired it up and after a few minutes the RR speaker started to sound like crap again. I switched it with the LR again, and both sounded okay for a few minutes, but then the LR (originally RR) started to sound like crap again. I tried switching the speakers again and listening to them unmounted and sitting on the seat. The one that was originally the RR, continued to sound blown, but the LR sounded okay. I left the RR unhooked and remounted the LR speaker. All sounds good now, but I don't know what to do about the RR. I don't think BB is going to give me anymore speakers.
I called Ford and a service tech told me to check for voltage on the line from the amp and the ground. I used a digital multimeter set to V DC 200m. When I touched the negative prong to the bare metal of the body and the positive prong to the bare negative RR speaker wire coming from the amp, it registered 20.0. I touched the positive prong to the positive RR speaker wire from the amp, it registered 0.0. This was all done with the ignition off and the HU disconnected. Does this mean anything? I also checked the resistance on the blown speaker and it registered 0. Based on a doc from
crutchfield, this means the speaker must have a short.
I don't know what to do, so any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks.
