hook up carputer to factory stereo/amps?

**pyros** · 07-19-2004, 11:45 AM

Hey Everyone,

I tried searching to see if I could find any info on this but I can't seem to find anything. If I missed something I apologize in advance and I'm retarded.

I just bought a 2004 Ford Mustang Mach 1. It comes with a premium audio package which includes 2 amps that run all the speakers. I am wondering if I can hook up my carputer to these? I have a SB Audigy NX soundcard so what I wanted to do was get a stereo jack to speaker wire cable (available at radio shack), get a wiring harness for my car, and wire up the soundcard right to the speakerwire on the wiring harness since these run right to the amps. Then I plan on having the power coming from a power terminal (not from the harness) which is connected to the battery, use the ground and ignition wire from the wiring harness, etc.

What do you guys think? Will it work or do you have any other suggestions?

**Microft91** · 09-23-2004, 02:07 AM

Depends. you want to do it the right way or the wrong way. My opinion, the Mach stereo system isn't that great. i've got one in my 01 GT and one of the speakers is cracked. I'm replacing my whole stereo before i put a computer in it.

**sheerdark** · 09-27-2004, 04:51 AM

In my Rodeo, which has factory amps installed for the 8 speaker stereo system, I used the method that you described except that I use a Kenwood Headunit wired to the factory harness, with an aux in jack that the computer hooks up to. I don't know if what you want to do, running it from amps to the factory harness would be loud enough, but my setup works great. Maybe you could just try it...if you don't like it - change it later? I would guess that it would all depend on how loud you expect your music to be and on the quality of the Mach amps?

My Mom has an '02 GT convertible with the Mach system...and from my experiences in that car, the sound system is not all that great. I was pretty disappointed, because it was a pretty expensive factory add-on...however, she says it is great sound - it all depends on what you expect out of a factory system, I guess.

**pyros** · 09-29-2004, 12:39 PM

unfortunately i've now found out there is no wiring harness available for the 2004 mustangs with the mach system yet

For some reason ford changed the harness that hooks up to the amps and no one has designed one yet to fit them. As of right now i'm going to be completing ditching the mach system (except the speakers for now) and getting either a 4 channel JL amp or a 5 channel usamp :S

thanks for the replies

**kingnasty** · 09-29-2004, 01:33 PM

you could buy an fm modulator, i have one for sale in the classifieds

**techeros** · 09-29-2004, 01:44 PM

man if I had the money, do it right the first time. I think you'd spend more time trying to figure out how to connect all that vs. building something you know will work (tried and true). My 03 Tundra had factory amp (crap) I tossed that POS right out th window and installed alpine deck, 2 amps, new wire to all new speakers. Glad I did. Sounds great. If your low on th $$, your only out of your time but may not sound as good and may have probs. later down the road.

**krystar** · 09-29-2004, 03:21 PM

pyros if you're decidedly on keeping the amps for lack of funds and lack of ...laziness. you can just splice the harness wires and put a RCA jack in. i did it to my oem amp. sounds just fine. not boomingly loud but good enough.