Hi,

I have recently purchased a MK4 Mondeo (2010) 2.0 tdci. Lovely car, but the sound system is really playing up and the sound quality is distorted from both the radio and the cd. There are several issues I have encountered and I have been trying to investigate them as best I can and as best the internet can help me with.

Stereo head unit is a standard oval shaped 6000cd which I can control via the steering wheel.

Issue 1: Intermittent. Not keeping date and time. I set the date and time via the dashboard interface on the steering wheel. The dashboard remembers these settings but the stereo only displays the settings from time to time. Most of the time it is just showing blank dashes, then sometimes the correct date and time displays. This can happen at startup or during a drive.

Issue 2: 1 hour mode while car is running. This is a more consistent problem. Engine running, turn the stereo on and 1 hour mode flashes up. This happens regardless of the date and time showing or not showing.

Issue 3: Distorted sound through the speakers from radio play and CD play. I’m not blasting music, usually listen at volume 10 to 12, but getting really distorted sound quality. Tried adjusting bass and treble settings with no improvements. Initially thought it could just be the aerial but the CD play is also distorted.

My investigations so far.

Removed the stereo to check it the connections are seated properly. Yep, it all looked fine apart from one random single purple wire coming from the left hand side of the car (car is right hand drive and main wire bundle comes in from the right). Image attached.

I strongly believe that the stereo unit is not the original one as the pin code is not what is in the book. I do have the correct code. Also, there are clear signs that the facia has been previously removed as there are a couple of missing screws.

Fuses: F4 (7.5amp) Electronic feed, electronic fuse was missing so I have now put one in. F6 (15amp) Audio system (including voice control) looked fine but replaced with a new fuse while I had the chance. Could not see any other obvious fuses to check. All issues are still occurring.

Is there anything else I can try or look at that could be causing these issues?

My next course of action is to try a different head unit (around £40 from ebay). If it solves all the issue then great (I’m not convinced it will). If the issues persist then I don’t know what to try next. Any help or advice would be greatly received. Many thanks.

(I’m not a mechanic or an electrician but I can unplug and re plug bits)

Can you try to eliminate it being a particular speaker  by using the balance and fader controls to turn down each individual speaker and see (hear!) if the distortion goes. 

For the rest of the problems might be possible to open up the unit and check that internal plugs are secure in their sockets. 

1 hour ago, nicam49 said:

Can you try to eliminate it being a particular speaker  by using the balance and fader controls to turn down each individual speaker and see (hear!) if the distortion goes. 

For the rest of the problems might be possible to open up the unit and check that internal plugs are secure in their sockets. 

Hi Nick, thanks for responding.

Yep, tried using the balance and fader and the distortion remained. I will do it again to be sure.

I’ll investigate checking the internal connections. If it looks easy i’ll give it a go otherwise i’ll get a replacement unit to try.

🙂

13 hours ago, Gavin Kirby said:

My next course of action is to try a different head unit (around £40 from ebay).

Mine is an older version of the 6000CD and can be got for about £20 from Ebay. I replaced mine a couple of years back, solved the issues I had though now my speakers are definitely giving issues. If you buy a replacement, and it makes no difference, you can always recycle it again back on Ebay. I'm sure you will, but make sure you get the code with a replacement unit...