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Crackling noise in stereo system - 2000, Mercury Sable
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kickback
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Apr 1, 2013, 9:32 PM
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Crackling noise in stereo system - 2000, Mercury Sable
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I own a 2000, Mercury, Sable, 3.0L 24v Durotec engine with 41,000 miles on it. The problem i am having is, whenever i play the radio or the cd changer, i start to hear crackling from all speakers and usually it's most pronounced in the morning when i first start the engine. The crackling seems to go away as the engine warms up and seldom hear it when driving on the freeway but when i get to work and slow down to stop or back-up the car, the crackling comes back. If i turn off the engine, the problem goes away until i turn the engine back on. I already dissabled the alternator circuit by lifting the 175 amp fuse and didn't seem to help. Also had to put a new battery in cause the old battery finally quit after 6 years and the problem was there before i changed the battery. Oddest thing though, when we had a few weeks of really cold weather, the problem cleared up until the spring weather came and now it's doing it again. Any advice would help.
(This post was edited by carjunky on Apr 2, 2013, 7:40 AM)
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carjunky
Enthusiast
Apr 2, 2013, 7:46 AM
Post #2 of 12
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Re: Crackling noise in stereo system - 2000, Mercury Sable
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Does the noise get louder when you rev the car?
I use to have a car that you could hear the engine revving up through the radio. Turned out to be a short in my cars electrical circuit.
Also is the cd changer a new addition to the car or factory installed? Reason I'm asking is I'm curious if you have a grounding problem
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kickback
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Apr 2, 2013, 6:52 PM
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Re: Crackling noise in stereo system - 2000, Mercury Sable
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Thanks for replying. The cd changer is factory equipment and is mounted in the trunk. The Crackling noise does not increase with engine speed. The moment i start the engine and turn on the sound system i can hear the crackling. I noticed on the freeway coming home, that if i put my foot on the brake, even lightly, i hear a slight crackle start but if i step on the brake to slow to a stop, the crackling happens more often, or if i put the car in reverse and back up it happens but the moment i turn the engine off, it goes away completely. Oh, and by the way, when the crackling occurs, it actually causes the music to break up so it's not like the music is uninterrupted on top of the crackling, it DOES interrupt the music. Hope that helps.
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nickwarner
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Apr 3, 2013, 6:33 PM
Post #4 of 12
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Re: Crackling noise in stereo system - 2000, Mercury Sable
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If you have the stereo on with the engine off, will it do this? Try turning on the key but leaving the engine off. Use your lights, hit the brake pedal, etc. Does this affect it or not? If the problem is present with the engine off, I'd be suspecting a grounding issue as was already suggested. If the engine has to be running to get the interference, I would be suspecting RFI from either the spark plug wires or the alternator field coils. If you don't know when the last time you got new plugs and wires was, it would be a good idea to change them now anyway to keep the engine running well. But deteriorated plug wires can and will cause interference with your stereo.
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kickback
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Apr 3, 2013, 9:24 PM
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Re: Crackling noise in stereo system - 2000, Mercury Sable
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Hi Nick, In answer to your questions, the crackling noise only happens when the engine is running and usually starts when starting it up in the morning. If i let it idle for a bit then get in, i don't hear it until i either press on the brake pedal to shift to drive, then as i drive away, it goes away. The crackling noise isn't that loud and is usually erratic in nature. I had a buddy remove the belt from the alternator and it still was doing it. Then removed the 175 amp fuse that supplies B+ to the alternator and still does it. About 2 months ago we had really cold weather for like a week, and noticed the noise went away and stayed away for about 3 weeks, then the temperature started getting warmer and it came back. Oh, and like i said, it does it whether i play the music from the cd changer or the radio but the moment i turn the engine off i can blast it and never hear any crackling at all. Oh, and forgot to mention that sometimes when i hit a small pot hole in the road, i hear a slight crackle. With the engine off, i can turn on all the lights and the fan on high and NOT ONCE does the crackling sound happen.
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nickwarner
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Apr 4, 2013, 1:36 PM
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Re: Crackling noise in stereo system - 2000, Mercury Sable
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Waiting to hear about the plug wires. You really should look closely at them. If you can get it into a dim area, or look at it when its getting dark out, run the engine and spray salt water from a spray bottle on the plug wires. Salt water is more conductive than regular water so if you are leaking voltage it will show easier. If you see any arcing from the coil towers or anywhere on the wire you need to replace them for sure.
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kickback
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Apr 22, 2013, 10:21 AM
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Re: Crackling noise in stereo system - 2000, Mercury Sable
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Hi Nick, sorry for the long delay in getting back to you but i had a little chainsaw accident which prevented me from using my left hand. I uploaded a picture of the engine compartment and placed arrows at components in question. Since this engine doesn't utilize the standard spark plug cables, but instead uses coil paks mounted on each spark plug assembly, i figured i'd get back to you. I did notice a small U shaped component as indicated by the red arrow, part number XLiF - 18801-AB mounted by one screw and the other end goes into a quick disconnect then goes into the wrapped wire loom. I've done some looking on the internet and it seems this device is a capacitor for suppressing noise. Any other feedback would be helpful.
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kickback
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Apr 22, 2013, 10:33 AM
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Re: Crackling noise in stereo system - 2000, Mercury Sable
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By the way, that photo i mentioned in my last reply, i uploaded it to a image management system and not sure how to post it in here? I'm new to the forum scene and a little help would be appreciated[:) see if this works 
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Apr 24, 2013, 5:02 AM)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Apr 22, 2013, 11:43 AM
Post #9 of 12
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Re: Crackling noise in stereo system - 2000, Mercury Sable
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The image hosting site should supply you with a link that when posted here, shows the picture.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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nickwarner
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Apr 22, 2013, 2:01 PM
Post #10 of 12
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Re: Crackling noise in stereo system - 2000, Mercury Sable
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Ok, that pic made a lot more sense of this. Sorry to hear about the hand. You can still play the piano, right?
I think you're on the right track with that RFI noise suppressor. You have no plug wires in this COP ignition (my bad, I should've read in the beginning this was a DOHC motor, I was thinking of the OHV version).
You ruled out the alternator when you took off the belt and it would still act up. Let us know how this works after the repair. Honestly I'd look to get this right from Ford. If you get it off E-Bay or some discount parts house you might get some chinese knockoff part that could fail out on you. While it won't make you walk home, it will certainly irritate the crap out of you.
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kickback
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Apr 24, 2013, 4:30 AM
Post #11 of 12
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Re: Crackling noise in stereo system - 2000, Mercury Sable
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Thanks Hammer for the advice, but unfortunately the image management system is vague in that respect, so i used photobucket instead. I do, however, have another question relating to posting photos in the forums. I have seen actual photos being posted in the forums, instead of links to the photos, and i was wondering if one can still post an actual photo in one's post and if it can be done, how does one go about doing it? Thank You Sir...
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Apr 24, 2013, 4:45 AM
Post #12 of 12
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Re: Crackling noise in stereo system - 2000, Mercury Sable
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That's done using a link from the hosting site. For Photobucket just use the link that says image and post it in your question/answer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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