Upgrade Audio 2004 Ford Focus

Tightmike on 20/05/2024 - 13:05

I’ve acquired a 2004 ford focus sedan which I want to upgrade to speakers and head unit of at minimal cost.

I’m thinking the double din CarPlay unit from Jaycar https://www.jaycar.com.au/7in-bluetooth-media-player-head-un…
And some new speakers, which a preliminary search shows it will be 2 pairs of 6x8 inch speakers. I’ll add a reverse camera as I have 3 young kids, and school dropoffs are fraught with danger which this slightly alleviates.

Our other car has all modern sensors and cameras which I’m now accustomed to having so want to make it a similar experience to that. I’ll potentially add parking sensors also, if aftermarket systems detect pedestrians.

I understand I need a wiring harness also.

Can anyone give any advice, especially speaker choice and camera choice before I go ahead.

Automotive Car Car Audio Ford Head Unit

Comments

  • Muzeeb on 20/05/2024 - 13:30
    +1

    6x8" speakers seems a bit odd for 2004 focus. Can you see the current speakers through the grills? Are the in the rear doors or parcel shelf?

    Checkout the aerpro website. They should advice advise which cables/harnesses you need.

    Are you wiring in the camera yourself as well?

    • spackbace on 20/05/2024 - 13:35

      They should advice advise which cables/harnesses you need.

      That Jaycar unit uses ISO plugs, I found it was simple plug and play

      • Muzeeb on 20/05/2024 - 13:40

        Probably still need a Ford to ISO harness or does Ford use ISO from factory?

      • Tightmike on 20/05/2024 - 15:12

        Is it a decent unit? Does it handle CarPlay well?

        • spackbace on 20/05/2024 - 15:22
          +1

          Only used for a year or so, Android Auto

          Seemed to do the trick, was in the Mrs' car. By decent, I judged it by being a $199 unit…

    • Tightmike on 20/05/2024 - 14:19

      Yep will wire the camera myself, done a few audio and dash cam installs myself over the years and always curse myself, but I enjoy it. Might try a Temu camera.
      6x8 seems weird, but they are indeed oval speakers front and back, could possibly be 5x7. I’ll do the head unit first to see if speaker upgrade is even necessary. I’d prefer not to use an amp if possible.

  • spackbace on 20/05/2024 - 13:35
    +6

    Speaker upgrade is likely pointless if they're not being amplified. Also pointless as they're being powered by just a no-name brand HU

    if aftermarket systems detect pedestrians.

    They won't, they'll just detect any basic object within distance of the sensors. If you already have a camera, and you're looking at it, then sensors are pointless imo

    • AFOS on 20/05/2024 - 14:10
      +1

      This.

      Been down that road before. Replaced stock speakers to Hertz (a while ago) and felt no difference whatsoever (powered by JVC HU). Once I replaced HU for a Pioneer, there was a noticeable change. But only when I installed sub and amplifier, the system started to rock! What was planned as a minor sound upgrade, ended up more expensive that the car itself and I have a feeling that OP is headed that way too…

      BTW, when I was selling the car, I was able to recoup $0 of my costs, so if I had 3 kids I would think carefully again (even though I enjoyed it immensely).

      • Tightmike on 20/05/2024 - 14:27
        +2

        Yep no value added at all, other than own enjoyment. Also my wife can’t drive around the corner without navigation assistance. Don’t want to add an amp, but want sound clarity.

    • 1st-Amendment on 20/05/2024 - 14:13
      +1

      then sensors are pointless imo

      Worse than pointless, they are f'ing annoying. beep! beep! bloop! bloop! If I could remove mine easily I would

    • Tightmike on 20/05/2024 - 14:23

      My cx9 sensors pick up pedestrians walking close to car, not alerting them as a pedestrian, just an object same as a post, wall or car. I’d assume aftermarket sensors to be the same.

      • spackbace on 20/05/2024 - 14:24
        +1

        Just look at your camera… and mirrors, you know, those things we've had in cars for decades?

        • Tightmike on 20/05/2024 - 14:30

          Yep, but the systems that have evolved in cars are noticeable when absent. I’m dreading not having radar cruise and AEB, although it’s just a suburban runabout.

          • 1st-Amendment on 20/05/2024 - 14:37
            +1

            @Tightmike:

            but the systems that have evolved in cars

            Have they though? I get so many false positives that I'm thinking of replacing my car with something from the 80's before all the distractions ruined the experience.
            ABS and TCS are good. LCA and AEB terrible. The car should improve whatever that you are trying to do, not fight you for control of it which is where we are now.

            AEB

            This is the worse thing ever invented. Mine goes off at random times so I go from cruising along to emergency braking completely out of the blue for no reason because the computer thinks it knows better than me. It's a real life version of HAL9000

            • WoodYouLikeSomeCash on 20/05/2024 - 15:18

              @1st-Amendment: That’s related to the car. I’ve got a Haval H6 and have never had any false positives. Which type of car do you drive?

            • Muzeeb on 20/05/2024 - 15:23
              +1

              @1st-Amendment: My last car purchase I went down one trim level so it didn't include lane keep assist etc. FFS - it's just making everyone lazy drivers relying on tech.

              • 1st-Amendment on 20/05/2024 - 17:42

                @Muzeeb:

                it's just making everyone lazy drivers relying on tech.

                Even worse it's dangerous. I've had a couple of repeat issues with lane change, one was a hire car and I was trying to get off a freeway and it tried to keep me on it so I was fighting with the car at 110km/h on a freeway off-ramp and almost crashed.
                Another was with AEB in my own car where I turning across a busy main road. There a was gap just big enough to get through if I floored it, but as soon as I did the AEB thought I was going to crash so locked up the brakes right in the middle of oncoming traffic. So rather than make the gap I was now stranded in the middle of oncoming traffic. I was almost hit head on by a bus thanks to the stupid tech trying to second guess what I'm doing.

                The machine should always help you do what you want to do, not fight you for control. This is why LAC and AEB are dangerous.

                • Tightmike on 20/05/2024 - 21:44

                  @1st-Amendment: Lane change cancels with indicators on, did you indicate? And the lane keep is usually quite subtle. As for AEB, I’ve found most systems cancel if there is acceleration happening, which makes me wonder what the point is.

                  My car will slow if there is a car slowing to turn, but allow me to override the AEB by accelerating myself as I can see the path ahead clearing.

                  • 1st-Amendment on 21/05/2024 - 07:57

                    @Tightmike:

                    Lane change cancels with indicators on, did you indicate?

                    Can't remember, probably not, but this brings me back to my original point, the machine should be assisting me to do what I want to do not tell me what to do.

                    At the very least the car should give the owner the option to turn all that shit off. ABS, TCS and Reverse camera I'll keep, the rest is just annoying.

      • freefall101 on 20/05/2024 - 18:18
        +1

        I'm probably missing something, but what's the benefit of being able to tell if it's a pedestrian? Usually I try to avoid hitting anything, regardless of what it is, and will always look at what the object is that's triggering the sensors.

        • Tightmike on 20/05/2024 - 21:39

          Just asking if all aftermarket sensor systems would pick up smaller objects such as pedestrians, or is there a certain type of sensor which is more or less sensitive to larger or smaller objects?

  • LanceVance on 20/05/2024 - 15:18
    +3

    Head unit upgrade will improve your sound anyway, do that first and see if its to your liking.

  • JIMB0 on 20/05/2024 - 16:32
    +1

    You're overcapitalizing on a 20 year old. It could end up on the back of a tow truck next week headed for the wrecking yard.

    • mini2 on 20/05/2024 - 16:59

      I agree, but if OP accepts this risk, that's their problem.

    • Tightmike on 20/05/2024 - 17:11

      Hence keeping costs to a minimum, just to enjoy BT connection, navigation familiarity for my wife and a minor safety addition. Also I enjoy tinkering with cars and this one is well maintained, hopefully can squeeze 5 years out of it. Max spend will be $400, preferably under $300

  • mini2 on 20/05/2024 - 17:01

    Add a small class D amp if you're getting new speakers. They aren't that expensive, and the speakers' upgrade is more worthwhile.

    • spackbace on 20/05/2024 - 17:06

      Until the panels of a 20 year old Focus start to show their age and all you get is vibration

  • Jake D on 20/05/2024 - 17:54
    +1

    Buy speakers that fit in existing holes. You'll probably find they're 4" or 6". You can pick up decent pairs of 2 ways in these sizes on a budget.

  • bazingaa on 21/05/2024 - 08:52
    +1

    I don't even use radio anymore, just listen to engine sound and gear shifting sound lol.

    • Loopholio on 21/05/2024 - 09:39

      ^This. I enjoy listening to the car sounds, bus too. I don't mind BayFM if it's turned down very low.

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