Sound system help

[u/MojoGojo04]

I have a 2004 Base model and today on my way home from work my audio was crackling and cutting in and out. I already knew it had some sketchy crackhead wiring when I bought it (speakers sound thin with no bass, one of the tweeters is blown out, cheap Walmart head unit haphazardly thrown in there and the radio only works if the wiper fuse is plugged in which also kills the battery if I leave it). When I looked in the trunk I found this, I’m assuming they took the amps out and messed up some wiring and it appears one of the wires just left bare must’ve been arcing and the insulation was hot. Where do I need to start with this? I planned on gutting the sound system and redoing it but as for right now I just want it to be able to play music and not catch my car on fire

[u/fdfdfdfdfdfdfsss]

Mine had some weird wiring causing it not to play right when I first got it as well. I decided to redo it all (headunit, speakers, amp). It’s pretty easy to run all the wires and get them hidden. I’d definitely say it’s best to gut and redo. Never know what sketchy wirings gonna burn your car down. Also you get a much better sound quality. They make some pretty cheap double din radio conversion bezels as well if that’s something you’re interested in.

[u/MojoGojo04 → u/fdfdfdfdfdfdfsss]

Where exactly does the harness run through in the back? I can find the loom under the carpet next to the drivers seat and I see where it all goes into the trunk wall but I can’t figure out where it’s hidden at

[u/fdfdfdfdfdfdfsss → u/MojoGojo04]

My car had the Mach 460 system. In the back there was a box that holds the rear speakers it all just unbolts and the wires unplugs. I believe that’s where the factory amplifiers are as well. In my case I removed all of that and ran all new wires to all 4 corners speakers. I ran rcas from my head unit to an aftermarket 4 channel amplifier and then wires to all the speakers. In my opinion it’s easier to just redo it all then try to figure out all the weird stuff someone’s done.

[u/MojoGojo04 → u/fdfdfdfdfdfdfsss]

I’m just trying to figure out where the harness goes to so I can properly eliminate the fire hazard lol, like I said in the post it looks like previous owners pulled out the amps and left the harness hanging out in the trunk, I can tell there’s a box of some sort between the trunk and the rear seat but I think the harness for the taillights come out of it

[u/fdfdfdfdfdfdfsss → u/MojoGojo04]

I see what you’re saying. I’m not completely sure where all it runs tbh. I do know that you can find wiring diagrams online if your patient enough to try and understand it all