Ryan Church

I love that this has become a “trust me, my way is better than your way.” I simply shared what I found and what I did. Now for some reason I must be convinced that your way is better than my way. If you wanted you simply could have written as an addition or reply, “Rather than using roofing tar, you can also use and I suggest RTV gasket maker etc.” But instead like a troll you jumped on and immediately started lashing. Totally not helpful. Forum is supposed to addressing the issue with the THX system and now it is all about your bees and RTV. Now, back to the reason for the forum, my problems have all been solved by replacing the amp and sealing the nipple.

I wouldn’t have normally used tar but let me introduce you to using what you have at the time you need it. I had just done a roof job and the tar tube was literally sitting in my trash when I found the issue. Unless someone takes the black plastic off the back of my car, they will never see it. In addition, I only needed a pee size amount. I don’t need RTV nor would I use it for anything else so no need to keep a tube of it in my toolbox to become a solid tube of rubbery junk over the next several years waiting to be thrown away. I literally used what was already in the garbage and my problem is solved.

I went to the dealer and replaced the amp. It cost me $110 to diagnose it. Cost me $600 to get a new one installed and programmed. It fixed all my issues with static or no sound at all. However, the sound is still not as loud as I would like it. In addition it fixed my door chime issues...chimes not playing through the stereo but coming from the dash. As an FYI if you replace your amp, you better fix the water leak that causes the amp to short out. If you look just above the amp is a white nipple that helps hold the black plastic trim, outside the truck, in place. Really dumb design. Ford has literally violated the watertight integrity of the metal deck lid for the sake of some ugly black plastic. Anyway, that nipple fills with water and overflows and drips right on top of the amp and results in a short. to fix the water leak, I used roofing tar around the nipple and sealed it off. So far, amp works great and no water leaks.

I am having this issue. It just started on my 2015 MKZ. The static and pop happen while driving and when the car is off. It is super weird. Did anyone find a fix?