98 CD/Tape/Radio headunit in my 95

investa · February 1, 2001

I bought a CD/Tape/Radio headunit from a '99 explorer off of ebay, does anyone make a harness to plug into my 95 radio harness.

My 95 was the standard Radio/Tape, no backseat controls or CD changer controls.

Mike

bcorff · February 1, 2001

Yup! I did the identical swap only with a headunit out of a '98. I found the harness at PDA Inc., a company in Denver that specializes in Ford factory audio systems. You can call them at 303-761-6022.

investa · February 1, 2001

Well, I called PDA and they said they would need the part number for the harness as they could not recall one that fit my description.
Any idea who you talked to?

Mike

bcorff · February 1, 2001

You need to talk to Paul. He has done the same conversion in a '95 Ranger and he is the one who helped me with mine. I called him to be sure and he told me that the harness that I have is not available anymore, but he does have adapters that will work (much cheaper than what I paid too!).

investa · February 1, 2001

Thanks, i will give him a call.

mike

investa · February 1, 2001

Paul gave me the two Metra part #'s i need, I am in Seattle to he reccomended a local shop that has the parts. The guy at the local shop says it will not work because the headunit is really nothing more than a "Keyboard" for the "Brain" in the rear jack storage area. Did you run into these kinds of issues?

My factory headunit has only long row or plugs an one square row of plugs, is that what you found on yours?

Thanks,

Mike

bcorff · February 1, 2001

I don't know about this "keyborad" for the "brain" stuff, but I know that there is not a computer or anything related to the stereo in the rear jack storage area (left rear compartment) on my '95. There is a factory amp in the right right rear compartment that you will have to bypass to use your new head unit because it has the amplifier built in. This in one of the issues that the wiring harness I bought from PDA solved.

Yes, if I recall correctly, my factory head unit had one long row of plugs and one square one.

When I did this swap, I asked Paul a lot of quesions and he was very knowledgable and helpful. I would call him again and tell him what the other guy said. My guess is that he was talking about the factory amp. Ask Paul if the parts he was talking about bypass the amp or if you need to do that another way.

Let me know what you find out.

investa · February 1, 2001

I will give him a call tommorow.

Thanks for all the input.

Mike

cobrajeff · February 9, 2001

If your original Ford radio has a base part number of -19B165-, then you have the "Premium Sound" system, and the amplifier for your radio is located behind the right rear quarter trim (not the LEFT, where the jack is).

If your radio head unit has a part number with a base of -18C852-, then you have the DISTRIBUTED system, where the Head Unit is basically "just a keyboard". The electronics of the radio, including the amplifier AND the tuner are located in a "Rear Control Unit" (base part #-18C851-) located in the right rear quarter trim, along WITH the subwoofer enclosure and a dedicated subwoofer amplifier.

You can also tell this model radio by the small pop-out rotary controls for Bass/Treble and Bal/Fade on either side of the radio display. This model radio was used in Explorers with the Ford/JBL System (1995-1997 only).

Regards,

cobrajeff

investa · February 10, 2001

Although I did not pull the unit prior to posting this, by your extensive (thanks) description it sounds as though I have the 19B165 "Premium Sound System". My unit does not have the small pop out rotary controls for Bass/Treble & Balance/Fade, instead, these are push button rocker switches located on the sides of the display.

I still have not found the proper connectors, and I am a little puzzled as how best to proceed. The information you provided will be a big help.

Thanks,

Mike

KillerXLT · February 14, 2001

What's the deal any luck? I'm interested in doing the same. My friend swapped a 99 stock cd/tape radio into his 98 which just had tape. He had bought the original wiring harness for the 99 radio and spliced them into his stock wires. He gets horrible reception but everything else works. The way bcorff did it seems alot easier. Let me know how it goes. I'm going to call Paul tomorrow.

investa · February 15, 2001

I have not had time to do any more research. I live on an island near Seattle and I don't always have time to visit a mobile audio shop when i am in the city.

Thanks for the reminder, I am going into town tommorow. Hopefully I will have some info.

Mike

KillerXLT · February 15, 2001

I just talked to Paul here's the deal,
I have a 95 explorer XLT and I'm swapping for a 98 XLT CD/Cassette Radio
95 explorer radio part# = F57F-19B165-AE
98 explorer radio part# = F87-18C868-CD

He told me the install is just like installing an aftermarket radio
He said the only problems that he has expierenced is the illumination of the 98 radio in the 95.
He said to test the orange wires before hand to make sure there is proper power running.

Now he told me to go to a local radio/stereo shop (Circuit City, 6th Ave ect.) to get the harness.
There are 2 harness needed

Part #'s are
70-5600 which is a "Metra" part #
71-1771

I'll post after I get the wires and do the install.

investa · February 15, 2001

Thank You! Armed with this info, I should be able to wrap up the project this weekend. I will post an update as soon as it is done.

If anyone is interested, i will post pics on a website.

Mike

KillerXLT · February 16, 2001

I went to Circuit City And bought both harness for $20.00 total. (my friend works there and hooked me up w/ employee discount) $33.00 for the the avg customer. I am going to do the install tomorrow and will also take pics to post.

01EB5.0 · February 18, 2001

I have a wireing harness for sale that includes the wires and stuff for the rear audio controls. From ford the wires were $110, but I will sell with everything out of my 95 for much less. Everything works perfect. I just want to get rid of it!

investa · February 19, 2001

Sunday i went to three different Circuit City, one bestbuy and two independant shops, none of them have the Metra Part 71-1771 harness. Does nayone know of a place to order it from online?

Mike

KillerXLT · February 20, 2001

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile, I've had some family problems. When I bought the parts from Circuit City I didn't realize till I got home that they gave me one wrong harness.
They gave me a 71-1770 part
instead of 71-1771 part.
I also traveled to other local Radio shops about 5 and no one had the part. I called Paul up and told him my problem. I just ordered the part from him. I'll let you know when I get the 71-1771 from him and how it works.
I though maybe they only mad that part West of the Mississippi but Guess not Investa.

KillerXLT · February 26, 2001

The harness came today so I'm going to try to tackle the job if I get a chance tonight. As I mentioned before Paul said to test the orange wire to make sure there is the proper amount of power running on the line for illumination of the radio. Does anyone have a remote idea on what amount of power I should get when measuring the power?

KillerXLT · February 27, 2001

So me and the Bro tackled the job. No luck! Everything worked on the radio (all the functions) and the illumination was fine. But, OH YES BUT! No sound was coming out of the speakers. The only thing I can think of is that we didn't soider the speaker wires well enough. What I also found to be a little wierd was that the radio from the 98 Explorer there are 3 jacks on the back for plugs. The way I am wiring the radio there is only one plug going into the back of the radio. If I can get my friends digi camera I'll take pics and maybe some one out there can give us a hand Investa. I'm going to give Paul and Peter a call tomorrow to see what the deal is.

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