JB05Limited4x4
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- July 12, 2024
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- City, State
- Gastonia, NC
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2005ExplorerLtd4.6L4x4
I'll have to look into the Metra Axess.I used the Metra Axess since it's just plug and play compared to PAC-SWI-RC on my Lincoln Continental, it's the same wiring and plug for the Ford Explorer/Mountaineer. It's better to do this in 1 shot when doing the wiring harness for the new head unit.
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http://contentdocs.installernet.com/documents/vehicle/10908.pdf
I have tried the PAC SWI-RC, with poor success, the Crux SWRFD-60L and the Crux SWRFD-60 with no success.
I started with the PAC, and the head unit would only register volume up and mode switch, no matter what button was pressed on the Steering wheel. I tried multiple different dip switch orientations and tried numerous programming options, since this PAC allows you to program what you want the buttons to do. The best I ever got was Volume Up would work 50-75% of the time, and the Music button would change audio inputs. The volume down button would intermittently do nothing and turn up the volume and sometimes change the input, and the Memory button would do nothing. I reached out to their support, which may have been able to solve the issues. Their response:
"First, sorry for the delay in response.
It would be best if you called in so we can help you troubleshoot this issue in real time. There are too many variables to diagnose via email. Please have a digital multi meter handy to be able to test while in the vehicle.
The number is x..-x..-XXXX and we are open from 9AM-8PM EST M-F and SAT 10AM-5PM EST!"
However, I had already returned the product.
As you can see from my previous post,
https://www.explorerforum.com/forum...ontrols-on-steering-wheel.342282/post-4033474
There are 4 different wiring configurations, but only 2 that use a 24-pin connector, which is what the aforementioned products are for. Neither of those 2 wiring configurations uses pins 18 AND 19 of the 24-pin connector in Gen 3 Explorers.
I say all that to say the Crux SWRFD-60L, which states is specifically for Gen 3 and Gen 4 Explorers, requires pins 18 AND 19 to be wired. See images below!
This doesn't make sense because no Gen 3 Explorer has pins 18 AND 19 wired on their 24-pin connector. Please take a look at the previous post for verification.
And the SWRFD-60 is designed for gen 4 Explorers and is recommended to be used if your 24-pin connector only has 1 wire supposedly. See below.
Here's the issue, if you want to use the CAN module, because you only have one wire (pin 18) in your 24-pin connector, it still doesn't work.
The instructions require you to use the 12-pin CRUX connector attached to the 16-pin Vehicle connector (see images below). Which my EX doesn't use; in fact, only 1 of the 4 wiring configurations for Gen 3 Explorers uses both the 16 and 24-pin connectors.
After trying the 2 different 12-pin connector options possible with the Crux SWRFD-60, I know what every wire is for, so I even de-pinned and repinned the harnesses to have the wiring in the appropriate pin locations. Everything worked except the SWC still; the modules would flash Blue and then stay unlit.
I noticed that the PDF manual doesn't have this information, which is on the physical install sheet that comes with the product. Flashing blue means the CAN module is not recognized.
With the Crux SWRFD-60, I've tried 8 different wiring configurations (including using the analog module) and 8-16 different dip switch orientations with each different wiring configuration, depending on whether I was using the CAN or Analog module, respectively. Unlike the PAC, I never got a single signal registered on the Head unit.