95 LTD Factory HU replacement (antenna / rear controls)

[Jayson Wonder]

Hello All,

I am now considering replacing the factory deck in my 95 LTD. I have three main questions to ask.

1) What do I do about my anntena. From what I can tell my antenna connects to the amp in the back pass, panel. Besides being a pain in the ass to get at, how do I get that wire all the way up to my new HU? Surely someone has done this before and can give some advice or direct me to a thread with this info.

2) Are there any tricks, adapters, work arounds that will allow the rear controls to function with a aftermarket head unit? This is the age of technology surely there is something.

3) Is there a way to add audio input to my factory or aftermarket system? I know I could try an FM modulator but again I am faced with the challenge of rerouting the antenna cable.

Any help or advice woudl be greatly appreciated!!!

BTW, I love this site almost as much as I love my Explorers. I think it is great, keep up the good work!

 

[Cheesebrat]

1)your antenna plugs into the back of the stock HU, its an orange wire, it is about 10 gauge.

2)i could not figure out a way/product to use to make the rear controls work, my kenwood does let the rear passengers listen to a different source though, (ie. if im listening to the cd player they can listen to the am, fm, xm, or sirius. they use a remote the HU came with.)

3)fm modulators are problematic, buy a deck with an input. (many have one on the back, just buy an adapter cord to extend it to where you want it to be.)
some units have them on the front of the faceplate too. JVC, AIWA, a few alpines and some sonys.

hope you have a good time and good luck.

 

[Jayson Wonder]

I acatually mean the antenna itself. Not the power antenna wire. I do not have an anntena hooked up to the factory dec (tape w/cd changer in armrest). It is connected to the amp in the back.

Thanks

 

[Cheesebrat]

mmm, sounds like you need to run it to the aftermarket deck, ive never heard of that before, sorry im not more of a help,

 

[EddieUp]

Im no help either...but id like to know that also. Plus I'd like to know if theres anyway to hook up the factory steering wheel controls on a 2000 model to an aftermarket cd player

Thanks

 

[suave6565]

Like Jayson,

Im stuck with that problem as well with my 1996 eddie bauer.....i think theres a hand full us that are afraid to change from factory radio to aftermarket in fear of loosing those cool controls in the back. i for one, would love to keep my options for the rear controls but i keep getting mixed info so thats why i have put my changing the radio on hold.
I've seen a connection that enables you to keep the controls from the rear and from the streering wheel but when i spoke to a tech in crutchfield, he didnt seem sure if the rear controls would work. Many people wont mind changing the HU and not worry about the rear.....but then you may have to worry about putting a bypass switch on the amp in order for the radio to work...too many things to adjust in order to get what you want.


anyone have any solutions to these...i would also like to know.

 

[kedhegard]

How did you guys get the factory antenna cable to fit an aftermarker HU? My cable is female, and the new HU looks like it needs a male end...just buy one, strip it, and clip it on?

 

[Jayson Wonder]

I have nto been able to connect mine as of yet. My problem is that my antenna connects in the back of the truck into the amp. I wanna figure out how to hook that up with a aftermarket deck.