Can I rip out that STUPID console computer?

[Big6ft6]

I just replaced my 96 v6 X for a newer 01 limited so I could tow more. But I really mis my basic interior. The limited has so many gadgets, leather seat have worse leg room, and the console is useless!!

What kind of marketing guy thought that people would want to give up useful console space to have a bright screen telling you all the time that you are getting 12 mpg!!!

I don't want/need to know how many miles I've got till empty, I can divide my trip meter miles by the gallons I pump to get fuel economy, I can look at the gauges to do my own "vehicle diagnostics", what I want bak is the nice little cubbys in my console to store stuff like my wallet, bullets, fishing lures, sunscreen, sunglasses. I want the interior from my "un-limited" explorer. This is a truck, I want it to be useful.

Maybe limited stand for "limited usefulness".

Anway, can I take out that wasted weight of a computer and put in a normal console top in its place so I can have my utility back in my Sport Utility Vehicle?

 

[JIGAWHAAT]

I just replaced my 96 v6 X for a newer 01 limited so I could tow more. But I really mis my basic interior. The limited has so many gadgets, leather seat have worse leg room, and the console is useless!!

What kind of marketing guy thought that people would want to give up useful console space to have a bright screen telling you all the time that you are getting 12 mpg!!!

I don't want/need to know how many miles I've got till empty, I can divide my trip meter miles by the gallons I pump to get fuel economy, I can look at the gauges to do my own "vehicle diagnostics", what I want bak is the nice little cubbys in my console to store stuff like my wallet, bullets, fishing lures, sunscreen, sunglasses. I want the interior from my "un-limited" explorer. This is a truck, I want it to be useful.

Maybe limited stand for "limited usefulness".

Anway, can I take out that wasted weight of a computer and put in a normal console top in its place so I can have my utility back in my Sport Utility Vehicle?

You sound bitter so I have to ask
If you were so hung up on the interior , Did you not see what the interior of your soon to be new truck looked like before you paid for the truck? If you loved your 96 so much, could you not dump a 302 in it for towing purposes? I am only asking here I do not know the answer for your year 5.0 swap.

 

[kert0307]

Yes, you can rip it out, and send it over to me.... then look for a regular console or buy an aftermarket one.

 

[celly]

I just replaced my 96 v6 X for a newer 01 limited so I could tow more. But I really mis my basic interior. The limited has so many gadgets, leather seat have worse leg room, and the console is useless!!

What kind of marketing guy thought that people would want to give up useful console space to have a bright screen telling you all the time that you are getting 12 mpg!!!

I don't want/need to know how many miles I've got till empty, I can divide my trip meter miles by the gallons I pump to get fuel economy, I can look at the gauges to do my own "vehicle diagnostics", what I want bak is the nice little cubbys in my console to store stuff like my wallet, bullets, fishing lures, sunscreen, sunglasses. I want the interior from my "un-limited" explorer. This is a truck, I want it to be useful.

Maybe limited stand for "limited usefulness".

Anway, can I take out that wasted weight of a computer and put in a normal console top in its place so I can have my utility back in my Sport Utility Vehicle?

HA HA HA! I have a '99 Eddie with the same setup. I much preferred the manual controls and no computer in my '99 Sport. The message center does take up too much space and most of the info it give is either inaccurate or useless. The manual HVAC works better than the electronic one too. I do like the leather seats in the Eddie MUCH better than the old cloth seats in the Sport though. I

 

[Big6ft6]

You sound bitter so I have to ask
If you were so hung up on the interior , Did you not see what the interior of your soon to be new truck looked like before you paid for the truck? If you loved your 96 so much, could you not dump a 302 in it for towing purposes? I am only asking here I do not know the answer for your year 5.0 swap.

Of cousre I saw the interior, I figured I'd get use to it, but in the first few weeks of ownership I've only gotten more annoyed.

buy a 5.0 and swap it into my old truck becuase I don't like the console?? Are you serious? The parts alone would be more than the cost to upgrade to the new truck not to mention time investment.

I didn't mean to make it sound like I hate the entire interior. I do think the extra gadgets are junk, they don't add value for me they are simply wasted wires and buttons, but other than the console they don't necessarily detract from the interior, but they definitly don't add any functionality. I do enjoy the more supportive seats and the sunroof and the stereo etc etc. Except for a little less legroom and the STUPID CONSOLE everything else is fine.

Back to my question...will removing the console computer interfere with anything besides the computer itself? Kert0307, sounds like I can take it out without hurting anything ??

 

[Dan Whitaker]

Personally I find the cubby holes usles in my '97 Mountaineer. Nothing stays in them & their impossible to keep clean.

My future paln is to put a floor shifter in the space they are wasting.

 

[Big6ft6]

Yes, you can rip it out, and send it over to me.... then look for a regular console or buy an aftermarket one.

I figured I'd keep it to throw back in if I sold it to some senior citizens who depend on the those big glowing numbers!!

What would you do with it?? Did your XLT come with one?

What are the options for "aftermarket" consoles? Or do you just mean duplicate parts not made by ford.

thanks Kert

 

[Big6ft6]

Personally I find the cubby holes usles in my '97 Mountaineer. Nothing stays in them & their impossible to keep clean.

My future paln is to put a floor shifter in the space they are wasting.

they are a little harder to keep clean becuase of the "felt-like" surface but I wouldn't go as far as to say they're impossible to clean. I kept everything in them from sunglasses to my cell phone, reciepts to change, keys, bullets, bolts, nuts, washers, etc. I didn't have a problem with stuff falling out?

I gaurantee you one thing, they hold stuff better than setting stuff on computer screen! The problem I have is I get in my truck holding house keys, cell phone, wallet, a nut and bolt that I need to get duplicates of at the hardware store, basically anything in my hand when I get in my truck, and now, there is no where to set them but in the cupholders!! Better not go through a drivethought and get a drink or I'm F*c$ed. See the dilemma?

Of course a floor shifter would be very cool...I might give up storage for that!

 

[MountaineerGreen]

I would guess that it could be unplugged without messing anything up. You could try it and see before you bought the other console piece. I would imagine you could get a junkyard piece relatively inexpensively.

 

[kert0307]

I figured I'd keep it to throw back in if I sold it to some senior citizens who depend on the those big glowing numbers!!

What would you do with it?? Did your XLT come with one?

What are the options for "aftermarket" consoles? Or do you just mean duplicate parts not made by ford.

thanks Kert

If I got it I would insall it into mine, It's kid of a long install from what I have seen, but i know it's possible. I think the only explorers that came with it were the eddie's, limiteds, and mountaineers...

If it were me, and you really didn't want it I'd look at a junkyard or occasionally you see them on Ebay.....I wouldn't think it would be that expensive, and it would look stock. It shouldn't be a problem to take it out, it just displays the information, it doesn't have any other function.

 

[xplrsport01]

My future paln is to put a floor shifter in the space they are wasting.

Sounds neat but where would you get the shifter/ what kind cause thats a good idea i 'd do it

 

[justin146]

Sounds neat but where would you get the shifter/ what kind cause thats a good idea i 'd do it

Sometimes you can fine Euro and Japanese console shifters from eBay.

 

[reserved50]

I thought it was a neat feature(like the older talking cars after Knight Rider came out haha), after thinking about it, just another gimmick like I had on a Jeep, I never used it, damn thing has a gas gauge already lol. My 97 XLT doesnt have it and I was thinking of all the cupholders that were lost because of it, they should of put that crap in the roof console :

 

[CDW6212R]

The two console inserts in the 95-01 full consoles do interchange. You can easily swap to the two regular parts. The pieces will pull straight out, gently. Unplug the connectors inside, and you are done.

The 98-01 Limited front seats suck, they are basically flat. The other leather seats are far better. Good luck,

 

[mwnichy]

I have a 97 XLT and I would like to put in the console computer. Tell me if the console will plug right into my XLT and function correctly.Thanks

 

[CDW6212R]

Each console has wiring in it for the features in it, they are labeled inside thus.

You cannot plug in the message center simply. There are about two dozen wires that go into a special connector in the dash, and the console. The console wires would be easy to add, but those wires are not in each truck, only those with the message center.

Some members here have added the message center, search for their threads and ask them how they did the dash wiring. Good luck,

 

[noisebeard]

I love my console computer

 

[CDW6212R]

Me too, just don't rely on the mileage estimates, they are always high.

 

[noisebeard]

I actually get better mileage than it displays. I get 30-35 more miles out of a tank than it claims.

One thing I could live without is the 50 miles left until empty warning.

 

[CDW6212R]

I meant the mpg indication, that is always high. I keep complete logs of every tank of gas in every vehicle that I drive, the reality is always lower than the message center. Regards,