CD changer help

[Mr XLT]

97 Eddie Bauer w/factory JBL audio tape player and there is no CD changer when I bought it. It has the factory CD changer box behind the stereo unit reading:
Kenwood...KCA-R31FM. There is a wire going from that box to the center console where the changer used to be. Anyone know what the model Changer will plug into the factory wire?

There is no plug in the back of the stereo unit for an aftermarket CD changer

Sorry if I confused you

Greg

 

[Heath]

I have a stock one that is for sale...

 

[expo5.0]

i also have a stock one for sale.

also, either of ours will work for your vehicle.

 

[Mr XLT]

Cool

How much would you guys sell it to me for? I'll pay shipping.


Greg

 

[Heath]

I'm selling the one I have for someone else... Unfortunaly I didn't set the price... I sold the one out of my 96 for $100 plus shipping, this one is out of a 98 Limited... Its got EXTREAMLY low use... He pulled it at 30K miles... I know it works its in my truck right now and I use it off and on... Its in MUCH better shape than the one that I sold... He's asking $100 plus shipping... Let me know if you want it...

 

[Mr XLT]

O.K.

Originally posted by Heath
I'm selling the one I have for someone else... Unfortunaly I didn't set the price... I sold the one out of my 96 for $100 plus shipping, this one is out of a 98 Limited... Its got EXTREAMLY low use... He pulled it at 30K miles... I know it works its in my truck right now and I use it off and on... Its in MUCH better shape than the one that I sold... He's asking $100 plus shipping... Let me know if you want it...

I'll do it if it is a kenwood and your sure it will work! Send me a Private message on how you want payment and i'll get back to you to confirm. I'll respond tomorrow.

Thanks Heath

Greg

 

[Heath]

I sent you a PM... You have a stock head unit in your truck right...

 

[Mr XLT]

Yup!

It is the factory head unit, Cassete with the JBL system, amp and woofer in the back. I sent you a PM about the shipping.

Greg

 

[cobrajeff]

Ford does NOT use Kenwood changers

The FM modulator you found behind your stereo is NOT a Ford piece. Ford does not use Kenwood changers, and have NEVER factory-installed any FM-modulated changers.

Someone has (at one time) installed an aftermarket CD Changer in this vehicle. It is highly unlikely that any Ford OEM changers (made by Sony, Clarion, FMS, or Alpine) will work with the FM modulator in your vehicle.

Another Kenwood FM-modulated changer MAY work, but, you will not have the factory features of selecting songs or discs thru the head unit, or controlling it with the Redundant Steering wheels Controls (if your vehicle is equipped with them) or the Rear Seat Controls.

regards,

Jeff

 

[Mr XLT]

Re: Ford does NOT use Kenwood changers

Originally posted by cobrajeff
The FM modulator you found behind your stereo is NOT a Ford piece. Ford does not use Kenwood changers, and have NEVER factory-installed any FM-modulated changers.

Someone has (at one time) installed an aftermarket CD Changer in this vehicle. It is highly unlikely that any Ford OEM changers (made by Sony, Clarion, FMS, or Alpine) will work with the FM modulator in your vehicle.

Another Kenwood FM-modulated changer MAY work, but, you will not have the factory features of selecting songs or discs thru the head unit, or controlling it with the Redundant Steering wheels Controls (if your vehicle is equipped with them) or the Rear Seat Controls.

regards,

Jeff

Thank you Jeff, I appreciate this alot man, I guess I will just get an FM-modulated changer I guess. Do you know how they sound? worth it?


Mr XLT

 

[cobrajeff]

A CD Changer running thru an FM Modulator will sound like AM/FM Stereo - not quite "CD" quality. Some people are satisfied with them, some are not. In a relatively noisy vehicle like an Explorer (as opposed to the interior quiet of something like a Lincoln Mark VIII), it probably won't make much difference.

I used one back in 1989 to add DAT compatibility to my 1989 T'Bird SuperCoupe. I didn't care for it, ended up taking out the DAT Player and the FM Modulator, and just running my 10 CD Changer thru the factory radio.

regards,

Jeff

 

[Robert]

Didn't all of the JBL systems in '97 come with the changer? If they did then the factory changer that the people here are selling should plug right in. Even if they didn't your JBL radio is equipped to operate the Ford changer. The only thing to find out is if the Ford wiring is in your console. Another way to tell if your Explorer came with a changer is by the cd/tape insert in your center console. If it only has spaces to hold cd/tapes in half the console then the CD changer used to be installed. If the insert fills the entire console then it probably didn't come with a changer.

 

[Heath]

Dunno, but if he's running a stock deck I'd reccomend a stock changer... Sound better than FM modulated... All hardwired...

 

[cobrajeff]

They didn't all come with changers

Robert -

Actually, no, not all JBL equipped Explorers in 1997 came with CD Changers. About 1/3rd of them did, the other 2/3rds did not. There are even two different head units for '95-'97 Explorers with JBL - one for vehicles WITH the CD Changer (with CD controls), part # F57F-18C852-BD; and one for units WITHOUT a CD Changer, part # F57F-18C852-AD.

regards,

Jeff

 

[Mr XLT]

O.K.

I think I am part of the 2/3 that did not get the factory CD changer. I know that the wire going to my center console is from a kenwwod CD changer because there is a small little box behind the factory head unit that says Kenwood Part#KCA-R31 FM and from that box is a wire going to the center console, the wire end is round(1/2inch diamiter with about 10 prongs inside) .

There is no place for holding cd's in my center console and the factory sticker says JBA audio but nothing about a CD changer.

So this changer of Heath's would not work right?

Sorry guys, Greg

 

[Mr XLT]

Something to add

My factory JBL head unit has CD changer controls on it.

A reputable car audio store installer told me that Ford did put some factory headunits in the X's with the CD controls but not with the CD changer, is this true?



I don't blame you guys if you want to move on.



Greg

 

[Heath]

Yes that is true... Thats why people still buy them...

 

[cobrajeff]

In 1997 Explorers, if the unit came with a factory CD Changer, thne it came with a head unit that had CD controls. If the vehicle was ordered WITHOUT a changer, it had a radio WITHOUT CD controls.

I argued many times with the Program guys to make CD Changer controls standard, but, in the case of Explorer, it was not implemented until 1998. In some other Ford carlines, we were able to get them to adopt the CD controls as standard.

I suspect that your radio may have been serviced at one time, and the replacement unit installed was one WITH CD Changer controls. Our Authorized factory Service Centers would normally only stock units WITH CD Changers controls, as they could work in a vehicle WITH or WITHOUT a Cd Changer.

regards,

Jeff

 

[Heath]

Its also possible that the stock changer went out, then they person before him put in that FM Modulated one...

 

[cobrajeff]

Yes, that is certainly another possibilty.

Jeff