Driver information center?

[timatao]

Hey Guys, Has anyone ever put in one of those driver informatiuon center from another explorer? I have a 96 2 door sport ford explorer, and i bought one of those information centers so i could plug it right in. But before i bought it i called a dealer ship and they said i could just as long as the cable is there it will work just fine. so went ahead and bought it from ebay and i tried to install it but there are no cables in my console. does anybody know where i can get a cable or maybe its just hiding somewhere? any feedback is greatly appreciated. thanks

 

[ChriszTruck]

Are you referring to the info center that's seen in the Mountaineers? Perhaps the person you talked to thought you meant the overhead info screen that tells outside temp and direction. I would LOVE to add the info center that's seen in the Mounties, but I somehow doubt the Explorer's computer and wiring are equipped for this. BTW, what did you pay for the info center and do you have photos of all the parts it came with?

 

[nolimitssjca]

Ex's have them too. You may need a wiring harness from an Ex that had one (the harness from under the heater back)

 

[ChriszTruck]

Ex's have them too. You may need a wiring harness from an Ex that had one (the harness from under the heater back)

Perhaps you can elaborate on that?

 

[nolimitssjca]

I don't have one, but have seen them. I know that it fits in the console between the seats (below the controls). If you remove these you get access to the center of the console. Inside, there is a wiring harness that bolts to the dash. I suspect that harness carries the neccasary wiring to run the driver info center. Of course your Ex did not have a info center so your harness would likely NOT have the wires for the info center. I "suspect" that you would need a info center enabled harness to hook it up.

My question would be is your computer info center enabled?

 

[ChriszTruck]

More complicated than I thought. Here's your answer....


http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=677621

 

[yatesford96]

Can I Put a 1997 ford eddie bauer console wiring harness in a 1996 ford explorer xlt to add driver info center?

 

[snoranger]

Can I Put a 1997 ford eddie bauer console wiring harness in a 1996 ford explorer xlt to add driver info center?

He wants the DIC. :

Yes. There are a ton of people who have swapped the console and info center into their trucks.

 

[yatesford96]

The whole console wiring harness from 97 ford explorer eddie bauer in to a 96 ford explorer xlt ?? Th the wiring harness are not the same. Will everything work??

 

[koda2000]

i asked this question a couple of months ago. it's a lot of work (wiring) and you may not get full functionality, especially if you have a different size fuel tank than the donor vehicle. and you'd also need to add a bunch of sensors. i decided it wasn't worth it. contact/PM vroomzoomboom for his conversion details.

 

[NICE59FORDF100]

It's very possible to add a Message center, but yes, there is a lot of wiring involved, and also adding a couple sensors in the engine bay (there is an oil level/oil temp sensor in the oil pan [which also means you need a different oil pan]) and you have to add a low washer fluid sensor. I added a message center to a first gen (see pic below) but it is easier on a second gen. It will actually be more difficult (imho) to swap harnesses, because you would need to swap the engine, engine bay, dash, and body harness in order to get it to work. Adding it on top of your existing wiring is the preferred method. Many threads on here on how to do it, but its a good weekend project. Good luck!