Factory Radio Aux Input

[pzy3339]

My 2006 limited has the rear dvd player, which has auxiliary audio and video RCAs.

I use an RCA to headphone jack wire to plug in my phone so I can listen to Pandora in the car. The issue with this is the volume is very low and thus I am looking for solutions other than adding an aftermarket head unit. I would rather not give anyone a reason to break into my car.

I read in another thread that in 2007 an AUX input was added to the head unit. I am wondering if anyone with this can say that it allows the audio from a cell phone to play at the full power of the stock stereo.

Also, assuming the answer is yes, can I go to a junk yard and pull one of those units from a vehicle similarly equipped and have everything work properly? Will my wiring harness plug into it? The stock stereo is good enough for me when it will play at full volume.

Thanks

 

[boominXplorer]

I used a converter box that plugs into the factory radio in-line with the factory harness in my 07 focus before I upgraded to a nav unit. It had plenty of volume, only issue I had is every so often I had to turn the car on/off for the head unit to figure out the aux device.

 

[pzy3339]

I used a converter box that plugs into the factory radio in-line with the factory harness in my 07 focus before I upgraded to a nav unit. It had plenty of volume, only issue I had is every so often I had to turn the car on/off for the head unit to figure out the aux device.

Any chance you are referring to this?

http://www.crutchfield.ca/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=541ISFD531&Show=ExtInfo

 

[MotorCityFats13]

the factory aux jack worked just as expected in my 2007.... if you get a unit that matches part numbers the plugs will be the same and work... but it you get something that does not match I am not sure if the truck will work at all because the cluster is chosen to match options like nav - non nav.... it might go into theft mode like when you remove the cluster and truck refuses to start.... i doubt this with a radio change but I have seen stranger things

 

[boominXplorer]

Any chance you are referring to this?

http://www.crutchfield.ca/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=541ISFD531&Show=ExtInfo

Yes exactly like that but mine is a different brand I think. I have it somewhere in my garage.

 

[pzy3339]

the factory aux jack worked just as expected in my 2007.... if you get a unit that matches part numbers the plugs will be the same and work... but it you get something that does not match I am not sure if the truck will work at all because the cluster is chosen to match options like nav - non nav.... it might go into theft mode like when you remove the cluster and truck refuses to start.... i doubt this with a radio change but I have seen stranger things

Alright, well if I can get one off an equally equipped explorer for like $20 I might have to give it a try.

Thanks

 

[pzy3339]

Yes exactly like that but mine is a different brand I think. I have it somewhere in my garage.

How much did you pay for it?

$150 is half of a decent head unit.

 

[Flag Gibby]

My 2006 limited has the rear dvd player, which has auxiliary audio and video RCAs.

I use an RCA to headphone jack wire to plug in my phone so I can listen to Pandora in the car. The issue with this is the volume is very low and thus I am looking for solutions other than adding an aftermarket head unit. I would rather not give anyone a reason to break into my car.

I read in another thread that in 2007 an AUX input was added to the head unit. I am wondering if anyone with this can say that it allows the audio from a cell phone to play at the full power of the stock stereo.

Also, assuming the answer is yes, can I go to a junk yard and pull one of those units from a vehicle similarly equipped and have everything work properly? Will my wiring harness plug into it? The stock stereo is good enough for me when it will play at full volume.

Thanks

This may seem silly, but have you tried turning the volume up on the phone since you are using the headphone jack. I would think that would give you all the volume that you need.

 

[pzy3339]

This may seem silly, but have you tried turning the volume up on the phone since you are using the headphone jack. I would think that would give you all the volume that you need.

Its not so simple, haha. With the phone all the way up and the stereo all the way up I get about the same sound as listening to the radio, a cd, or a dvd at 50% volume.

 

[drdoom]

I jack into the RES on my '05 and noticed the same thing, pretty low output, because it's playing through the DVD player and not the HU.

 

[MrElcocko]

I have a 2007 explorer with factory aux line input on front of console. I plug my ipod in to the aux line in, press aux button on my radio and it says "No Aux audio". I was told by the dealership that the radio is not original to the car. It is however from a 2007 explorer just not the one that came in it from the factory. Is that where my problem is coming from or something else and how can I fix this??? Please help Ive tried everything under the sun!!!!! HELP!!!!!!

 

[MotorCityFats13]

If there is a smaller plug in the back of the headunit with like 4 pins plugged in then the wires are conected... To my knowledge even if you unplug this pigtail the deck should still go into aux mode... Im not sure if changing it out would cause anyproblems with minor options... I know its hard to swap ones with navigation because the cluster is different on those models

 

[MrElcocko]

I will look and see. I took the cover off the aux line input and all the wires are connected there. Didn't know what to look for on the back of the radio, so I will try that. Thanks!

 

[MrElcocko]

If there is a smaller plug in the back of the headunit with like 4 pins plugged in then the wires are conected... To my knowledge even if you unplug this pigtail the deck should still go into aux mode... Im not sure if changing it out would cause anyproblems with minor options... I know its hard to swap ones with navigation because the cluster is different on those models

Do you know since the radio isn't the one that came with the truck, that might just be the problem. Does it have to be programmed or something so the radio can recognize the auxiliary line input? It does have the 4 pins on the back of the small connector. And there plugged in so it has to be the radio. The build date on the radio is 6/06
and the explorer was built in 06/07. Here's the serial # for the radio 6L2T-18C869-AK I know 2007 was the 1sy year it was a factory standard, I think.