daChurchPcGuy
Active Member
- Joined
- March 27, 2014
- Messages
- 72
- Reaction score
- 1
- City, State
- Longmeadow, MA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2005 Explorer Sport Trac
I've got a daughter that loves her music and the stock radio in my 2005 ST has no inputs, so ...
First task was to find a head unit with Bluetooth, rear USB and AUX input. This way I can route the USB and AUX to the rear of my long console. (The one I didn't have.) After a bunch of searching I found a media unit from Crutchfield for $129.99 that included everything required to install including ST specific instructions: Pioneer Head Unit
Second task was finding a good gen 2 high center console. That proved to be harder than I thought but I managed to find a decent one for $40 at a boneyard. (1997 Explorer) The lid was awful so I got a grey one that was decent. (I'll reupholster it with tan vinyl.)
I made sure I got the front vent and mounting bracket from the Explorer when I removed the console. The vent connection took longer than EVERYTHING else due to the left rear screw.
Third task is installing the console, yeah, I did mention it was an Explorer console ... The vent installation was awful, I thought removal was bad! I ended up using a smaller screw for the right rear and that made it easier to get e wrench on it. Oh, I had to remove the Restraints Control Module (RCM) to get to the screw.
I looked at the rear mount and it was obvious it wasn't going to work. The ST mount is further up front than the Explorer mount, oh well. I slid the console into place, without the RCM in place and it fit fine. There was no way the RCM could be put back in and I needed the console for this weekend! I ended up mounting it on top of the vent plenum in the same direction secured it in place. (I removed the negative battery cable to ensure I didn't cause an airbag to deploy.) There's a picture below of the new placement.
The next step was to remove the radio/vent control panel and modify it to my needs. I made a plate from flashing material and made all my cutouts. One USB port and AUX port to the radio, and two 12V accessory plugs. I made up special cables with panel mount connectors so it look sorta factory. The two accessory plugs had to be placed a certain way to avoid hitting vent controls and USB port. That's why they don't line up.
I then painted the plate in flat brown. I didn't have flat black at home and I needed to get it done. The brown doesn't look bad against the tan console. Pictures of the front and rear of the new panel with everything in place are below.
I'm not done yet, I need to connect all the wiring and test the fan, USB and AUX connectors.
First task was to find a head unit with Bluetooth, rear USB and AUX input. This way I can route the USB and AUX to the rear of my long console. (The one I didn't have.) After a bunch of searching I found a media unit from Crutchfield for $129.99 that included everything required to install including ST specific instructions: Pioneer Head Unit
Second task was finding a good gen 2 high center console. That proved to be harder than I thought but I managed to find a decent one for $40 at a boneyard. (1997 Explorer) The lid was awful so I got a grey one that was decent. (I'll reupholster it with tan vinyl.)
I made sure I got the front vent and mounting bracket from the Explorer when I removed the console. The vent connection took longer than EVERYTHING else due to the left rear screw.
Third task is installing the console, yeah, I did mention it was an Explorer console ... The vent installation was awful, I thought removal was bad! I ended up using a smaller screw for the right rear and that made it easier to get e wrench on it. Oh, I had to remove the Restraints Control Module (RCM) to get to the screw.
I looked at the rear mount and it was obvious it wasn't going to work. The ST mount is further up front than the Explorer mount, oh well. I slid the console into place, without the RCM in place and it fit fine. There was no way the RCM could be put back in and I needed the console for this weekend! I ended up mounting it on top of the vent plenum in the same direction secured it in place. (I removed the negative battery cable to ensure I didn't cause an airbag to deploy.) There's a picture below of the new placement.
The next step was to remove the radio/vent control panel and modify it to my needs. I made a plate from flashing material and made all my cutouts. One USB port and AUX port to the radio, and two 12V accessory plugs. I made up special cables with panel mount connectors so it look sorta factory. The two accessory plugs had to be placed a certain way to avoid hitting vent controls and USB port. That's why they don't line up.
I then painted the plate in flat brown. I didn't have flat black at home and I needed to get it done. The brown doesn't look bad against the tan console. Pictures of the front and rear of the new panel with everything in place are below.
I'm not done yet, I need to connect all the wiring and test the fan, USB and AUX connectors.