Help with install in 2004 explorer

[minimagpro]

I have a 2004 explorer xlt and im doing a cd deck install by myself

I have my cd player installed in my 1997 ford ranger so my first question is will my harness work in my explorer or will i have to get an entire new one?

ALso, how do you get the stock cd player out. there are 4 little holes that im guessing are screws but i dont want to mess anything up so can anyone help me out with this or direct me to another thread or another site that can help me?

 

[falls guy]

I don't know about the newer ones, but that sounds the same as my '91 deck. Mine looked the same . It was an original tape deck that didn't work so I forced it out to find a black spring steel barb style clip on either side of the unit. I think if I would have pushed in on these things one side at a time, it would have slid right out! It looks like you will have to push in on both top and bottom of each side . I'll bet all you can see of the clip, until you get it out, is about 1 eighth" on top and bottom of each side. After that it slides out on what looks like a drawer rail. Hopefully this helps you out. Let me know if it does. Good luck!! Oh yah, if this doesn't help, try the audio section of the forums. I'm sure someone can help you there.

 

[falls guy]

Oh. I see you are in Explorer audio, sorry man!LOL

 

[minimagpro]

ok well i got my cd player and harness out of the ranger but i dont know which wires to cut

i got the wiring adapter from best buy so if anyone can help me with that it would be great.

i still cant get the stock cd player out

what did you use to release the playerc cause mine is locked in tight

 

[ntrpriz]

There is a special tool to get the radio out. It is real cheap and you can ususally get one at just about any auto parts dealer or dealership. You slide the tools into the holes on the radio, press out on the tool, and pull, the radio comes right out. The same thing can be accomplished with a set of 4 mini screwdrivers.

I cant help with the wiring harness, Id need to see all the wires and the harness directions to figure that out.

 

[minimagpro]

well im gonna make this one easy and take it to best buy and let them do it

thanks for all of yalls help thought, i was able to get pretty far, i just got stuck with the wires

 

[minimagpro]

ok well bestbuy install was going to be 60$ and i prefer to do it myself so tomorrow im going to go to any autoparts store and get ford radio keys

then ill get my digi camera and take some pics of the wires and ill let you guys tell me where to cut/attach the wires

 

[davesexplorer]

walmart, well at least here has the metal radio removers as well. Look like metal "U"s.

You will probably end up going to an audio store anyways and getting a wiring harness specific to your 2004 and its options. And unless you have a ford cd player, you'll probably have to get a DIN head unit adaptor to fit the CD player cleanly in your new ex. I would be suprised, very suprised if the harness from the 97 ranger would work with the 2004 explorer.

 

[boominXplorer]

head unit keys wont work on a 04' You have to take the trim off and there are 4 8mm bolts holding it in in all 3rd gens

 

[minimagpro]

what do u mean by trim? like the sealing around the cd player?

but i know you need the radio keys because there are 4 little holes just like in my rangers


i dont know about the harness but tomorrow when its light outside i will take a look and see if the harness wires match up

ill be back on here tomorrow to let yall know what happeend

 

[EricM]

If it's a stock deck, it should look something like this:

There were no holes for the keys in mine or any other 3rd gen X I've seen. You have to pop off that trim piece that goes around the radio, vents and climate control knobs and then remove two 7mm screws at the bottom of the deck.

 

[MonumentalX]

Mine wouldn't take keys either. Removed trim with a putty knife and once in there the radio was easy to remove as Eric M said

 

[minimagpro]

well mine is the same as that put i have radio keys so this morning im going to run by walmart for the keys. Ill post pics when i get somewhere

 

[davesexplorer]

As soon as you said you needed radio keys I figured you either had a sport or a sport trac - I believe the newer models of those still utilized the 95+ style radio's.

 

[White97Jimmy]

If it's a stock deck, it should look something like this:

There were no holes for the keys in mine or any other 3rd gen X I've seen. You have to pop off that trim piece that goes around the radio, vents and climate control knobs and then remove two 7mm screws at the bottom of the deck.

How does this trim piece pop off? I tried prying at it, but it doesn't seem to budge.

 

[davidmmm69]

just pull it will pop right off, it will seem very tight. do it even all the way around though.

 

[White97Jimmy]

Anyone have a pic of this bezel off? I am having a hell of a time getting this thing off, it seems like it is about to break. I just want to see where/how this thing is connected to the dash.

 

[davidmmm69]

i will take a pic tomorrow if nop one does yet,

 

[White97Jimmy]

Thanks a lot. All I want is to put my Pioneer HU in, and this thing is giving me so much trouble!

 

[A1C_Snowman]

I'm having the same problem White97. Its cold here and I'm affraid the plastic is going to break. I guess I'll have to try a putty knife.