Installing 99+ premium (CD player) into 98 or older

[IAmTodd]

More or less should be plug and play. For all LED displays it will be a simple change of the lense.

You're best bet for the ACC/info center swap is to find a '97 Explorer with it and pull the dash, center console, and engine perimeter harness, as well as all components needed for the swap.

I was very close to completing this swap, but was a harness short which discouraged me from continuing with my origional plans. Good luck though, well worth the time and effort put into it.

 

['97 V8]

So, can you make a write up of which wires that would need to be spliced?

 

[VDub2625]

So, can you make a write up of which wires that would need to be spliced?

For the message center? There is a thread here:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80670

And the auto climate:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/296394/14
that is for going into a Ranger, I'll see what needs to be changed to adapt it to an Explorer, but it should be pretty easy.

I will look on the Ford CD-ROMs I got and see what is involved in a cluster swap, in case anyone wnats to know. I'll make a new post.

 

['97 V8]

i was referring to the radio.

 

[VDub2625]

Oh, sorry. it's quite simple actually. Ford used the same color wires at the speakers (after the amp) in the amped radios as they used right at the radio in non-amp versions.

Basically, all you have to do is look at the color codes for a '98 radio, and match those with the wire colors from a '97 radio (LR- to LR-, LR+ to LR+, etc), and connect those wires together at the amp. You'll end up with 3 extra wires, which was the amp's old ground, power, and turn-on wires. Simple

Oh, and about the cluster: They are in fact the same. The only differences are the door ajar and fuel shut-off pins being swapped 9because the light locations change), and the MIL pin moving to a different spot (again, because the bulb is in a different location).

But, I do have a problem: I hope the ABS module outputs the same signal the VSS does on a 1997 (there is no VSS on a 1998, it relies on the ABS rear axle sensor for a speed signal).

 

['97 V8]

ok...when i do the radio swap...i'll be bothering you again

 

[VDub2625]

No problem... I'm used to it. I love helping when I can

Todd, perhaps you'd know: is the VSS the same signal as the ABS signal? because this radio has the volume adjustment, and I want to make sure it's the same...

Also, any idea why this radio would need power from the starter? It has a pin and a wire for that, but i haven't hooked it up.

 

[kfkodiak]

I hate to be the voice of dissent, but some '98s and '99s have the old-style external amp. Trust me, if I could simply plug in a newer style head unit I would have done so long ago.

Here's a good reference I found on the different Ford connectors used over the years: http://oem-auto-accessory.com/photo_page.html

My truck has the P100 connectors, while the newer HUs with internal amps usually have T100 plugs.

Just sayin' :

 

[VDub2625]

Well, by looking at the Ford wiring diagrams (got off of FordCDs.com), it looks like the '98 base radio uses the T100, as well as some premiums (and the JBL, but it uses a whole remote control unit and is completely different). But, so e premiums in '98 did come with an external amp Must be an early/late thing.

 

[IAmTodd]

100% of the '99s were the newer style world plug(T100). I could see a possibility that there were some mixed '98s, but have a hard time believing it. VDub got his out of a '98 and its a T100, and I'm in the process of purchasing a '98 T100. So that theory has been proved wrong.

 

[VDub2625]

It's not a theory, it's been proven because his has P100s and it's a '98. And the official Ford diagrams show both kinds of premium systems in '98 (it shows three, actually: one just labeled "Premium" with T100s, one labeled "Premium w/o High Series Console", with P100s, and a third labeled "Premium w/ High Series Console", also with P100s). The base and JBL units for '98 both use T100s.

 

[VDub2625]

Just in case anyone was curious, my speedometer didn't work over 75 because of the radio. It would drop to zero. The speed-volume control never worked right anyway, it's designed for a different kind of VSS (the 97s and older use a dedicated VSS, the 98+ trucks get it from the ABS rear axle sensor).