interchangeable parts

[shibby_cbs]

hey guys im new to the forum...my name is cory but you can just call me shibby...i just baught a 97 xlt pushrod v6 explorer 2 days ago and have been hard at work getting it up to my standards...i was looking at parts on ebay and saw some interior parts for 97 limited explorers...parts such as climate control, sterring wheel controls with climate control features, and the driver information unit with the range and stuff like that...i know that these parts will fit just fine but what i didnt know was if the wiring was there for these parts to work...i figured that ford wouldnt make totally different wiring harnesses for different trims so i thought they might plug right in but i wanted to check with you guys first before i spent the money...i just came from driving a cadillac (R.I.P) so i like all the little extras

 

[vroomzoomboom]

the only one thing that i have found was that my truck (98 sport) didn't have cruise from factory, but all the wiring was there for a plug and play. if you don't have a message center, it will be a big job to put one in (lots of wiring), and you would need one from the same year of truck that you have. same goes for the heater controls, another big job to do. do a search, and you will find lots of info on these two. i cant say anything about the stering wheel controls how ever. if you are doing something like a overhead console, or auto dimming mirror, these are fairly easy done, but also not plug and play.

 

[BlackMounty]

These are not plug and play. Ford did have different wiring harnesses for the different trim levels. Searching would be a good start.

 

[hworksinc]

Most of the electricals that you're talking about (message center, climate control, radio, overhead console, etc. ) are interchangeable between '96-'97, some '95 stuff will work as well (but not the digital climate control). The '98-'01 radios are completely different, and the climate controls and message center have different wiring.

Your best bet is '96-'97, but keep in mind significant wiring will be needed (particularly for digital climate control and message center). Definitely do research before committing to a project though.

 

[shibby_cbs]

well everything i would get is from a 97 like mine...when i pulled the center consle on mine where the driver information center would be there was a wiring harness/plug that was screwed to the floor...i dont think anything was attached to it...i figured this is what it would plug into...i just need to see the plug from a d.i.c. to see f it matches