Need Help Identifying Factory System

[BootyDo]

Hello,

Sorry to post such a noob questions, but is there a way to find out which system I have in my truck without taking everything apart?

I went to Crutchfield, and they have several stereo options:

* 4 Doors with MACH Audio
* 4 Doors with Premium Sound
* 4 Doors without MACH; Without Premium Sound

Honestly, I have no idea what exactly is on this. The head unit is a CD/Cassette Combo. The rear speakers look like 6x8's, but I'm really just speculating on that. Plus, in this sticky, it says starting in '98, systems were upgraded to "Premium", but I don't know if that carried over to '99.

Anyway, I went through the Stickies and Crutchfield, and I still have no idea what I have. Again, sorry to ask such a silly question.

I have a '99 XLT. Thanks for any help and please don't flame too bad - I'm fragile!

 

[tipdrill]

does ur radio have a DSP button?

 

[CDW6212R]

Welcome, and do you have a factory subwoofer in the back? Look at the radio, right side, which button do you have, either a "CLOCK" button or an "RDS" button.

Only the Mach radio came with the OEM sub woofer(five outputs).

The Premium HU had no subwoofer, but does have the "RDS" button.

The rest are all regular HU's, not the high end first two, which are made by Pioneer.

 

[TerryS1980]

Speakers are 5x7" in all doors, but you can fit 5.25" and 4x6" easily or 6.5" and 6x8" with little modification.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

Welcome, and do you have a factory subwoofer in the back? Look at the radio, right side, which button do you have, either a "CLOCK" button or an "RDS" button.

Only the Mach radio came with the OEM sub woofer(five outputs).

The Premium HU had no subwoofer, but does have the "RDS" button.

The rest are all regular HU's, not the high end first two, which are made by Pioneer.

My '97 Mountaineer had the Premium system with sub. It was not the Mach system.

 

[BootyDo]

Well, no RDS button. But that's okay - I was really just interested in what I have and what I can do.

Currently, I have two different sets of Pioneer 6x8 that I used to use in my Cougar that I would like to throw into the car. When you say "little modification", exactly what does that entail?

On Crutchfield, for a '99 without MACH radio and without Premium radio, it says the truck takes 6x8's up front and the rear. Does that sound off?

Thanks!

 

[CDW6212R]

All of the door speakers in the Explorer are 6x8's. Both 5x7's and 6x8's have the same mounting pattern and will work.

Dan, your's was made prior to the later Pioneer radios. The factory has called many OEM systems Premium. Prior to the Mach radio of the Explorer, there were no Pioneer radios in the Explorer. Just like the Mustang got the "Mach radio" long ago, those were not anything like the Mach radio that we talk about here commonly.

The two Pioneer radios that dominate the Explorer radio discussions here are Pioneer HU's that came in several other Ford models. Those are the Premium and Mach HU, not to be confused with the earlier models which had subwoofers.

 

[BootyDo]

SWEET! So the 6x8's will fit just nicely!

I think all I need now is to go get me a head unit, (my other one got stolen - hooray for the city!).

Last question - honest - does anyone know what model wire harness I need? I'm assuming it's different from the ones with the better system, but I'm kind of curious?

Oh, and I looked through Scosche's Catalog, but I don't think I see anything that fits the bill for the head unit or for the speaker adapters.

Thanks for all the great information!

 

[TerryS1980]

Walmart has the harness that fits your truck FD02. Also you could opt to use pigtail connectors on the speaker wire instead of searching all over trying to find the right speaker adapters.

 

[BootyDo]

Yeah, I think the more I think about it, I'm probably going to end up going with the pigtail connectors. It's not like I'll be getting rid of the truck. Ideally, I'd like to get a little car down the road but always keep this thing around. Besides, even if I did splice the factory wires, it's not like the pigtails wouldn't just go on the OEM speakers.

Also, TerryS, thanks for the code/model! I need to go there and get some cleaning stuff for the interior and glass, so I think I'll be picking it up then!

THANKS!

 

[Green68]

Opposite problem

I bought my '99 Mountaineer used and it had a Sonu HU installed. Thieves broke in and stole the HU. I want to put bak an OEM unit. How can I identify which unit to use that will match up to the factory harness? It has the rear console controls which according to the owners manual worked with the premium and the mach units. Will it work with either one? How can I tell which one I should look for?
Thanks

 

[CDW6212R]

does your truck have a factory sub in back? Only the Mach came with a sub from 98-01. The Premium lacks the sub, and has full range outputs. The Mach has five outputs, the four speaker having no bass. The dash harnesses for each I believe are about the same, other than the tiny connector for the sub. The Mach has three dash connectors.

 

[Green68]

Thanks,
There is a speaker grill in the back for the sub, I assume the speaker and amp are back there. Would they put a grill there if a sub-woofer wasn't behind it or just a smooth plastic cover with no speaker?

There are three red connectors in the harness up front and a small gray connector with 4 wires that must be for the sub. Therefore I should be looking for a Mach radio, does anybody have one to sell?

 

[CDW6212R]

that sounds like mine, with the Mach. There should be plenty to find. All of the original Mach/Premium HU's have a display power board defect. The repair is commonly done by most places for under $60. Those HU's are very good because they are a true Pioneer radio, with full Pioneer quality of signals etc. I wouldn't pay more than $50 for one, $25 may be a good price to look for. A lot of people have swapped to aftermarket HU's.

Hunt through the forum for Explorers being parted out, sold for parts. Often half of those will have one of those two radios in it. Good luck,