Overhead Console Help

[ATC Enterprises]

While I was in the junk yard this weekend, I managed to grab a bunch of goodies for my 91. One was an overhead console that goes between the sunvisors. It has a lamp with separate buttons for left and right, a compartment for a garage door opener, and an electronic thermometer (I determined this by shining a flashlight up to it to see what it's readout looked like).

Currently, my 91 doesn't have anything between the sunvisors- not even a lamp. I don't think I'd have much of a problem hooking up the new light, but what all would I need to do for the thermometer? Is the wiring already there under the headliner? Is it just a thermometer or is there other functions?

If it is next to impossible or too expensive to hook it up, I'll just remove the electronics and install toggle switches for the offroad lights. I tried to search the topic, but the search seems to be down.

Oh, and it has 8 wires on the plug. Any ideas?

 

[Stephen S]

You can do it!! Quick just did it, and as soon as I find a console, I'm gonna do it too. Only thing is that you need to get the temperature sensor from behind the front bumper on the driver's side of the truck you took the console from, of any other truck that has a console (there is a pic of it on Ranger Powersports--see below). You need this to make the thermometer work. You'll also need the mounting bracket that you probably left in the roof of the other truck. It's a square plate that bolts to the ceiling that the snaps on the console snap into. Other than these two additional items, it's just a matter wiring it up.

Your truck probably does not have the wiring already in the roof for the console, so you'll have to run all the wires yourself. If you would cut the wiring harness from the roof of the other truck, it'll already have a plug on it that plugs right into the console. It will make your wiring job a little easier.

Ranger Powersports has a page with some pretty good instructions on how to do the install. They also have a wiring diagram that tells you where to hook up all of your wires. Go here: www.rangerpowersports.com/tech/explorer_console.shtml

The console also has a compass integrated into it. It requires no other wiring, since it is an intgral part of the console, just give it power. I hope this helps!!

 

[Cameron]

Not sure what all you would need but you would need the temperature sending unit and mounting brackets.

 

[ATC Enterprises]

Thanks for the help. The link really helped out a bunch. The only complaint I have with the linked story is that they didn't take into account that Ford sometimes switches wire colors whenever they feel the urge- the main power feed on my console was different, as was the thermometer wires. Of course, the author probably wasn't aware cuz Ford may not have published the info or something. Heck, if I had a dollar for every time my Haynes manual specs a certain color wire that is really different on my truck, I'd be rich!

At any rate, I have the console installed (but I need a new temp sensor) and it looks great. It really wasn't any harder than a head unit install. While I was at it, I switched what is now the middle dome lamp with one from a later model (had to add one more wire for that, but it came from the new front overhead).

I wonder what my next mod will be...

 

[Stephen S]

Glad you got it in there without any trouble. I hope to be doing mine myself sometime over the summer.

 

[ATC Enterprises]

I might want to add that if you are really good at cutting small rectangular holes, you can get the overhead console in without needing the metal bracket.

I actually drilled a series of holes into the roof support, then used a flat file to "rectangularize" them. The rectangles need to be narrow enough that the little metal clips stay in place, but you can make them longer to adjust the console front to back. Then for the rear support, I just cut a piece of plywood that was about 4 to 6 inches wide, and about 4 inches longer (on each side) than the hole I cut in the headliner. I screwed the rear of the console to that. You can't tell the difference, and it is just as secure.

If you can get the bracket with it, that is probably the best way to go, but I didn't have it when I got mine. This thing is cool looking- the cool factor is worth the time.

 

[Stephen S]

I definitely agree with the cool factor being worth the time. I'm currently waiting for my console to arrive!! Fortunately, I already have the mounting bracket, so I won't have to cut any holes.

I'm curious why you had to even cut any holes in the roof. When I took my headliner down to see, I already had rectangular holes cut in the right spots in the roof. The mounting holes are already there in mine, I just have to fill them with screws and snaps!!! Did yours not have the holes already cut?

 

[ATC Enterprises]

Nope, there wasn't any holes there for mine- maybe Ford didn't think that far ahead in 91...

 

[Stephen S]

Ahh, good point. There may not be any consoles in 91 Explorers. By 95, they were putting them in a bunch of trucks. I wasn't lucky enough to get one, but I'm lucky that the holes are all already there. It'll make placement on the roof and installation much easier. How did wiring the console up go?? That's the part that scares me the most. Also, do all the functions of the console work properly?

 

[ATC Enterprises]

The wiring was pretty smooth, just use that link- if the console you get has different color wires, let me know and I'll post mine (I had some different colors, but got it figured out).

Everything works great. I had some trouble calibrating the compass, but then again I couldn't find anything to tell me how to do so. You have to hold the "MODE" button down until the "CAL" displays on the readout, the slowly drive in a circle until the "CAL" disappears. I borrowed a temp sensor off one of Wildside's trucks to make sure it worked.

Which dome light do you have? The single light or the one with the separate "aircraft style" lights? If you have the latter, then your install will be simpler- just run the two light wires from the console to the dome and join accordingly. If you have the single bulb light like mine, you'll have to run another wire. I also ditched my single bulb dome for the newer one (with 3 bulbs) so I have a host of new wiring in there. I made my switched lights (on both the dome and the console) hot at all times for camping purposes, so as long as the old lady remembers to switch them off, I'll be fine. The unswitched lights are wired as normal.

I'm thinking of replacing the light in the cargo area with one too, that way I can switch one on when the back glass is open. I cannot figure out why Ford wouldn't have the dome light come on when the glass is open. I guess I'll just pick up where they left off.

 

[Stephen S]

Sounds like you've got it all figured out. Fortunately for me, I have a newer model with the switched map lights already (3 bulbs). I've already printed out the wiring diagrams from the Ranger site. I think they should match my truck's wiring since it is a new model, so the install should go fairly easy for me. I can't wait to get it in there!!

I've checked my owner's manual and it includes the instructions for calibrating the compass. If yours didn';t have that information, then the console probably wasn't even offered in 91.

Sounds like you've done just what Ford did when they wired the front dome ligt in the newer models. The switched map lights Iin my truck can be turned on and off regardless of key position. Putting one of that style lights over the cargo area sounds like a good idea too. Especially for you when you'll be camping. Good idea.