Satellite Navigation

[Chris K]

Hi everyone
I was wonderiing if anyone can help
I have just bought this vehicle and my local Ford dealer in the UK doesnt have a wiring diagram, so I just had a bust up with them today !
I am trying to fit a single DIN sized combined sat nav/radio into my explorer, everything fits ok but I just need to find a speedo pulse signal close to the dash.
Apparently the sat nav needs it coz it works out your position from a number of satellites every couple of minutes, but in between this, it needs to know how much you have travelled and in what direction. (Reverse light is another signal, but thats easy to find).
Anyone have any suggestions as to what colour wire I should look for and where ??
Thanks
Chris

 

[dogfriend]

The factory Ford manual for 97 says that the tach signal is ckt #11 which is a T/Y (tan/yellow) wire. The main color (or colour ) of the wire is tan, with the stripe color (sorry I'm in the US) being yellow.

Location is a bit of a problem, since your Exp is probably right hand drive, so I will explain the routing of the wire and let you worry about the details of finding it. The circuit #11 originates at the PCM, goes thru the firewall at Connector 148 which should be on the left (drivers side in US) and routes to Connector 286 which is behind the instrument cluster and then connects to the tachometer. Your mileage may vary.

 

[Rick]

Just curious. Is that a two way radio or just a stereo reciever?

 

[Black Magic]

Welcome to the site Chris! Do you have any pictures of your nav setup?

 

[Chris K]

Hi Dogfriend
Thanks for your help, more help than I have had from dealers in the UK.
The explorer isnt seen much on UK roads. Ford dealers were happy to sell them for a few years in the UK between 1997 and around 2001, but now they have stopped in favour of the smaller Maverick and Ranger pick-ups. When it comes to servicing, they dont really seem to be interested. Shame really, I rented one when we were in Canada a coupld of months back and thought it was great.
In the UK, this car was the cheapest/biggest/newest car I could find for the money.

You mention a PCM.....what is a PCM Please ?
Once I can identify the PCM, I can follow the wire back to somewhere close to the speedo.

Regards
Chris

 

[Chris K]

Hi Rick and Blackmagic
The nav unit is one manufactured by Blaupunkt. I dont know whether you have it in the US, but I installed it in my old volvo estate.
I use the explorer for work and have to visit new and exisiting customers, so the unit has been invaluable over the last couple of years.
Whenever I set out, I always forget the map, then coz of all the traffic here in the UK, inevitably you are late for the meeting, so havent got the time to stop and buy another map.
The unit is the same size as a normal radio with a pictogram display on the LCD screen. But the most useful thing is the voice guidance over the front speakers............its brilliant and when its set up properly it pinpoints your position very accurately.
Have a look at the unit on the www.blaupunkt.co.uk site, mine has been superceded now, but I wouldnt be without it now
Anyway thanks for everyones help
Regards
Chris

 

[alfcapone]

Can some one please correct me if i'm wrong but mine -99 stock radio had a noise correction mode, it pumped up the volume by i cuople of steps the faster (km/h)you go and in my experiance (VW/Audi) the stereo had to have speed info too, you shuld have a speed/tach cable in the original Stereo connection that you shuld be able to use..am i right or wrong here??

 

[dogfriend]

Originally posted by Chris K


You mention a PCM.....what is a PCM Please ?
Once I can identify the PCM, I can follow the wire back to somewhere close to the speedo.

Regards
Chris

PCM is the Powertrain Control Module aka the engine control computer. On a 98 Explorer, it should be located on the engine side of the firewall just slightly to the right side (pass side in the US).

If you follow this link and look at figure 8, you can see a drawing showing the location of the PCM http://www3.autozone.com/servlet/Ui..._us/0900823d/80/0b/97/80/0900823d800b9780.jsp


edit: I just noticed in figure 8, there is a tachometer data link connector shown near the battery, this may help you identify the wire

 

[Chris K]

Thank you both very much for the info..........and the autozone site is brilliant
I will let you know how I get on
Regards
Chris

 

[Chris K]

Hi Everyone
Just thought I would give a progress report
I got the speedo pulse signal from the Black/Grey wire, which a guy on the Explorer Audio forum mentioned. After taking the panel with the radio/airvent out and then the speedo cover plastic out I found it again there up high under the dash, it was a bit awkward, but managed to connect into the cable.
Finally it all works.
Thanks for everyones posts
Chris

 

[jssong]

can u post pics of your setup?

 

[Black Magic]

Originally posted by jssong
can u post pics of your setup?

Yea, picx?

 

[Chris K]

OK
I will take a few pics and see if I can post them on here
Regards
Chris

 

[Black Magic]

Chris, If you need to someone to post them for you. Let me know, I can post them here for you. Bonus of being Elite!