by "Busslayer" (Busslayer)
Published 02/18/2017 at 17:01
by "Busslayer" (Busslayer)
Published 02/18/2017 at 17:01
No Tags
STARS: 0
I am considering buying a cheapish head unit to put in my kids 2005 Focus. They whine about not being able to play music from their phones. Myself, I’ve never really cared about in-car entertainment as long as I had AM/FM at least.
Anyway, physically removing and installing the factory unit is straight forward, but what do I need to know about the wiring for an aftermarket unit? The factory unit just has a big plug on the wiring harness - easy enough. Is this wiring harness connector a universal thing? Do I need the cut off the connector and splice wires? I see different installation wirining kits, any chance there is a plug and play kit? I really hate doing electrical work.
"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
02/18/2017 at 17:35, STARS: 1
The connector is not a standard, it is some proprietary Ford part. crutchfield.com is useful for finding compatible head units and adapters for your car. Or if it has a cassette player you could just buy a cassette to 3.5mm adapter for like $5 which is what I had in my first car.
"tpw_rules" (tpwrules)
02/18/2017 at 17:39, STARS: 2
I did all my install through Crutchfield. They cost more, but they make it super easy to find an appropriate fascia and wiring pigtail and have astounding customer support. Broke the screen on my radio and they sent me a new one no problem. Do some research on their website and they’ll sell you all you need for your particular car and help you find a compatible radio. You could just look up all the part numbers you need and order them elsewhere but the support is truly amazing.
Usually what happens is Crutchfield will sell you a “factory connector to standardof colored wires” kit, and the radio will come with a “standard colored wires to its own plug” harness. You need to solder or crimp or twist tie and electrical tape the two together according to the colors, but that’s all the necessary electrical work. You don’t need to modify the vehicle permanently and it’s easy to swap out for a different brand or re-install the factory radio. Crutchfield also sells adapters that can let the factory steering wheel controls talk to the radio. Super nice if it’s supported (which they will tell you).
"dogisbadob" (dogisbadob)
02/18/2017 at 17:39, STARS: 0
Crutchfield will have a good adapter to install an aftermarket radio, and they’re free for most cars.
Otherwise, you should be able to find on eBay a stock radio modified to include an aux input
"facw" (facw)
02/18/2017 at 17:41, STARS: 0
You should be able to get a harness adapter. Though if you are just trying to placate whiny children, a Bluetooth FM transmitter will cost less than $20.
"beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard" (beardsbynelly-Rikerbeard)
02/18/2017 at 17:48, STARS: 0
solder and crimp?
Just go Ford to ISO harness, and then ISO harness to *headunit brand*
Takes seconds and you can’t mess it up.
"tpw_rules" (tpwrules)
02/18/2017 at 17:51, STARS: 0
Where can I get one that has connectors on both ends? My Kenwood had a pile of wires to Kenwood and I bought like a Metra brand Mazda to pile of wires and soldered the two together. Never heard of a connector between them.
"Busslayer" (Busslayer)
02/18/2017 at 17:54, STARS: 0
I checked out Crutchfield and found a pigtail connector.
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_120705520/Metra-70-5520-Receiver-Wiring-Harness.html?tp=2977
I suppose I can deal with that wiring since I can work on it at a table. I guess a call to Crutchfield may be a good idea. It does have steering wheel controls that would be nice to keep.
"Busslayer" (Busslayer)
02/18/2017 at 18:01, STARS: 1
I’m going to go look for for one of these. Ths option seems like the most simple solution.
"Busslayer" (Busslayer)
02/18/2017 at 18:07, STARS: 1
I did try that option. The reception was bad, even by my standards. Plus, my son kept taking it out of the car a leaving it places.
He has now been taking a Bluetooth speaker in the car but I’d rather he not be manipulating that while driving. I think a normal dash mounted system would be safer.
"Busslayer" (Busslayer)
02/18/2017 at 18:13, STARS: 0
It has a CD player only. FM transmitter didn’t work so well either.
"E90M3" (e90m3)
02/18/2017 at 18:31, STARS: 0
I put a radio in my 1997 Explorer and it was very easy. There was a wiring diagram that came with the crossover connection, solder it up and it plugs right in.
"avalonian" (avalonain19)
02/18/2017 at 18:34, STARS: 0
Yeah, I’m in the same boat because I want to replace my radio in my Toyota. You could just go to frys the have promos and they’ll sell you a radio and do free installation on select radios and they sell the dash kits and harness in store. So you could leave there spending roughly a 100 bucks!
"beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard" (beardsbynelly-Rikerbeard)
02/18/2017 at 20:19, STARS: 0
I dunno about where you live, but I can get them at any of the local parts stores in Australia. Supercheap, Autobarn etc.
I’ve rarely seen ones that are Car on one end and Head-unit on the other, you need the iso connectors in the middle.
Something like these two, depending on what Mazda you have.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MAZDA-CAR-STEREO-ISO-WIRING-HARNESS-PLUG-CONNECTOR-LOOM-/260715771619
"Renescent" (cbabson)
02/19/2017 at 10:35, STARS: 0
Uhhh... make your kid do it... learning experience.