How to Install an Aftermarket Headunit in a Ford Explorer

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Research head units and pick the one you like the best.

   Important features are watts, pre-amp outputs (if you want to hook up new amps later), direct iPod connection, and there are many more.
2. 2

   Step 2: Buy the unit.

   , If you have JBL, you will have more work to do, but the end product will sound better. , You will need a mounting piece, wiring harness, and if you want the tuner to work properly, an aftermarket antenna.
   
   When installing a new headunit, you will not be able to get the antenna to go up when it should, so you either need to buy one and mount it or just skip it.
   
   For me, my antenna was stuck in the up position, so I could use it. , They are located under the radio controls, but above the A/C controls. , Keep all packaging because it has necessary information on it. , There should be a similar list on the headunit.
   
   Ex.
   
   Black-Ground, Red-12v (+), etc. , Using the key in Step 7, connect the wires.
   
   You can use solder or you can twist them together.
   
   Make sure you use electrical tape to cover the connections.
   
   If you don't, wires can SHORT. , Find the one that is long and skinny.
   
   That is the important one.
   
   Hook it in the same way.
   
   On the key, you will see things like "Left Rear (+)" and "Right Front (-)." Ignore these for now. , You should see a bunch of wiring harness's.
   
   The one that is closest to the seat and door is the one that you want.
   
   Take a 9v battery and connect two wires to it.
   
   Then touch the wires to the wiring harness in the kick panel.
   
   If you hear a click from a speaker, you got the right harness.
   
   Then, you want to determine which speaker is which.
   
   Label the wires.
   
   If you care a lot, you can determine the polarity of each wire by taking off the door panel and touching the 9v to the wires again and look at the speaker.
   
   If the speaker goes out, then which ever wire the (+) end of the 9v is touching is + and the
   - is
   -.
   
   If it goes in, then the + is
   - and the
   - is +. , You could mess yourself and/or your car up here.
   
   Be careful.) , Cut them about 2 inches (5.1 cm) above the wiring harness.
   
   Now, you have 4 pairs of wires sticking out of the wring harness.
   
   Ignore these.
   
   Take the other side, the ones not connected to the harness and hook a 3 feet (0.9 m) length of 16 gauge wire to each wire.
   
   Label these "Right Front (+)" etc. , It all should come out.
   
   Once you have it out a little bit, look in the back.
   
   On the side with the Rear Wiper controls, you will have to screw two Philip's screws in the back and take off the rear wiper control knob.
   
   On the side with the cigarette lighter and the 4 wheel drive knob, you will have to take out one screw.
   
   Then you need to unplug the 4 Wheel drive harness.
   
   After that, pull the two wires off the back of the lighter.
   
   Then, the whole thing should slide out. ,,,, Make sure they are labeled on each end. ,, Then using the key on the new h/u, connect the 8 wires from the kick to the wires on the new h/u. , You may want to have a direct iPod cable or an AUX cable to be in there.
   
   Follow directions on the h/u to connect them to it. ,,,,,
3. 3

   Step 3: Determine if your Explorer has the JBL audio system or if it not upgraded.

4. 4

   Step 4: Go to your local car audio shop and ask for the installation kit for your year of Explorer.

5. 5

   Step 5: Take out the 2 8mm screws that are located in the stock headunit in your car.

6. 6

   Step 6: Open the headunit box and open the wiring harness package.

7. 7

   Step 7: The harness' package should have a list of colors and corresponding functions.

8. 8

   Step 8: in Step 3

9. 9

   Step 9: you determined that you DO NOT have the JBL audio system

10. 10

    Step 10: pull both harnesses out of the package.

11. 11

    Step 11: If you DO have the JBL audio system

12. 12

    Step 12: look at the wiring harness's you bought.

13. 13

    Step 13: ONLY IF YOU HAVE JBL Take out the passenger side kick panel.

14. 14

    Step 14: JBL ONLY (warning: I hold no responsibility if something goes wrong here.

15. 15

    Step 15: Now that you know which wire is which

16. 16

    Step 16: cut the 4 pairs of wires.

17. 17

    Step 17: go to the h/u (headunit) in your car and pull the trim around it.

18. 18

    Step 18: Unplug the 2 wiring harnesses for the factory h/u.

19. 19

    Step 19: Get the h/u out of the trim by finding the tabs and pressing them and sliding it out.

20. 20

    Step 20: using the mounting piece and it's directions

21. 21

    Step 21: mount the new h/u in the trim.

22. 22

    Step 22: JBL ONLY Run the 8 wires from the kick up to the hole that is currently in your dash.

23. 23

    Step 23: NO JBL Connect the two harnesses that you hooked into the h/u to the harnesses you took out of the old h/u.

24. 24

    Step 24: JBL ONLY Connect the long harness to the other piece that you unplugged from the factory h/u.

25. 25

    Step 25: OPTIONAL If you want have any connectors come out in the glove box

26. 26

    Step 26: do those now.

27. 27

    Step 27: Now that all the wires for the h/u are in

28. 28

    Step 28: reconnect the lighter

29. 29

    Step 29: 4 Wheel drive

30. 30

    Step 30: and wiper controls and screw the screws back in.

31. 31

    Step 31: Slide the trim and all back in to place.

32. 32

    Step 32: Put the 8mm screws back in.

33. 33

    Step 33: Put the passenger kick panel back in.

34. 34

    Step 34: Turn it on.

Detailed Guide

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