6 disc in dash issues, need help

[superduty4x4]

The OEM 6 disc head unit in the wife's car was working fine when we bought the car but the display wouldn't light up. My plan was just to replace it with an aftermarket head unit until I realized that I couldn't do that and retain the full function of all the factory features (rear DVD, rear radio controls). So I set out looking for info on how to repair the radio and found a thread on another forum. That person had a dim display but I decided to try his fix anyway. I added some solder to the 4 resistors as pictured:



but no joy, still no display. I was also going to repair the 6 disc changer unit as demonstrated in the following video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z50nF4Li55I

and no joy there either. I followed the steps in the video to the T and the 6 disc unit will still not function correctly.

If anyone has any insight on either issue I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[Skauber]

For the rear DVD, I'm not 100% if you can make the OEM one work, I don't have one so I haven't dived deep into it. But, it's not hard to find a OEM-looking aftermarket DVD unit, maybe even an HD one with blu-ray and HDD or something which is far better than the original one. Technology has come a long way since the truck was new.

 

[superduty4x4]

You can get aftermarket head units that will retain the factory DVD player, but to keep the factory DVD player, and the 2nd row seat controls (which includes the button that turns on the headphones), the subwoofer and all the other factory features takes a lot of leg work and some fancy wiring. Which is why I was really hoping that the "quick" fixes I found for the stock head unit would work out. I really want to keep all the factory installed features working correctly.
You seem an intelligent person, help me out!

 

[Skauber]

What would you like me to help you with? Wiring an aftermarket unit to work with the factory-installed things? There's not much work to retain the function of the subwoofer, steering wheel controls and the muting for parking sensors. It depends what the head unit supports, but one that is fully featured has inputs and outputs to all of those, including a dedicated low pass filtered subwoofer output. They also have speed input for supporting increasing audio with higher speeds, just like the OEM one. The DVD is as far as I remembered not that complicated in the wiring. The most complicated thing to retain the function of is the rear seat controls, these are communicating on a proprietary network with the factory head unit. Depending on how much you use these, it depends on how much work you're willing to put into it. There's basically two ways to do it:

1. Debug the network communication and see how it communicates, and see if it's possible to use some sort of interface between them and the rear seat controls. This could get quite complicated.

2. Dismantle it, remove PCB and custom wire the switches to a more standard off the shelf switch interface that is already able to communicate with the head unit.

This is more easy to do with one of those ebay head units that are running Android, since these has programmable inputs via the steering wheel control-wire. The more difficult part is however to enable the RSC panel to listen to a separate audio source through the headphone jack than the audio playing through the speakers. For my part, I haven't used that feature once, so it's not something I'd miss.


If you want to know what my plan is:

I plan to replace the head unit with one that runs Android, I'll retain the function of subwoofer, steering wheel control, mute from parking sensors and sensing the speed signal. I'm not going to wire up the rear controls for the head unit. Instead I'll install an aftermarket DVD player, either in roof or with screens in headrests. Mine didn't come with factory mounted DVD so I have options on how to mount it. Then I'll replace the RSC panel with a custom one with USB inputs and what not to control the rear DVD entertainment, as I think that makes more sense than controlling the head unit in the front...

 

[GAINMOB]

there are harnesses that can allow u to keep them

 

[Skauber]

There are aftermarket harnesses for most things, but I have not seen any aftermarket harnesses or interfaces for the rear seat controls. On my '05, and likely the same for his '06, the rear seat controls has some audio wires and such, as well as a corporate audio network link. The audio wires and such is easy enough to hook up, the tricky part is to figure out what is on that corporate network link and how to tap into it.

 

[superduty4x4]

What would you like me to help you with?

Take a look at the photo and the video I posted. For both I did exactly what was shown but neither "fix" actually worked. Maybe there is something I'm missing with the changer unit, I'll have to pull it out again and have another look at all the gears. I may end up disassembling the entire unit and cleaning everything to see if that helps. Really don't want to and can't afford to swap to an aftermarket head unit right now.

there are harnesses that can allow u to keep them

There are harnesses for everything except the rear seat controls, and nobody I've talked to can verify that if I install an aftermarket head unit I will still be able to use the button that turns on the transmitter for the headphones so that the headphones will work. I also would like to have the DVD player work exactly as it does from the factory and from what I've gathered it simply won't with an aftermarket head unit.

 

[Skauber]

I've looked at it, and it's very difficult to help without seeing the head unit in person. If you can't figure it out or the head unit is beyond repair, you could always check eBay for a new factory unit.

These guys seems to be experts on that, based in the US:

oemcaraudio on eBay

 

[black 4x4]

+1 for eBay.

04 06 Ford Expedition Navigation System GPS Radio Stereo CD Player Nav | eBay

 

[GAINMOB]

U wont retain anything if u swap...reason the need for harness...dignin the audio and gens sections cuz i believe it has been done...not by many...

 

[hendricksen11]

Don't know how cool this is on this forum, so please let me know if I'm breaking rules...
But I installed a touch screen unit in my wifes Expedition, and the OEM 6disc unit is just sitting in a closet.. If you're interested I'd let it go for pretty cheap...
Once again, if there are super strict for sale rules, I apologize and need to review the rules section

 

[hendricksen11]

After market head unit the rear controls will not work, however there is a harness that still allows for the OEM subwoofer to work.. We have rear controls but no OEM dvd player, and I know with new receiver, the rear controls don't do anything anymore..

 

[Skauber]

You need a specific OEM head unit with a connector for the OEM DVD system, so if yours didn't have the OEM DVD unit then the head unit from yours will not be able to plug in to a DVD system in another Expy which has it.

If you want to sell yours, I'm sure it's no problem here. (correct me if I'm wrong). But you'll need to post the part number, and front and back pictures to ensure compatibility with a buyers vehicle.

 

[GAINMOB]

the rule is to have 50 posts to gain access to the sale section to list ur deck for sale...u have 34...if you go to the "***** thread" u can just post random stuff to get ur count up...u can literally have a post that say "1.." another "2..." and so on

I have a 2004 and replaced the head unit myself and never needed the harness to allow or keep my factory subwoofer playing or to make it play...if you have the right connecting harness to plug into your head unit and the trucks harness it should still play with no probs

 

[hendricksen11]

You need a specific OEM head unit with a connector for the OEM DVD system, so if yours didn't have the OEM DVD unit then the head unit from yours will not be able to plug in to a DVD system in another Expy which has it.

If you want to sell yours, I'm sure it's no problem here. (correct me if I'm wrong). But you'll need to post the part number, and front and back pictures to ensure compatibility with a buyers vehicle.

Meh.. I'd have to get my post count up, and mine didn't have OEM DVD, it's only a premium 6 disc changer one.. If it won't work for him, I really don't need to sell the OEM one, just wait to see if someone else can use it, no rush on my end.

 

[Skauber]

Did it support MP3? If yes, I might be interested if it fits in my truck. My truck is a '05 Eddie Bauer with the premium 6 CD changer, but the CD drive mechanism is beyond repair (unless someone knows where to buy little plastic gears for it). I might consider getting a replacement if it supports MP3 and the price is right.

 

[retrogarage6]

If you want to know what my plan is:

I plan to replace the head unit with one that runs Android, I'll retain the function of subwoofer, steering wheel control, mute from parking sensors and sensing the speed signal. I'm not going to wire up the rear controls for the head unit. Instead I'll install an aftermarket DVD player, either in roof or with screens in headrests. Mine didn't come with factory mounted DVD so I have options on how to mount it. Then I'll replace the RSC panel with a custom one with USB inputs and what not to control the rear DVD entertainment, as I think that makes more sense than controlling the head unit in the front...

those android units are super cool. Especially the fact that you can get an ODBII dongle and use bluetooth to use an ODBII app and watch every thing under the hood and get cel codes and descriptions. I'll get one eventually but I went for the windows CE version cuz it was cheeeap. I just left the rear audio wire disconnected, i hate when the kids touch it anyway LOL. If you're wondering all 4 of the speakers do function with that plug removed.

But the overhead monitor is going in soon, has FM transmitter built in and i ran rca wires from the head to the b pillar which will go to overhead's input and then both screens will sync and of course wireless headphones x4 (i have 5 kids) so the rear audio was never important to me. I do not have parking sensors or steering controls so I didn't have to deal with that.

 

[pohoda]

It is possible to use the stock DVD player with an aftermarket head unit and still retain the use of the wireless headphones. The rear control cannot be used.

Check out these threads for more info:

http://www.expeditionforum.com/f45/kenwood-hu-using-stock-dvd-27005/
http://www.expeditionforum.com/f45/how-kenwood-dnx-5140-install-6296/