Adding Factory Navigation GPS 2003

[KSman]

I am wanting to add a factory nav unit to my 2003 expedition, and have found one at a local salvage yard in a 2004 expedition for $150, but dont want to wast my money if if wont work in mine. I have had many other vehicles in the past and always added factory navigation, but cant really find out much about the expeditions. I have even read in a few places that they actually wire the vehicle different if you have it from the factory... Is this right? I thought they always wired vehicles the same and installed all the options twards the end. Thanks

 

[rick chitown]

I am wanting to add a factory nav unit to my 2003 expedition, and have found one at a local salvage yard in a 2004 expedition for $150, but dont want to wast my money if if wont work in mine. I have had many other vehicles in the past and always added factory navigation, but cant really find out much about the expeditions. I have even read in a few places that they actually wire the vehicle different if you have it from the factory... Is this right? I thought they always wired vehicles the same and installed all the options twards the end. Thanks

You would need to call a service guy that you trust at a Ford dealer to find out for sure... and 1/2 the time, even the Ford service guys won't know! I have retro-fit nav's into some cars and they have been completely plug & play, other's you will have to run an entire/additional harness for the nav to work correctly including antenna, sometimes a DVD or CD drive in a different part of the car, etc. Good luck. If I were to do it into an '03, I would look at an aftermarket, double-din unit. you can color match the display, is all current electronics, most are touch screen, etc. not to mention, they look great...

 

[24kttop]

try calling broadway radio in raytown mo. he does work for all the dealers in kansas city. he should be able to get you the info you need.

 

[rptr00]

well $150 is a good enough deal to give it a shot. you could always resale it for what you paid if it doesnt work out.

 

[KSman]

try calling broadway radio in raytown mo. he does work for all the dealers in kansas city. he should be able to get you the info you need.

I called them and they said it cant be done without changing all the dash wires...

 

[KSman]

does anyone have any pictures or suggestions on a good aftermarket plug and play navigation for my 2003 expo? Thanks

 

[Stoned06]

I just installed a Kenwood DNX-5140 and did a write-up in the Audio section. The built-in Garmin GPS works very well and only needs a $20 harness that can connect the head unit to the factory wiring (unless you have the overhead DVD). You can find them fairly cheap used (about $400).

 

[KSman]

any other ideas or units that will plug and play? Also pics would be nice. Thanks

 

[corvettej]

I will start sometime this week trying to install a 06 oem navigation system in my 03 expy. The radio will be delivered by UPS tomorrow and I have already got the antenna adapter it costed $16.00, the oem radio and my radio plugs are the same. I think I will have problems with vss wire but I have the service manual as well as the wiring diagram manual to help me out or maybe someone on the forum if I really run into big problems. I will give it my best try as I would like to keep the oem look.

 

[corvettej]

This is what I needed to get started. Radio/Nav unit, GPS antenna and the antenna adapter. Gps antenna was purchased from a local Ford dealer for $57.00 and the antenna adapter from Best Buy for $15.00. Front and back of unit. The plugs on the back of my old radio and the plugs for the Nav/radio were the same because I have a late 03 expy. The early model 03 had a different wire harness. If the back of your radio doesn't look the same as the Nav/Radio that I'm showing then you are looking at an older system installation.

 

[corvettej]

Let the games began. First disconnect the battery negative post before you start the install. This is my dash before I started. Lower the steering wheel to it lowest setting, then lower the turn signal lever like you are making a left turn and leave it, now with parking brake engage, turn the ignition switch to the on position then remove the 2 (7mm) screws from top of the speedometer bezel and carefully pull the bezel from the top toward you, it is only snap in. Once you get it unsnap start disconnecting the various plug carefully on the back of the bezel (two for headlight, 1 for pedal height, 1 for message center if available, 1 for extra option, 3 for ac/heater and 1 vaccum plug). Then set the bezel aside. You can put the vehicle back in park if you want to. Your radio should have 2 (7mm) screws securing it to the bracket. The last picture is with the screws remove. So far so good.

 

[corvettej]

This what my radio look like from the back as I pulled it out with the original plugs in place. I unplug everything connected to the radio, then I add the new antenna adaptor to the old motorola antenna plug. Lots of room to mount the GPS antenna but I decide to put it over the top of the speedometer on a metal brace with some heavy duty double stick tape from scotch from walmart. I haven't figured this out, it only let me upload five pictures at a time. Oh well.

 

[corvettej]

The back of the radio up close, now to start plugging in all of the plugs in their specific location. The one plug that doesn't have anything plug in is for the subwoofer which I found on ebay for 80.00 out of an 05 EB. I'm in the process of making my own wire harness for it because it not available from Ford as a seperate harness like the satellite or the the mobile-ease bt harness.

 

[corvettej]

Well let's fire her up and see what happen. Houston, we have liftoff. What a beautiful sight, it works. She's booting up, accept the disclaimer and we have navigation. Check out the local radio station ID, the artist name and the name of the song plus it cool looking. Will upload some more pictures but not today. Good Day!

 

[GAINMOB]

Here's my pic of my touchscreen Pioneer AVIC-D3 Nav/DVD/bluetooth head unit

 

[Expedition]

^ I got the same one! lol

 

[corvettej]

Here are some more pictures. The GPS has now pinpointed my location. These are some of the different submenus. So far everything is working fine, I guess I'll run into some problems sooner or later. This installation is being done in 98 -100+ degrees of heat here in Georgia, drinking a lot water and taking a lot of breaks but all of these pictures so far was taken in one day. I have a few more but Later.

 

[Expedition]

I love how you used the 07-10 Headunit!!

 

[corvettej]

Well we're back. Sorry about the focus, some more submenu. Oh I forgot, you have to remove the two guide tabs on the side of the nav unit (they are for the newer model to align the radio) in order to get it to fit right. I use a Dremel tool to take of it.



In the Setting mode where you can calibrate the unit



Here is screenshot of the phone module which I think is used for Sync.



This unit is 51/4" high, you must cut your dash bezel or find one that had a navigation unit in it before at the salvage yard, there is about an inch different in the height of the two radio.

 

[corvettej]

UPDATE!

The navigation unit has been shipped and arrived at the programmer in Dallas, the programmer says he is looking forward to programming a hardwire version instead of ms-can. If there is no problems I should have the unit back within 2 weeks. I have to finish modifying the dash bevel, need to cut an quarter inch from the bevel for a smooth transition just until I find a bevel in a salvage yard that had a navigation unit. It hard to find a bevel for a navigation unit with manual air but I might have a trick up the sleeve to solve that problem. Now the wait!!!