What am I going to need?

[JExpedition07]

I bought a Factory Nav/Radio Unit for my truck as I’m sick of the boring radio...got a good deal on it. anything special I need to do or is it going to be plug and play? I’ve read conflicting arguments. I’m hearing I may need the computer to be unlocked to it?

 

[gixer2000]

I boughtd a Factory Nav/Radio Unit for my truck as I’m sick of the boring radio...got a good deal on it. anything special I need to do or is it going to be plug and play? I’ve read conflicting arguments. I’m hearing I may need the computer to be unlocked to it?

I sold my oem radio to a guy last year that didnt have the nav from the factory. He was able to plug it in and worked without issue. They only thing he needed to get was a Sirius antenna

 

[Knox GSL]

What all does the Navi unit do that the 6disc unit has, obviously navigation. Are updated maps out there?

 

[JExpedition07]

What all does the Navi unit do that the 6disc unit has, obviously navigation. Are updated maps out there?

Not sure, this is the exact model I bought (found a pic of one on web). I see there are “Latest Map Update” chips sold everywhere for ford but they all say sync on the chip, is this unit updatable with latest Navi software or no? I mainly wanted the nicer looks and the navigation (if it works lol).

 

[Knox GSL]

Not sure, this is the exact model I bought (found a pic of one on web). I see there are “Latest Map Update” chips sold everywhere for ford but they all say sync on the chip, is this unit updatable with latest Navi software or no? I mainly wanted the nicer looks and the navigation (if it works lol).
View attachment 23210

The biggest reason I don't like the OEM navigation system is no solid system update. I'm really interested if this will work and backup camera.

 

[JExpedition07]

The biggest reason I don't like the OEM navigation system is no solid system update. I'm really interested if this will work and backup camera.

Just looked online Ford does offer the 2017 map for this unit on their navigation website... I’m going to shop around they want $149 for the software disks.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Just looked online Ford does offer the 2017 map for this unit on their navigation website... I’m going to shop around they want $149 for the software disks.

View attachment 23212

Nice radio JExpedition07!

I have the factory NAV on mine and my biggest issue is having to pay for old fashion navigation updates, when I can use Waze and it updates free automatically. I'll use my NAV until it's out of date and then just use Waze after that.

 

[JExpedition07]

Nice radio JExpedition07!

I have the factory NAV on mine and my biggest issue is having to pay for old fashion navigation updates, when I can use Waze and it updates free automatically. I'll use my NAV until it's out of date and then just use Waze after that.

BTW is that an app used through your phone?

 

[Trainmaster]

J, if the unit came out of the same year Expedition as yours, it should be "sort of" plug and play. You will need a navigation antenna that you can mount under the dash. They are on ebay. If you don't have a woofer in your car and the radio came from a car with the woofer, you won't get any low frequency sound from the speakers and they may sound tinny. This didn't bother me for awhile but then I decided to add the woofer. Sirius reception requires the satellite receiver which would be located separately under the very bottom of the console. On bench seat cars, it was located on a bracket under the radio.

Also, if you don't have steering wheel controls, you can add them, but that will require adding pins and wires to the harness. I have an 08 XLT and I put the navigation in mine.

If the unit came from a different model Ford, it may require reprogramming, which several places offer by mail. You'll have to send the radio to them along with about $100 and some information. Improper programming can cause things like lights not working, etc. You can also have it programmed to operate properly without a woofer if you choose not to add one. Adding a woofer would require you to get two plugs and make a five-wire harness between the speaker, radio and fuse box.

Of course, without a microphone mirror and steering wheel switch the voice controls won't work either. You can get an idea of how the radio's programmed by pressing the 3 & 6 hard buttons together and hold them for several seconds while the radio's on and the car's not moving. That opens the "configuration menu" which will tell you if it's programmed for a woofer.

Little by little I added the steering wheel controls and woofer, so the thing works great.

If the unit came from an 07 or 08 the maps are on a DVD that can be replaced, and is sold by Ford for about $150. The $10 bootleg disks fail to work after a few weeks. A command on the menu makes the front fold down ejecting the navigation disk.

Good luck with your project. I had lots of fun with mine and it works and sounds great.

 

[Knox GSL]

Can you download the maps through a bit torrent site and bypass the overpriced disc Ford has

 

[JExpedition07]

J, if the unit came out of the same year Expedition as yours, it should be "sort of" plug and play. You will need a navigation antenna that you can mount under the dash. They are on ebay. If you don't have a woofer in your car and the radio came from a car with the woofer, you won't get any low frequency sound from the speakers and they may sound tinny. Sirius reception requires the satellite receiver which would be located separately under the very bottom of the console. On bench seat cars, it was located on a bracket under the radio.

Also, if you don't have steering wheel controls, you can add them, but that will require making some harness changes. I have an 08 XLT and I put the navigation in mine.

If the unit came from a different Ford, it may require reprogramming, which several places offer. You'll have to send the radio to them along with about $100 and some information. Improper programming can cause things like lights not working, etc. You can also have it programmed to operate properly without a woofer if you choose not to add one. Adding a woofer would require you to make a five-wire harness between the speaker, radio and fuse box.

Of course, without a microphone mirror and steering wheel switch the voice controls won't work either. You can get an idea of how the radio's programmed by pressing the 3 & 6 hard buttons together and hold them for several seconds while the radio's on and the car's not moving. That opens the "configuration menu".

Little by little I added the steering wheel controls and woofer, so the thing works great.

If the unit came from an 07 or 08 the maps are on a DVD that can be replaced, and is sold by Ford.

Good luck with your project. I had lots of fun with mine.

Wow, great information thanks for the write up. The unit came out of a 2007 so hopefully it’s pretty plug and play. The thing you mention that concerns me most is the possible lack of subwoofer issues. I’m hoping it came from a truck without a woofer but if it didn’t I guess I’ll have to add one down the road. As far as the voice commands, I think I can live without them.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

BTW is that an app used through your phone?

Yes it works for iOS and Android. It is really good. Plus it tells you where the wrecks are, where the police are, and if there are hazards on the side of the road. We were using it on the PA turnpike and it had us exit 20 miles from where we normally got off to avoid an accident that had both lanes blocked and traffic backed up for miles. I'm sold on it.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Can you download the maps through a bit torrent site and bypass the overpriced disc Ford has

Yeah, I don't know how to use those bit torrent sites. My kids have used them to download movies until told them to stop because I was getting threatening emails from Comcast.

 

[Tim Fuller]

I just found this link. It says it is free.
https://owner.ford.com/how-tos/sync...download-software-updates-to-a-usb-drive.html

 

[JExpedition07]

I purchased the latest update disk (Ford original) from eBay for $14

 

[deweysmith]

I just found this link. It says it is free.
https://owner.ford.com/how-tos/sync...download-software-updates-to-a-usb-drive.html

That's for the software updates, which change the functionality of the Sync software. When I first bought mine it had never been updated (it was 5 years old) and so it didn't connect to my new iPhone for media streaming. I updated Sync with a USB drive and now it works fine.

The navigation data updates are a separate thing with separate licenses. They buy the data from Garmin, TomTom, and companies like that.

That said, I have had success downloading updated map data from torrents for other vehicles, but I've never tried with my Ford.

 

[JExpedition07]

I’ll be putting it in today even though I haven’t received the gps antenna yet. Easy enough to remove the four bolts and plug it in when it comes.

 

[JExpedition07]

Workin great! Lucked out it was in a truck with no woofer my sound quality is still good.

 

[JExpedition07]

Can’t figure out how to edit date and time, in Menu it won’t let me change

 

[gixer2000]

Can’t figure out how to edit date and time, in Menu it won’t let me change

It will correct once you plug the GPS antenna in. Once it knows your location it's will all update. The guy I sold mine to had the same issue.