I want to add XM radio to my 2004 with a built in 6 disc Dash CD Changer.

I don't want to hook it up the FM Modulator way. I want to buy a adaptor that hooks up to the 6D head unit. A AUX Input adaptor. Has anyone done this on a 2004?

I know they make AUX inputs adaptors for the 2003 6 disc in dash head unit.

I found one by PIE, model number FRDN-AUX. Will this work??? Has a 20 pin plug, for a 868 radio ???


I heard the 2003 and 2004 6 disc head unit may be different.

Any Help???

 

Also try ,pac or blitz adaptors.

 

where do you plan on mounting your antenna? I have my xm installed and love it. i am using the aux adapter on my kenwood cd player.

MotoX

 

What type of XM receiver are you planning on using? I have a Roady and bought the Skyfy FM modulator and it works perfectly. I had to splice into the keyed power on the radio plug to get the 12 volt (actually 6 volts) power.

 

I don't want to hook it up through the FM radio. Won't sound as good.

 

You're definitely right there. I have a six disk changer that I made the mistake of buying with that set up. MUCH quieter than the radio and I'm sure I lose quite a bit of CD quality. I can't wait to swap it out some day. I've had it in there for 90k miles though, so it's not looking too good... I'd like to pick up a new Alpine head unit. Nothing too fancy. I think one that I saw was the DEH-6400. I could be off on the model though.

 

The DEH-P6400(Two Year Old Model. Currently replaced by 6600) Is actually a Pioneer radio. Alpine model numbers begin with CDC or other likes. I have the Pioneer DEH-P7500MP which has Built in MP3 Playback, and also has the dedicated XM tuner, which they are not currently producing, but I've been told that Terk's XM Commander will be compatible with all aftermarket and probably factory radios soon.

As far as adding on to your factory 6 - Disc, I'm not entirely an AUX adaptor would allow you to run your XM direct as if it were built in, but it would give you an RCA direct audio input. And you could use a seperate XM Tuner. If having dedicated XM is a must, then I would wait until later this year when Terk's XM Commander comes out with the new cables to allow you to hook it up to your factory radio.

Auxillary Inputs can be found at:
http://www.installer.com/aux/index.html
$100 Whoo!

 

First install what you want. You have to please no one but yourself, and in my case my wife! I have both types. I have a ALPINE unit in my F-350. It sounds great! I also have a FM modulated unit (XM Commander) in my wifes F-150. (six CD changer) It sounds great as well. I cant tell the difference. The frequency response variable between the two is so suttle most (us humans) cant hear the difference. I feel the key is what type of stereo you have and use with the modulated unit. New units with the FM feature are just that, NEW! The radio is going to sound better than an older unit. Basically if you are happy with the sound from your existing radio the FM modulated unit will sound fine as well. Just my 2 cents worth....

 

The PIE FRDN-AUX adaptor will work as long as you have the 20 pin connector on the back. It has an 8mm plug that you plug into the xm radio. Once you have it hooked up, you push the CD button and it plays what ever you have connected to the 8mm plug, push it again and you are back to the CD player. I aslo use this with my ipod. Yes the sound is better and you do not have to worry about switching radios stations because you enter a strong signal area when you are traveling. It took me all of 20 minutes to do the install. I bouhgt it from LOGJAMELECTRONICS web site, just add the .com to get there.

 

hinmanl,

You didn't state if you had a 6 disc CD changer head unit.

 

Yes, I do have the 6 disk CD changer in my truck.

Yes the PIE adapter (P.I.E. frdn-AUX Auxiliary Input Converter) will work with the stock unit, but note the following. Ford had the radio maker change the software sometime in the 2003 production run. They removed the control for the external CD changer. If you have the black 20 pin connector (for the external CD changer) next to the 16 pin one for the power and speakers, you should be OK. Another way to test is to listen to a CD and press the CD button. The display should flash very quickly as if it is trying to see if there is an external signal present.

You can also put your radio in test mode. Listen to an FM station. Press presets 3 and 6 together. This will put the radio in speaker test mode. The four speakers will now test one at a time according to the display. Quickly (since this speaker test is fast) press preset 1 (if you are not fast enough, just go in to speaker test mode again). This with put the radio in to self test mode, after a short time you will get a failure notice, press preset 2 to get to the failure codes and scroll through them with the 'tune >' button, then erase them with the 'EJ' button. I get ODBII code U2008 since I have no phone attached and U2005 for no rear entertainment system attached. Without an adapter, I also got a U2003 error for no external CD changer. turn the radio off to get out of the test mode.

See this link Ford Radio Diagnostic http://www.p71interceptor.com/radio/selftest.html

Preset 6 will show radio codes such as internal settings and its part number (press 'tune >' button. The CD button will read four blocks of CD data ('tune >' button). These settings cannot be changed as far as I can tell, but the blocks can be erased like the error codes can ('EJ' button) and re acquired if you press the CD button again. I did notice that the four blocks of data (hex data I think) does vary if I had no adapter, the Blitzsafe or PIE adapter attached. These three different setups produced three different sets of four block data.

It took all of 15 minutes to do it. The adaptor is very easy to install: disconnect the existing wiring, plug in the adapter, re-plug the disconnected wires into the connector, and plug the other connector into the open spot on the back of the unit. I reinstalled the unit, attached my iPod and it worked flawlessly. The install doc's show that you must tap into the second harness on the radio but the frdn has been redesigned to tap into it itself.

 

Good Info. I will also pull my radio.