I just purchased the Terk XMDirect tuner and with the Sony adapter and am trying to install in my 1999 F150. Looking for ideas! Has anyone out there installed this product?

Thanks

 

You can hide it above the stereo head unit in the dash. Easy to do, and easy access to hook up the wiring and antenna. Completely out of site. Jusr pull out your current head unit, attach the wiring and antenna that you have already run into that area, then look towards the top of the dash from the inside. You will see that there is factory harness in the little compartment there. You can move that out of the way and stuff the XM unit in there.

 

BillyBob69,
Thanks. I'd kind of figured out that part. The first problem is more of how to mount the antenna. I thought I'd figured it out by installing on the roof and running it down the stripping on the passenger side. I then cut a small hole rubber insulation that carries the wiring from the locks, windows into the cabin. The problem I found is getting the wire over to the head unit.

The next problem is that there's no way to hide the tuner AND digital adapter. Just not enough space.

 

1 - Unit hiding - Do you still have the factory head unit or aftermarket
2 - Antenna - I located the antenna at the top/rear of the roof. You can remove the two screws holding in the third brake light and remove that. You will see the small rubber grommet that the wiring uses to go through the metal of the roof. I used a pick to make another hole in the grommet as close to the center as possible, then shoved the unit end of the antenna through the hole. This feeds into the back of the headliner inside the cab. Feed it all through and let it hang down inside the rear window. Reinstall the rubber grommet and brake light. Then go inside and feed the antenna cable along the headliner to the drivers side. Pull the lower door jamb trim off, (just clips. get a good grip and pull up.), the pull out the drivers side kick panel, and the trim leading up the side behind the drivers seat. You can feed the antenna cable through the same channel in the body as the factory harnesses, and wire tie it to the other wiring. then feed it up and under the dash over to the XM unit.

For more room for hiding items, try behind the plastic cover at the center/bottom of the dash. You have air vents behind there but you do have other room there as well.
Now the antenna installation is based on that you dont have a bed cap on that relocates the third brake light. The little trim piece that comes with the antenna will give it a clean look. If you want, I can post a pic of mine.

 

I have an aftermarket Sony head unit. I have an extended cab. Do you mean the black plastic cover that houses the floor blowers? If so, does it just snap off? Thanks for the other ideas. I talked to Circuit City and they claim that they fit both the tuner and adapter behind the head unit, though I don't see how.

 

I mounted my antenna under the plastic cowl in front of windshield on my 97.

Great reception.

 

hairboy,

Where'd you run the wiring?

 

There is a screw on either side of the cover. Then it comes right off. I thought about the cowl in front of the windshield as well, but that would require digging around the firewall for a route. Then I checked the third brake light and it was just easier for me.

 

brettds, I asked the same question in the audio section and here is a link to the replies I got:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=301314

Mind you, my truck is a 97 and I'm not sure if yours is a similar set up as mine.

Also a friend who is a professional installer put it in for me so I'm not sure how he routed the wire. I just know the reception is great, you don't know the antenna is there and he said it was such a slick install that he relocated his antenna for his Denali in the same location after he did mine.

Good Luck. Brian