Has anyone ever installed one on a 99 model? Where did you get it. The dealership wants $463 for the overhead console with message center plus $2838 for the wiring harness. Is there another less expensive way to monitor instantaneous fuel economy via a guage, or can the PCM report it?

I'm also wondering how the measurement for instantaneous mpg is done. Do they make a calculation based on sensing the injector pulse width vs. speed/mph. Does mph even go through the PCM?

 

$2838 for the wiring harness? Is that a typo?

 

Not a typo - thats what the dealership told me. Crazy isn't it

 

Holy Cow!! Yep, crazy!

 

if I had to make a guess the reason for that price is you end up buying the entire under dash harness, you can't buy parts of it.

 

That was the only dissapointment with my truck was that it didn't have the info center, I guess I won't consider addin one

 

Info center is okay. I really only use it for temperature and compass. Mine doesn't do instant mpg, just average since last reset, and I already know that I get between 12-15 mpg around town. I like the temperature best, especially this time of year to monitor outside temps with snow and ice.

 

The biggest thing I wanted was temp and direction, is there a nice alternative for these two items.

Sorry if I'm hijacking the thread.

 

I've seen alot of aftermarket temperature sensor's that you can buy at a local auto parts store. Display might not be as nice as the overhead console, but still gives you the options you want for alot less. Also can buy a simple vehicle mount compass that you can mount on your dash. For the cost of that wiring harness you could upgrade to a Lariat or XLT that has that option

 

You can buy one of those auto-dimming rearview mirrors with a compass and temp in it for a whole lot less.

 

Have a link??

 

There has been a guy on eBay that sells units with complete instructions and details for trimming the headliner, etc. IIRC, his instructions include all the wiring details for making connections on trucks which did not have the console to begin with.

His units look pretty good, and I've seen several FTE members praise his stuff highly.

I don't have his eBay ID written down, and I can't find him with any current auctions going on. If you search in the closed listings for "overhead console, F250, years 1999-2007, you may be able to catch his identity and contact him.

Wish I had more info for you, but I am prettys ure that what you want to do can be accomplished for a whole lot less than $300.

 

Are you talking about the actual Ford overhead or an aftermarket?

 

It's an acutal Ford overhead console. I bought one of his kits and installed it on my old truck. I have pictures in my gallery of the finished product and it turned out really nice. His ebay id is ol bird. Check out this thread:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...uper-duty.html

this is how I first found out about it. The last I heard though, people were buying them up like crazy. Hope this helps.

 

I searched that thread and found this active link to a console he has right now.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?..._promot_widget

Good luck.