I just bought an 02 F-250 XLT that does not have a stock overhead console. I would like to buy the console and computer to install. Has anyone ever done this before? Is it possible? Was it hard to install? Thanks fellas. I hope I put this in the right place, thread wise.....

 

Welcome to FTE.

I have not heard of anyone doing this, but there may be someone that can help you with this. I will bump it to the top.

Good luck.

 

I put A 2005 console in mine, just to have something up there. they dont have the computer though. it was A super easy install, it pretty much snapped right in after cutting out the headliner.

 

I believe others around here have had good luck with the 'Olbird', check out http://www.overhead-console.com/. Someone who has gotten them from him will probably chime in...

 

Yea, on Ebay you'll find a seller called ol.bird. He's here on FTE now and then too. That's his web site that michaeljwestii posted.


I installed mine 3 or 4 weeks ago. It looks great up there. Olbird is a good guy to deal with. Pictures are in my gallery.

He has two basic models for your truck. A low priced one (<$200) that just has outside temp and compass. And a higher priced one (<$400) that has the full computer with miles to empty, mpg, and whatever else. The second one is more involved in getting wired up, so I suggest you write him and ask about the complexity. He didn't really recommend it in a 2005 or later truck. I think it might be easier in your 2002, but ask first. The lower priced one has simple wiring and it's the one I installed.

Any questions about it, just shoot at me.

Bill

 

I installed an Ol.bird overhead console in mine last fall - the one with the compass and temp. I love it. Easy instructions and a clean install.

I have an '05 and I didn't really want/need the more expensive one with the mpg, etc. I would think that would be a difficult install given the '05 and up trucks have a mini message centre or full blown message centre right in the dash. I only had the mini message centre on my XLT so I didn't have compass and outside temp on it.

 

Would this over-head console fit in my 1999 F250 SD ?

 

Ol.Bird retrofits the consoles with only temp and compass from F150's to fit the F250 headliner and it should fit the 1999 to 2007 Super duty trucks - no changes to the roof as far as I know, but all you need to do is email him and he will gladly answer all of your questions - great guy to deal with. If you get one, make sure you spend the extra $20 or so on the temp sensor for behind the grill - reduces the hassle of finding one at a junkyard.

 

i appreciate the help guys, new to the forum here.....glad to be apart of it!!

 

Hey, bpounds, why did you install a reset switch?? What is the purpose of that? Do I need to buy extra wiring, or is what he ships ample for the install??

 

Some people have trouble with the temperature reading staying on the same temp (freezing up) every once in awhile. Ol.Bird recommends a reset switch to cut power to the temp sensor temporarily so it will start reading again.

I only get this problem about once a month on mine so I am pretty happy with it and haven't bothered installing a reset switch at this time - I think a few people here have had it occur more often and the reset switch is supposed to help that - but doesn't work 100% of the time to correct the problem.

ol.bird knows about the problem and recommends the reset switch as the fix for it in his instructions - easy to install and he even tells you the type of switch you need to buy if you have this problem. (reset switch is not included in the kit)

And by the way... Welcome to FTE!! You'll find a lot of useful information here. I have learned a lot about my truck and found some great mods I never would have thought of if it wasn't for this site.

 

Thanks. I talked to george and he also recommended a VSS wire so that it would continue to read the temp. even the the trucking is driving and sitting still...anyone install that mod??

 

Yes, I installed the VSS wire. I'm sorry I installed the reset switch because I don't need it now.

Olbird has been selling these with the VSS wire taped off. He figured most guys would not want to tap into the PCM harness to connect it. But without the VSS signal, lockups of the temp sensor are a problem. He recommends a reset switch to unlock it.

But I found on an extended trip where the temps are changing over the course of time, you could not trust the temp unless you constantly reached up and reset. It drives me nuts when things don't work like they should, so I got back in touch with George (olbird) to see if there was a solution. He said he thought so, but had not done it yet.

He got me the info regarding wiring what he thought should work. It was simply wiring into a PCM signal wire. Now the console temp works perfectly and it was really simple to do. At the same time I connected the lamp dimmer wire which he also normally tapes off. If you buy from him I recommend you get all the extra wiring info the first time so you can do the job right and not have to go back and open the headliner a second time. You also won't need a reset switch. I promised him I would not divulge his wiring details so I won't. But he's a good guy and he'll fix you up.

Bill

 

More info that I'll put in a separate post.


Why the temp sensor locks up.

The problem without the VSS wire has to do with the way Ford programs the system. Temp sensor systems typically use a sampling rate. In other words, every so often the microprocessor checks the resistance through the sensor and calculates and displays the temp. It's not a continous reading. If they did a continuous reading the values would be jumping around. So based on that I can make some assumptions about the Ford programming.

Most importantly, when the vehicle is not moving they disable the sampling rate. That's because there is not much air flowing through the grille and the sensor could pick up engine heat. The sensor is close to the radiator. So, when you stop at an idle, they stop changing the temp readout. The VSS signal is how the console knows that you have stopped.


They may also change the sampling rate based on vehicle speed. I cannot confirm that, but it's logical. The faster you are moving the more likely the outside temp will change.

In the absence of the VSS signal, the console does not know how to adjust the sampling. It trys to still work, sort of, but doesn't work right. It seems like the console is okay with temps going lower, but it chokes when temps are going higher. Again, that's something to do with it trying to avoid a false reading from engine temps.

In short, it really needs the VSS signal to ever work reliably. Mine is dead nuts on the right temp at all times since I connected the VSS wire. I really don't understand how some of them work okay for some guys. Mine sure didn't.

Bill

 

Awesome, I just send him an email to include the VSS wire....I guess that would be the easiest way to put it in, while I am wiring the rest of the console. Thanks for the help....So the temp is pretty accurate then? Does it flucuate alot with the truck moving and sitting still?