I just purchased a 2006 F-250 with the diesel. One thing that irritates me coming from a Chevy (this is my first Ford after 3 Chevy's) is there is no outside temperature gauge. Also, there is no fuel mileage/miles left gauge.

Does anyone know of a place to purchase these? And if so, are they easy to install? I am guess it is a matter of hooking up to the harness and installing a temperature probe.

Please let me know your thoughts, short of going to the stealership!

Thanks!!

 

I'm guessing you don't have the overhead console in your truck. You must have the XL version which doesn't have many of the extra features like the other models have. I don't know if you could make it work by just adding the wire harness to the roof, the overhead computer and the temp probe. I would assume that the PCM could handle it but I don't know for sure.

 

Yeah, there is no overhead console, and from what I have read, the temperature gauge in on the dash for the 2006. Though that may not be true. So I might need a computer for it too, but again, I have no clue.

And yeah, it is the XL

 

Ah I was tired when I replied. I forgot that the 06's had most of that info in the cluster.

 

There are lots of ways to get outside temps, like retro-fit rear view mirrors.

But if you want to do something that looks like original equipment, this guy sells kits to do it:
Retrofit Ford F150, F250, F350 Overhead Console Kits

I put the F150 style in my '06 F250. It just has outside temp, compass, sunglass storage, and garage opener operater thingie. Very easy to install.

He also has the style with the computer in the overhead, and he says he has the wiring to make all the computer functions work. They would be in the overhead instead of the cluster.

I love the one I put in my XLT. Pics in my gallery.

 

Yeah, I looked on that website, but when I read the 2006 moved to the dash, I was curious if it was easier than installing the overhead and hoping all the wires are there. How easy way your intall? Keep in mind, I am kind of tarded, I change oil and swap out car stereos, but not much else.

 

Yeah, I had seen that but looked like the 2006 was kind of a finicky install and thought with the 2006 OEM in the dash that maybe there was an easier way. How easy of an install was it? I am change my oil and install car stereos, but that is about it. Where the instructions well laid out?

 

The install for the single button style was easy enough and his instructions are excellent. The guy has his act together pretty well. You do have to cut a big hole in your headliner but he gives you a template.

On the other hand, the instructions were incomplete regarding hooking up to the VSS signal and if you don't do that the temp readout will lock up. The instructions said to install a switch to reset it when you notice it locked up, so I did that, but it was a bandaide approach and I was not happy. Further discussion with Ol Bird and he helped me get the other wires hooked up and now it works perfectly. But I have an unnecessary switch now and he should have included the proper instructions to begin with to save me a lot of effort. I do not know if he has changed his instructions to include the new info. If not, he is a good guy to talk with on the phone or by email. In my experience he was eager to be as helpful as he could.

Ol Bird is a member here on FTE too, so you can message him.

I was afraid to try the full function unit. I'm not confident that you can get all the functions to work properly on an '05 or later and he did not seem confident about it either. I can't stand things that don't work as designed, and it would bug me forever. All I really cared about was the temperature and compass.

 

That is weird I have two posts. LOL I posted one and it never showed up so I posted it again thinking I hit cancel or something on accident. Oh well.

Thanks so much for the information. I agree with you, if I bought something that wasn't fully functional, it would irritate me as well. Do the 2006 trucks already have the temperature probe? and where is it, I have heard it is at the grill, but not sure if that is true for 2006.

I am probably sold on this one, and for only $180, that is cheap.

 

Gentex Auto-dimming Mirrors from MITO Corporation Excellence in Electronics for Auto, Car, Truck, SUV, RV and Boats

I used the # 50-GENK30 model on my '99 and it was a great addition to the truck.

 

No, you'll need to buy one. I just bought it from the same guy so I knew it would be the right one to work with the console. The holes to mount it already exist behind the grill. There is a picture of the location in my gallery.