I have a '97 Expy XLT I just bought used. I know the EB editions have trip computers and mpg and miles to empty calculators. Can I install these after the fact if I were to find one in a junkyard or purchase one new? Are the wiring harnesses there that would let me simply plug in the overhead display? I realize the trip computer may not be possible since I believe that it is integral to the odometer(?). How about the compass? Is that hard wired to the overhead display? Is it possible to add this feature?
Has anyone found a set of floor mats that they were happy with? I hate to spend a lot at the dealer if I can find something comparable or better for less money. Any ideas are appreciated.

 

Did you ever find out about putting in the overhead trip computer after manufacture? I am interested as well. My email is jbi_cpa(No Email Addresses In Posts!)

 

Hey add me to the list. My Expedition is a 2000 and I have the compass and thermometer, but I'd like the trip computer also.

Thanks,

Dave
dconeal@mediaone.net

 

Still ahven't found out anything regarding the overhead computer. My intention is to get to a junkyard and find a wrecked Expy and take it out of there. Then I was going to pull the overhead concole and hopefully find the wiring harness there. I had intended to pull the console and look for the harness but I just haven't had the time, plus I'm a little reluctant to monley with the interior panels. If anyone else has found anything out let me kniw and I'll do the same.

 

Well bad news guys, I managed to pick up one of these on ebay for 150.00 and guess what, no connectors. The wireing harness is not there, also I was informed that the part this harness plugs into is not there either unless your model has this option installed when purchased. I do have a shop manual on the way and you can bet I will be scouring the junk yards looking for the missing components though.

Dennis

 

Man, I'm pretty impressed that you found one on eBay! I'm searching the web looking for an aftermarket unit, but no luck yet. Keep us posted on what you find out.

Dave

 

Does anyone have any idea of how to get the instant MPG from the overhead unit on my 2001 Eddie Bauer Expe..?

It has the LCD Burned saying INST but I cant figure out if there is a way to get to it.

Thanks!

 

I have the 2001 also, and the display changes with continued pushes on the left button. pushing both while in average display changes to kilometers, pushing both while in instant resets the computer.

 

And how do you get instant in a 2001? It worked in my '98 but I haven't fiured it out in the '01 ... not that I really want to know ....

 

has anyone got the compass to work in there expy.

 

Ford made a running change a few years back on Expy's that disabled the instant mpg feature. Don't know why.

 

I priced the overhead display this week at ford for ~$140 for my '98 X. What I do not know is if it is a self contained unit, OR is the actual overhead unit just a display with the compass / temp unit found elsewhere in the X. I already knew that there was no connector in the overhead, but I can work around that. Where there is a will . . .

 

 

Has anyone solved the trip Computer mystery? I got a used trip computer from the junk yard for my 97' Expy XLT. What else do I need for it to work?
Bob V

 

I am new to this forum and Expeditions, but I am ressurrecting this thread because I am currently in the process of attempting this modification with my 99' XLT. Now I may not have an answer anytime soon but I have already spent a couple of hours at a local salvage yard earlier this week and now have the overhead console and as much of the overhead wiring harness (including the compass module) as I could get from a wrecked 99' EB. I could not get the entire wiring harness (probably around 9' feet in length, because the rear clip of the donor vehicle was missing and the harness was cut at the roofline. I am still lacking the remote ambient temperature sensor since I still need to buy some service documentation (Ford Service CD or Haines manual) and for this reason I am unsure where the temp sensor is mounted in the engine compartment. Regardless of this though, all the vehicles I have looked at in the salvage yards either have front end damage or the front end was already removed and there was no sensor to be had.

Parts aside, the tricky part will be in point where the overhead wiring harness interfaces to the main wiring loom at a connector located behind the kick panel in the passenger side foot well. According to the VIN decoder at: VIN Decoder

My VIN has 'U17' in the 5th-6th-7th position as opposed to 'U16', which would indicate the Line, Series, and Body Type as an EXPEDITION EDDIE BAUER and not XLT. If luck is on my side, once I finish fabricating a wiring harness to run down the passenger side B-pillar (as in the Excursion) then I should be able to interface the wiring harness such that I simply insert the required wire connector pins into the unused holes of the appropriate connector.

On the other hand, if Mr. Murhpy has come along for the ride, I may find that in order to complete this project, it may well require the need to replace the entire main wiring loom for the dash assembly in order to get the necessary electronic signals from the engine. I have access to this in the salvage yard where I got the other parts but I am not sure if I will be as enthusisastic to undertake a project of such scope simply for the convienence of the overhead information!

Now regardless of the outcome, this is by no means a simple plug and play modification. If you go with factory parts, the cost quickly becomes prohibitive but if you dont mind getting dirty mucking about in auto recycling/salvage yards, then you can easily get most of what you need for somewhere around $100 as I have. You should also be aware that even though most parts are interchangeable among 99-01 Expeditions, when it comes to this modification, there would appear to be some suttle differences in the wiring among the various model years that may make them incompatible with anything but the same model year. That said, if anyone is interested, I also have the overhead out of 2000 Excursion EB that I am going to be disposing of!

Michael