Adding Redundant Audio Controls - 2008
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 515
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From: South Florida
Thanks again!!!
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,752
Likes: 5
From: Stillwater, OK
hmmm... do you know where the 6-disk came from?
if it was out of a vehicle that did not have an AUX port it might not have the correct programing to be compatible with the AUX port...
I don't know if that is a programmable parameter in the radio head-unit or not... but it sounds like that is your trouble.
if it was out of a vehicle that did not have an AUX port it might not have the correct programing to be compatible with the AUX port...
I don't know if that is a programmable parameter in the radio head-unit or not... but it sounds like that is your trouble.
Cross-Country
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 93
Likes: 9
My 2006 Fusion SEL has a six disc and steering wheel controls but no AUX input. It still has a button on the radio for the Aux. I'm assuming the function is turned off in the radio like Texasrebel said. When I finally get my steering wheel I think I'm going to go with an aftermarket headunit to hopefully avoid a lot of these problems.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 515
Likes: 0
From: South Florida
hmmm... do you know where the 6-disk came from?
if it was out of a vehicle that did not have an AUX port it might not have the correct programing to be compatible with the AUX port...
I don't know if that is a programmable parameter in the radio head-unit or not... but it sounds like that is your trouble.
if it was out of a vehicle that did not have an AUX port it might not have the correct programing to be compatible with the AUX port...
I don't know if that is a programmable parameter in the radio head-unit or not... but it sounds like that is your trouble.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 515
Likes: 0
From: South Florida
To correct my last post, i found the ebay description from my unit, it was out of a 2010 Ford Edge, here was the description
PRESENTED FOR AUCTION
YOU ARE BIDDING ON A FORD 6CD/MP3/AM/FM RADIO UNIT
8T4T- 18C815-FF
SERIAL NUMBER 0019 28234385
THIS WAS ONLY IN A 2010 FORD EDGE FOR ONE MONTH AND IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION
A GENUINE FORD PART FROM FORD MOTOR CO.
ALL BUTTONS AND ***** WORK BEAUTIFULLY
STARTING AT A VERY LOW PRICE WITH NO RESERVE
A FANTASTIC FORD 6 CD CHANGER FOR YOU TO OWN
3800-18770
<!-- End Description -->
YOU ARE BIDDING ON A FORD 6CD/MP3/AM/FM RADIO UNIT
8T4T- 18C815-FF
SERIAL NUMBER 0019 28234385
THIS WAS ONLY IN A 2010 FORD EDGE FOR ONE MONTH AND IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION
A GENUINE FORD PART FROM FORD MOTOR CO.
ALL BUTTONS AND ***** WORK BEAUTIFULLY
STARTING AT A VERY LOW PRICE WITH NO RESERVE
A FANTASTIC FORD 6 CD CHANGER FOR YOU TO OWN
3800-18770
<!-- End Description -->
Cross-Country
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 93
Likes: 9
I finally won a steering wheel off ebay last night with audio controls. They probably will not work as I still have the single disc oem headunit. I know my options are:
1. Add an aftermarket unit with a SWI-Jack
2. Have Ford Reprogram my HU
3. Buy a HU off ebay that came with audio controls.
I would like to buy an aftermarket unit but am saving up for one.
My question is can I buy the PAC SWI-Jack (link below) and have it work between the steering wheel controls and my current factory radio until I get the cash to upgrade the radio to the Kenwood or Alpine I've been looking at?
Amazon.com: PAC SWIJACK Steering Wheel Remote Interface: Automotive
ETKMS did you ever get your aux in fixed?
1. Add an aftermarket unit with a SWI-Jack
2. Have Ford Reprogram my HU
3. Buy a HU off ebay that came with audio controls.
I would like to buy an aftermarket unit but am saving up for one.
My question is can I buy the PAC SWI-Jack (link below) and have it work between the steering wheel controls and my current factory radio until I get the cash to upgrade the radio to the Kenwood or Alpine I've been looking at?
Amazon.com: PAC SWIJACK Steering Wheel Remote Interface: Automotive
ETKMS did you ever get your aux in fixed?
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,752
Likes: 5
From: Stillwater, OK
book,
this is mostly a guess, but what I consider to be an educated one:
that SWI box will not help you out with any factory head-unit. The box is used to adapt the OEM interface to the aftermarket protocol... It is incapable of a pass-through, or null, modification (OE interface to OE protocol).
It will, however, do what it is advertised to do... just take care when splicing.
this is mostly a guess, but what I consider to be an educated one:
that SWI box will not help you out with any factory head-unit. The box is used to adapt the OEM interface to the aftermarket protocol... It is incapable of a pass-through, or null, modification (OE interface to OE protocol).
It will, however, do what it is advertised to do... just take care when splicing.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 515
Likes: 0
From: South Florida
Yes, I did, good timing! I just installed my new head unit yesterday. I wound up buying a unit off ebay from a 2008 F450 Lariat. So i knew it would would, I wound up over paying, i spent $175 on it, but I know it works now. So texasrebel was right, the unit i bought off ebay from the ford edge worked fine, however that truck must have not had AUX. Which is surprising since it was a 6 disc changer.... But all is well now, steering wheel controls and AUX work now.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 93
Likes: 9
Yea I don't think it will work either. The only reason I thought it might is because it lists that it works with OEM radios on their website. - "Steering Wheel Control Interface for JVC, Alpine, Clarion, Kenwood, OEM, Valor & Blaupunkt Radios"
ETKMS, glad to hear you got it working. Hopefully you can recoup some money by selling the edge radio.
Also looks like I'll have to chisel out the rubber on my steering wheel like the other member did in this thread. It's weird, it looks like there is a hard plastic cover on it but it is soft and spongy and does not pry off with a screwdriver. The blank that the cruise control buttons are mounted on is a hard plastic.
ETKMS, glad to hear you got it working. Hopefully you can recoup some money by selling the edge radio.
Also looks like I'll have to chisel out the rubber on my steering wheel like the other member did in this thread. It's weird, it looks like there is a hard plastic cover on it but it is soft and spongy and does not pry off with a screwdriver. The blank that the cruise control buttons are mounted on is a hard plastic.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 85
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I gotta say that the sound out of a new head unit, even with stock speakers, is fantastic compared to the stock unit I had in mine. Plus, now I get bluetooth which is worth its weight in gold. Six months into my setup (see pics earlier in this thread) it was worth every penny. Looks good too.
Cross-Country
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 93
Likes: 9
I got an email back from PAC:
"we will not have information to allow the SWI-JACK to work with your factory radio.
I would highly recommend you resolve the compatibility of the Ford parts with your local dealer."
No matter, yesterday I ordered a SWI-Jack and a Kenwood 994:
Kenwood Excelon KDC-X994 CD receiver at Crutchfield Signature
It met my requirements for having bluetooth, RDS, and be able to interface with the steering wheel controls. I like the looks of the Alpine units better but surprisingly most of them do not work with steering wheel controls. I'll post pictures of everything once it's installed.
"we will not have information to allow the SWI-JACK to work with your factory radio.
I would highly recommend you resolve the compatibility of the Ford parts with your local dealer."
No matter, yesterday I ordered a SWI-Jack and a Kenwood 994:
Kenwood Excelon KDC-X994 CD receiver at Crutchfield Signature
It met my requirements for having bluetooth, RDS, and be able to interface with the steering wheel controls. I like the looks of the Alpine units better but surprisingly most of them do not work with steering wheel controls. I'll post pictures of everything once it's installed.
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,752
Likes: 5
From: Stillwater, OK
Interesting...
so does that head-unit allow you to control your iPod over bluetooth? I've been semi-looking for an iPod integration solution that does that... I have, however, pretty much settled on the iSimple, as it charges, and provides a usable interface. In fact the ONLY two things that I can begin to complain about with the iSimple is that the |< button goes back to the previous track instead of restarting the current song, and there is not a mode that retains normal control of the iPod while playing through the vehicle audio (so a passenger can change music with an easier interface)
The head-unit you've linked to seems to claim that you can either listen to and control an iPod via bluetooth, or USB connection... That would be pretty nifty... except for the whole aftermarket head-unit thing... (I'm just not a fan of providing that target... lower end OE head-units aren't hot enough to disappear much anymore)
so does that head-unit allow you to control your iPod over bluetooth? I've been semi-looking for an iPod integration solution that does that... I have, however, pretty much settled on the iSimple, as it charges, and provides a usable interface. In fact the ONLY two things that I can begin to complain about with the iSimple is that the |< button goes back to the previous track instead of restarting the current song, and there is not a mode that retains normal control of the iPod while playing through the vehicle audio (so a passenger can change music with an easier interface)
The head-unit you've linked to seems to claim that you can either listen to and control an iPod via bluetooth, or USB connection... That would be pretty nifty... except for the whole aftermarket head-unit thing... (I'm just not a fan of providing that target... lower end OE head-units aren't hot enough to disappear much anymore)
Cross-Country
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 93
Likes: 9
The HU and the steering wheel came yesterday, the buttons and harness look good for $40. Doesn't look like I'll get to do the full install this weekend though as Amazon hasn't even shipped the SWI-Jack yet.
I believe the bluetooth only works for connecting to your phone so you can make and receive calls through the car speakers and the microphone it came with. As far as I know ipods do not have bluetooth built in (except for the iphone). For it to control the ipod it has to be plugged in.
When I had my mustang I got in the habit of pulling off the face every time I shut the car off. It became a habit pretty quickly. I'd usually just stash it in the car somewhere which is probably what everyone does. On occasion though I would take it with me. Fortunately, now my truck doesn't go to many places where theft will be a problem.
I believe the bluetooth only works for connecting to your phone so you can make and receive calls through the car speakers and the microphone it came with. As far as I know ipods do not have bluetooth built in (except for the iphone). For it to control the ipod it has to be plugged in.
When I had my mustang I got in the habit of pulling off the face every time I shut the car off. It became a habit pretty quickly. I'd usually just stash it in the car somewhere which is probably what everyone does. On occasion though I would take it with me. Fortunately, now my truck doesn't go to many places where theft will be a problem.