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Paul Hauser

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Posts posted by Paul Hauser

  1. Its been a little while since I did this install but I took photos and planned to write about it when the weather was nasty. today the weather is nasty.

     

    I have a '15 Transit connect LX cargo van with the very base package. I bought this model believing that it would be a great platform to build whatever I wanted. That's been true some of the time, but the very basic model has significant differences in the wiring harness and in fact some of the harness simply isn't there going to the cargo area. The "mechless" radio is a big difference. Mechless radios have only AM/FM, no CD player. There was  no 4" screen above my radio and no steering wheel controls.

     

    Researching on the Crutchfield website said there were no radio install kits for my vehicle, I knew I could fab something, but that wasn't the only problem I would run into. Since I had no 4" screen and the install kit had no provision for not having one I decided to install a switch panel in that spot. I started with paper mach-up, then made one from Plexiglass. Why Plexiglass? I had some, and its easy to fab since you can see through it.

     

    5lZnC0y.jpg

    nsoJaf8.jpg

     

    Here's new and old next to each other.

     

    KuwPh0E.jpg

     

    When you pull out the Mechless radio there's a big hunk of useless plastic.

     

    TwJTuji.jpg

    remove it.

    DkLPsuu.jpg

     

    Now there's plenty of room. 

    Before any of you comment, my van is filthy. It will remain filthy through out these photos and probably throughout its existence.

    I had to pull out the seat to run the wires for the backup camera under the floor matt, as well as pull the canter console and trim around the shifter.

     

    oc8oc60.jpg

    What a mess.

     

    The Nav and XM antennas tuck in nicely under the little visor piece.

    fvcCBjl.jpg

    3kN2E0m.jpg

     

    and I added a USB port that goes to USB2 on the radio for Android Auto. This is a convenient spot to plug in but very inconvenient when taking things apart, I would rethink this if I were doing it again.

     

     mC8UIKj.jpg

     

    After getting all the wiring and hardware complete, with much excitement, I switched the power on..... and nothing happened. just a blank screen. talk about a sinking feeling.

    after a few phone calls that I should have made when I started this project I found that I had used the wrong wiring harness from Metra. While most of you will use the XSVI-5524-NAV CAN data interface, those of us with mechless radios need the simpler 70-5524. Even though I do have a CAN system in my van, the radio doesn't use it and the wires aren't there. The only thing that I don't have in the end is the speed signal. I think I could find it under the instrument panel, but I haven't tried so far. It works fine without it.

     

    2leHaNL.jpg

    final project working.

     

    so what do the switches do?

    on of them works these cargo area LED strips.

     

    SIpu5Xq.jpg

     

    I hope this has been helpful and inspires you to do your own custom install.

     
  2. The sub-floor is very uneven so its not a simple measurement but the drivers side is roughly 6.5" deep and the passengers side is more like 8.5". The center is very shallow. there is also space forward of my hatch. If you wanted to keep any small parts in this space there are some cutouts in the rubber mat that would need to be sealed in some way.

  3. Then for the install

    Install 1

    Bolted in

    install 2

    Mat cut out, this was myu last chance to call it all off.

    install 3

    Trim installed. I fairly happy with the way the trim looks but know sooner or later something will catch on the corners, they stick up just enough to snag something. Any suggestions?

    install 4

    The door was dropped into place and secured with the knob beneath. Its a little snug but I think it will loosen up with a little use. If it doesn't I'll have to take it out and sand it a little.

    install 5

    I put reflective tape on the bottom of the hatch. It could be removed and used as a warning signal while changing a tire or other roadside emergency.

  4. Trim was measured out and holes were drilled and tapped to attach it. I used carpet trim from a home store, the holes were already in the trim so I matched the spacing, this turned into a problem later.

    Fabrication 7

    Because I made the framed out opening as large as I could I need to drill holes to reach the bolts that hold the down. Unfortunately some of these holes lined up with the trim holes. I decided that 16 bolts was overkill anyway and opted to only use 14.

    Fabrication 7

    The opening for the hatch was marked out on the deck and cut out with a angle grinder.

    Fabrication 8

    The bolts that attach the deck to the supports in the van are captive now. Small (crappy) welds join the OEM deck plate to the new hatch frame.

    Fabrication 9

    Fabrication 10

  5. To start the fabrication I figured the biggest hatch that would fit and welded up a frame.

    Fabrication 1

    I decided to go with a 3 segment hinged lid that could be accessed from either side or removed entirely.

    6

    I built the door out of scrap plywood and covered it with aluminum diamondplate.

    Fabrication 2

    Fabrication 3

    This little fastener is called a Tee nut, they're used in a lot of furniture.

    Fabrication 4

    A recycled knob and a piece of flat stock would hold the door in place securely but allow it to be removed without much fuss.

    Fabrication 5

    I drilled a shallow hole in the wood and punched a smaller hole in the metal to make a finger hole to open the hatch.

    Fabrication 6

    Everything would be painted black in the end.

  6. Preface: I'll break this up into a few posts. I apologize for the small photos.

    There has been some discussion of the void below the floor in the Gen2 cargo vans, I decided to do something with the space. Several lessons were learned, I would do some things different if I were to do it again, but I'm happy enough that I'm not doing it again. Here's what I did.

    First I did a little exploration.

    Exploration 1

    Removed the door wells

    Exploration 2

    Peel back the Mat

    Exploration 3

    and pulled out the deck piece

    Exploration 4

  7. The ring connectors were 5/16. Getting that nut off and back on was one of the hardest part of this project, I unsnapped the plastic housing so I could pry it back a little. I'm not looking forward to replacing that battery. :( It seemed like the best place but I don't know if I'll be able to add much more there.

    You could put two of those Delphi 6 way connectors back to back and use a common bar and jumper wires. I just soldered wires together to break out the power.

    Let us know if you have any luck removing usable parts from the salvaged fuse block. That was my initial thought but I was to cheap to get on one Ebay not knowing if Id be able to use it.

  8. Several users have added auxiliary power circuits that are switched on with the key instead of on all the time. I was inspired particularly by DonShockley and MMontMiny, This is how I did it.

    Relay, breakout, and fuse block.

    This assembly was made first. The relay will power the line side of three fuses, the load side of each will be routed to the Upper console, Lower console and Rear of the van.

    wired up

    The relay is triggered by the PAM circuit (R37 under the hood), an option not installed in my van, but it becomes hot in the Run (II) and Start (III) positions.

    Under the hood fusebox

    Both the Power to the relay and the switch leg have inline fuses. I had planed to us a Tap-A-Fuse but it wouldn't fit properly. Both the wires run along the firewall to the passenger side of the van and through the grommet to below the dash behind the glovebox near the BCM. The third inline fuse seen in the photo is for trailer lights.

    tucked away

    Everything under the dash gets tucked away behind existing wiring. The coil of wire in the upper left of the photo is for future use in the lower console. Neither the Lower console or the Rear circuit will have fuses installed at this time.

    A pillar

    From under the dash two of the power circuits run up to the A pillar. One runs up the outside of the pillar and above the headliner to the hole near the rear view mirror. The other runs inside the A pillar to the top channel and to the rear of the van to be used at a later time.
    I used an existing fastener to ground the relay.

    headliner

    This power socket is temporary, ultimately a socket will be mounted in the box part of the overhead console. Grounding is done at an existing threaded hole.

    final outcome

    With the shelf reinstalled this was the first objective. When I turn on the van my radar detector is powered up. A Dash cam will probably come soon, maybe front and rear.
    Special thanks to DonShockley for helping to source parts and wire.
  9. I noticed on Ebay that some gen2 TCs have a center console with an armrest, like this one. My '14 TC Van has a console with an open cubby hole like this and a single armrest on the seat. Does anyone know if I could use the former type of console with the seat I have, will the armrests fit side by side? Can I remove the armrest from the seat I have? Thanks for any help or Ideas.

  10. ...In mine, there were 2 unused fuse sockets that were keyed with the ignition. I installed the tap a fuse and weird it to the relay to drive the relay. I pulled the fuse for the front accessory port, and wired it online with the switch side of the relay. The spade connectors fit the fuse terminals perfectly.

    I think between you and Don Shockley I at least have a plan now for the circuits I'd like to add. I don't have a AJB in the back I'll be going straight from the Battery, switched by a relay in the manner you described above, then on to a home made distribution setup. Do you remember which unused fuse sockets you found and which you used? I've looked at F37 (PAM) as its an option I don't have. If you have photos that would be greatly appreciated.

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