dirt huffer Posted August 19, 2019 Share Posted August 19, 2019 (edited) I see that Spiral Audio sells a dash kit which eliminates the 4.2" screen and in place, there is a small cubby. I'd like to do this as i'm installing an aftermarket radio. What exactly will i lose? I'm looking at the Wiring + SWC Retention (+$59.99) option. I should say... i don't have radio controls on my steering wheel. So would i just be buying the Wiring + SWC Retention harness to keep the vans chime sounds? https://www.spiralaudio.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=1306&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIo5zJx-yO5AIVuSCtBh2rGA0iEAQYAiABEgLS-_D_BwE Edited August 19, 2019 by dirt huffer Clarity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty150 Posted August 19, 2019 Share Posted August 19, 2019 I pity the fool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhotoAl Posted August 20, 2019 Share Posted August 20, 2019 Not sure how it would look, maybe you could add some usb ports in the cubby. My Volt has a cubby on top of the dash with a cigarette lighter which makes a very hand place to plug in a Garmin (don't have built in navigation) or charge my cell phone. Ive seen other kits that are just for a big radio - Crutchfields has one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Nickels Posted August 20, 2019 Share Posted August 20, 2019 The screen should have a harness which will easily disconnect. Most likely, you will lose information displayed on the screen, and the reverse camera. Unless your new aftermarket unit has a connection for the OEM screen harness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrm223 Posted August 21, 2019 Share Posted August 21, 2019 That kit is made/designed for the models without a screen there, like in my XL. Take out the factory AM/FM/Aux radio and use that mount kit to put in an aftermarket DIN-style radio. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Nickels Posted August 21, 2019 Share Posted August 21, 2019 They make dash kits which are cut out for the screen. Why would you want to eliminate it? All of the info on the screen and your back up camera would be lost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stanger_missle Posted August 23, 2019 Share Posted August 23, 2019 (edited) I posed this same question to Crutchfield when I was chatting with one of their sales advisors. I want a double din head unit but not one that necessarily is a touch screen. He basically said that he didn't know if I could keep the 4.2" display just for the backup camera. I did some digging on the wiring/conversion harness manufacturers websites and all I can find is maybe? Nothing really stated that you can keep or eliminate the small display when installing an aftermarket head unit. My guess is that if you get an aftermarket head unit that supports a backup camera, you can adapt the head unit to use the factory camera using a harness or wire. Without the steering wheel controls, I'm not sure what all you would need. All the extra stuff that Crutchfield recommended was for keeping the steering wheel mounted controls. You might want to just ask them either through the online chat or over the phone. They are nice people and will really try to answer your questions without being pushy. Edited August 23, 2019 by stanger_missle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty150 Posted August 23, 2019 Share Posted August 23, 2019 I think that the screen is wired to a separate harness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirt huffer Posted August 30, 2019 Author Share Posted August 30, 2019 The 4.2" screen looks really dated now and aftermarket 2-din media receivers are so much nicer in quality. Plus i can hook up a back up camera to any modern 2-din touch screen. I'll report back in a few weeks once i do the modification, with my findings. There is really no need to keep the 4.2" screen when you can plug in your back up camera to a much nicer HD display on an aftermarket deck - IMHO ☺️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Nickels Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 Are you trying to use an OEM camera, or aftermarket? jrm223 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrm223 Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 OEM cameras do not use RCA plugs like aftermarket cameras do, so y'all shouldn't expect the camera to just swap over to an aftermarket DIN radio. I suspect you'll be running a whole new camera with wiring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirt huffer Posted September 3, 2019 Author Share Posted September 3, 2019 (edited) 24 minutes ago, jrm223 said: OEM cameras do not use RCA plugs like aftermarket cameras do, so y'all shouldn't expect the camera to just swap over to an aftermarket DIN radio. I suspect you'll be running a whole new camera with wiring. Yep!! My Connect didn't come with a camera I'm going to go with the Pioneer AVH-W4500NEX media receiver and Pioneer NDBC8 camera . Edited September 3, 2019 by dirt huffer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eilif Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 I'm going through a slightly different process now as my stock radio just died. My objective was to keep it as cheap as possible without buying another FORD Radio. I wanted to keep the 4.2 for my backup camera and I do all my nav with my phone anyway. I got the Metra kit for this configuration and I'm installing a DoubleDIN Sony radio. Haven't got the steering wheel controls working yet, but the Radio works and facia kit isn't amazing but looks good enough. All that said, my suspicion is that there is a way to splice the existing camera into the harness of almost any radio, if you can just identify the right wires. dirt huffer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eilif Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 On 8/23/2019 at 4:35 AM, stanger_missle said: I posed this same question to Crutchfield when I was chatting with one of their sales advisors. I want a double din head unit but not one that necessarily is a touch screen. He basically said that he didn't know if I could keep the 4.2" display just for the backup camera. I did some digging on the wiring/conversion harness manufacturers websites and all I can find is maybe? Nothing really stated that you can keep or eliminate the small display when installing an aftermarket head unit. My guess is that if you get an aftermarket head unit that supports a backup camera, you can adapt the head unit to use the factory camera using a harness or wire. Without the steering wheel controls, I'm not sure what all you would need. All the extra stuff that Crutchfield recommended was for keeping the steering wheel mounted controls. You might want to just ask them either through the online chat or over the phone. They are nice people and will really try to answer your questions without being pushy. Weird that they couldn't tell you. I used their website and it had options for use with 4.2 screen. This is what it looks like now. Still working out a couple kinks (will start a separate topic) but the radio and the rear camera work. I compared the options the website gave me for with and without steering controls and they appear near identical except that if you don't want steering wheel controls, you just leave off the 46 buck steering control module. jrm223 and dirt huffer 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beta Don Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 The aftermarket kits which give you steering wheel controls for the audio on your aftermarket radio *almost always* require you to give up the little screen and your back-up camera - They use the cable off that screen to tap into the CanBus signals. I have the Pioneer NEX-6100 nav radio installed, but kept the screen and my OEM back-up camera. Not sure Fords camera is compatible with your aftermarket radio, even if you knew which wires to tap into. It's a CanBus device too and I don't think aftermarket stereos are know what to do with those signals . . . . they're looking for a plain old video signal Anyway, good luck with your install and let us know if you find anything promising. The cheapest solution since you weren't looking for a nav stereo would have been to buy a used radio just like the one that came in your TC on eBay - Lots of those kicking around for $40 or $50 Don jrm223 and dirt huffer 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eilif Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 1 hour ago, Beta Don said: The aftermarket kits which give you steering wheel controls for the audio on your aftermarket radio *almost always* require you to give up the little screen and your back-up camera - They use the cable off that screen to tap into the CanBus signals. I have the Pioneer NEX-6100 nav radio installed, but kept the screen and my OEM back-up camera. Not sure Fords camera is compatible with your aftermarket radio, even if you knew which wires to tap into. It's a CanBus device too and I don't think aftermarket stereos are know what to do with those signals . . . . they're looking for a plain old video signal Good to know. I'm reading over the directions and it tells me which wires to splice so I think I'll be OK, but I'll let you all know. Here's the instructions I'll be following. https://metradealer.com/files/aswc/ASWC-1_INST_254.pdf If it doesn't work I'll return the SWC kit to Crutchfield as they sold it as being compatible with the 4.2" Screen option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Nickels Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 It would be nice to install a radio with Android operating system. Then the indash screen could run apps like FORScan & Torque. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Nickels Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 4 hours ago, Eilif said: , my suspicion is that there is a way to splice the existing camera into the harness of almost any radio, if you can just identify the right wires. Keep us updated on this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirt huffer Posted September 21, 2019 Author Share Posted September 21, 2019 Well it works, with a twist. You need to have the 4.2 screen plugged in, in order to have the aftermarket radio turn on. At least with the harness i bought. BUT, you can hide the 4.2 screen in the giant cavity that houses the radio Antenna Adapter $5.98 Axxess XSVI-5524-NAV $35 Spiral Audio dash kit $59.99 Air Bag Switch - Ford (BK2Z-10A936-B) $6.52 at local dealership ------------------------------------------------------ Kenwood DMX7706s $285 eBay (i dont actually recommend this deck and will be selling it) ------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcconvert Posted September 24, 2019 Share Posted September 24, 2019 My last new vehicle prior to buying my 2016 TC was a 2011 Nissan Frontier. I got a serious reality check when I got the TC home and discovered there was no easy way to even install a Sirius radio Rx! Don't know if it's the same with other brands these days, but now I know that if I buy another Ford I'd better be sure it comes off the lot with everything I want on it cause it's difficult/impossible to add aftermarket products. I'm at an age where I don't want to do this stuff anymore either - which doesn't help. I don't even do my own oil changes now. Didn't want to have to buy and store ramps just to get into the engine compartment. In the 1960's it was a no-brainer to get to almost anything on a vehicle. It's so difficult now that I've pretty much accepted my shade-tree-mechanic days are over. The only thing I've added to my TC is a hitch. jrm223 and dirt huffer 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty150 Posted September 24, 2019 Share Posted September 24, 2019 Hang a tree on the mirror. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirt huffer Posted September 24, 2019 Author Share Posted September 24, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, tcconvert said: My last new vehicle prior to buying my 2016 TC was a 2011 Nissan Frontier. I got a serious reality check when I got the TC home and discovered there was no easy way to even install a Sirius radio Rx! Don't know if it's the same with other brands these days, but now I know that if I buy another Ford I'd better be sure it comes off the lot with everything I want on it cause it's difficult/impossible to add aftermarket products. I'm at an age where I don't want to do this stuff anymore either - which doesn't help. I don't even do my own oil changes now. Didn't want to have to buy and store ramps just to get into the engine compartment. In the 1960's it was a no-brainer to get to almost anything on a vehicle. It's so difficult now that I've pretty much accepted my shade-tree-mechanic days are over. The only thing I've added to my TC is a hitch. That's actually totally wrong. Almost every aftermarket radio comes with Sirius Radio as an option. I bet you could get Sirius and a much better sounding aftermarket stereo with dash kit and wiring harness for $300 Just give Crutchfield a ring on your rotary dial telephone and they'll tell you exactly what you need. Just tell them what you drive, what you want (Sirius), and the price you want to pay, and there experts will tell you what to buy. Their experts are super knowledgeable and extremely helpful... much easier than trying to figure it out on your own Edited September 24, 2019 by dirt huffer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Nickels Posted September 24, 2019 Share Posted September 24, 2019 5 hours ago, tcconvert said: it's difficult/impossible to add aftermarket product I find the opposite. Today, with dashkits and harnesses, it's plug and play. Much easier than before. jrm223 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double Nickels Posted September 24, 2019 Share Posted September 24, 2019 2 hours ago, dirt huffer said: a ring on your rotary dial telephone I sent a telegram for a diagram to wire in my 8 track player, and they still haven't responded. They lost my business for good. dirt huffer and jrm223 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrm223 Posted September 24, 2019 Share Posted September 24, 2019 5 hours ago, tcconvert said: My last new vehicle prior to buying my 2016 TC was a 2011 Nissan Frontier. I got a serious reality check when I got the TC home and discovered there was no easy way to even install a Sirius radio Rx! Don't know if it's the same with other brands these days, but now I know that if I buy another Ford I'd better be sure it comes off the lot with everything I want on it cause it's difficult/impossible to add aftermarket products. I'm at an age where I don't want to do this stuff anymore either - which doesn't help. I don't even do my own oil changes now. Didn't want to have to buy and store ramps just to get into the engine compartment. In the 1960's it was a no-brainer to get to almost anything on a vehicle. It's so difficult now that I've pretty much accepted my shade-tree-mechanic days are over. The only thing I've added to my TC is a hitch. I added a Curt hitch, myself. Took about 20 minutes alone, including getting the car on the ramps in back, lol. My van didn't have cruise control, base XL, so I added factory cruise control for about $125 for the steering wheel and 5 minutes of my time on the laptop enabling CC feature. No aftermarket kits or wire splicing required. My 2015 XL van with AM/FM/Aux base stereo has (obviously) an Aux port, down in the center console below my elbow. I "bought" a free Sirius XM radio kit during a Christmas sale in 2015, plugged it in & been good ever since. No extra parts or real work needed since the radio sits in the cupholder, aside from running the antenna wire up the B-pillar and onto the roof. dirt huffer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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