Explorer Overhead Console Install

The install is of a 99’ Explorer over-head console into a 95 Bronco, I got it of E-bay for $50.00. The only other part you need is the temperature sensor (17.95 from Ford) for getting the outside temperature. The first thing I did was to make a cardboard template of the roof contour, because the Explorer’s and the Bronco’s are not the same. Then LOTS of sanding with a little drum sander on my cordless drill. (My camera was dead during this part.) I took the head liner down and used it and the metal piece in the front to test fit it, then I used part of the bracket that I got with it and bolted it to the headliner. The hardest part about all of it was being patient enough to cut the card board right and then sand it down, which took about an hour.


After all the sanding and test fitting this is what it looks like in the Bronco. There are 2 types of console for the Explorer, the one like this is for a non-sunroof Explorer, it is a little bit smaller and has a compartment in the rear of it, and the on for a sunroof equipped explorer is a bit longer and has the button for the sunroof on it.


This is the temp sensor (part number: F87Z-12A647-AA)


The sensor is designed to have a connector that plugs into it, which you don’t get so I used to connectors that are designed to hook two pieces of 10-12ga. wire together. I cut the plastic shroud of one end and bent them a bit and they fit really well.


After I had shoved the wires in to the sensor I sealed the whole end up the “automotive goop” it did a really good job and dried in about 20min.


I decided to mount it on the right side near where the bumper is attached to the frame; I just used a zip tie to hole it in place.


Got the power working, there was an empty fuse spot n the fuse box that happened to turn on wit the ignition, I was happy about that. I wired it up to have the lights come on with the dome light, you can wire them to work as map lights too, which is how they were originally intended


There it is up and working, you have to calibrate the compass, but I hadn’t yet so it’s not right.


Ya it was frickin freezing that day.


These are the zones used for programing the compass

To acctually calibrate the compass:

Go find an abandoned parking lot and follow the following steps:

Press and hold the "MODE" button until you see "VAR" (takes around 5 seconds)
Release the "MODE" button. Push the "MODE" button until you have selected the zone you are currently in.

Release the "MODE" button and wait until the console is back at normal operation.

Press and hold the "MODE" button until you see "CAL" (takes around 9 seconds)

Release the "MODE" button.

Now the fun part. People will think you are crazy. Drive in a circle at around 3mph. Your console will be changing direction really fast. Continue to do this until the console is back at normal operations

There are 8 different color wires coming out of the console:

Red/Blue
Dimmer switch:
Matches the brightness with the rest of the interior lights. I didnt use this one, i always have mine turned all the way up anyway

Blue/Yellow
Blue/White
Temp Sensor:
These wires are to be ran to wherever you mount the temperature sensor. Some mount it inside the car, some outside.

Black
Ground:
You can pretty much attach this anywhere on the body.

Black/Blue
Green/Orange
Dome lights:
Black/Blue is power to the lights, i hooked it up to the power feed on my existing dome light so they would turn on and off with it, they do NOT function as map lights in this configuration. To make them map lights just hook them up to a constant power source. Green/Orange is for power to the lights in the visors, which Bronco's dont have so its not used

Grey/Black
Vehicle Speed Sensor:
This wire is to be spliced into the speed sensor of the car so the console can compensate for wind chill. I didn't attach this wire at all. I just mounted it out of the wind

Yellow/Grey
Power:
This is the main power that will go to the console.