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Explorer Overhead Console Install

175K views 217 replies 87 participants last post by  TorqueO  
#1 ·
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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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

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Ya it was frickin freezing that day.

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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.
 
#6 ·
How did u get it attached to the ceiling

i am planning on making one from scratch from fiberglass. it will gold 2 air gauges and have fog light switches not sure what else, but how did u mount it to the ceiling,

i aint got the slightest clue :twak
 
#7 ·
That is a really nice write up. I like it alot. You mentioned you took the headliner down. How did you put it back up?
 
#8 ·
The button on the back opens the compartment, i has velcro tape fro a garage door opener or a little plastic thing that snaps in to hold sun glasses, you can do it either or.

I didnt hook up the VSS wire, i just didnt mount the sensor in the wind, so no need to calculate wind chill

The headliner in a Bronco is only held up by the trim peices, once you take the front, back and 2 side peices down, along with the dome light, it will just fall down, mine had a very very small amount of glue in the front, but it didnt make a differance with taking it down or re-installation
 
#10 ·
on the back i but the bracket that i got with it and made it essitually a big washer and in the front i cut the little snap tabs off (they were in the way anyway) and then just drilled a hole in the plastic where they were and put a screw in with a big ole' washer
 
#12 ·
#15 ·
GeoTracker said:
Wiring for the console. This one explains the proper wiring. I'll post more once I get my console in.

http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/296394/4
Other than the map light thing they are the same, but the map lights on the console were designed for an explorer and when they are in a bronco they arent pointed in the best spot.
 
#16 ·
I've now got another question relating to this...

I just ordered one of these consoles off of eBay myself to install into an 88 Bronco. It didn't come with the wiring harness, so I am wondering if yours did? If not, did you just figure out a way to wire it up? I called the dealership and the person told me you have to have the wiring for it already in the roof in order to hook a harness up. I figured you just plug something into the console and cut the wires? How'd you do all of that? Thanks for any help
 
#56 ·
Need some help with Wiring of the console

I know this is an old post, but hopefully someone can shed a little light on the wiring part of the article. The console I have did not come with the harness. I live in southern california and explorers are extremely hard to find in teh salvage yards. Does someone have better pictures of the harness connected to the console so I can just make my own harness instead of donating $300 to Ford. This install is going into my 2001 F-250 because it was not an option in 2001. I will be making my own harness as soon as I can figure out which wires go to what. The plug that is on the console has a bunch of Black wires and 1 white wire, which makes it really difficult to figure out and I don't want to fry it during testing...(That would be an expensive mistake). Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Brett
 
#17 ·
NCSU said:
I've now got another question relating to this...

I just ordered one of these consoles off of eBay myself to install into an 88 Bronco. It didn't come with the wiring harness, so I am wondering if yours did? If not, did you just figure out a way to wire it up? I called the dealership and the person told me you have to have the wiring for it already in the roof in order to hook a harness up. I figured you just plug something into the console and cut the wires? How'd you do all of that? Thanks for any help

Mine came with both ends of the wiring harness. you can get the WHOLE thing from ford for like 300 bucks, but its easyer to just go to the yard and cut the piece out of the roof, i doubt they will even charge ya.
 
#18 ·
yeah, I went this morning to the local yard and was able to clip two of the brackets that have the 8 wires and 2 temp sensors for free. I got 2 of each just in case any of them didn't work. I still don't have the metal bracket that was mounted to the roof I believe, but I will improvise something. I'll post an update on how the install goes for me when I actually get around to doing it.
 
#20 ·
freestyl said:
for those who have been looking for that console has anyone come across something to match a red interior?
I would just get either one (which ever is cheaper) and go to lowes, have them color match the fuse panel and paint away. I dont think it would be hard to tape off, since its such a small area
 
#21 ·
bringing up old stuff

Hmm this is interesting, do these come in eddie bauer's 92-96's? Cause my 94 had one in it when I bought it? I feel privilaged to have one though but I do like the idea of putting in extra lighting switches where the garage door opener is suppose to go. I have no garage and the only thing in there right now is my stereo remote.


Rune
 
#23 ·
stroked said:
Anyone out there have an extra console wiring harness-or could some one post the wiring sequence of the male plug so i could cut and solder wires for my install.
Thanks in advance,
Steve In PA. :banghead
when i bought my console there was no harness. one day i was crusing the local junkyard and came across an explorer that someone had removed the console but left it behind it wasn't in good shape but the harness was still there so i grabbed it and some of the sensors that where attached to it. they charged me $10. for the harness.
 
#26 ·
My 94 has a similar, but slightly longer overhead counsole. Are those rare at all? Eddie Bauer only or something? Im thinking it would be easier to just get a bronco one and just put taht in then fight a explorer or astro van one on. :shrug