So did anyone ask Ford about removing the radio to install cables?


F

FFCobra

GT Owner
Jul 2, 2006
109
GA
Did anyone ask the Ford techs at the event about how to remove the radio so we can install cables for an MP3 player?

The discussions about this on the forum have lead me to believe that the factory tools do not work. So I would like to know what the trick is.

Bill
 
Spirit

Spirit

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FFCobra said:
Did anyone ask the Ford techs at the event about how to remove the radio so we can install cables for an MP3 player?

The discussions about this on the forum have lead me to believe that the factory tools do not work. So I would like to know what the trick is.

Bill
Click to expand...
Bill,
I also tried the factory radio removal tools, and could not get them to work, they just cut my fingers and bent out of shape.
You can reach the pig tails with out removing the radio.
On your back under the sterring wheel you can reach up behind the radio & get to them. They are short but it is do able.
Plug in your "y" cable adaptor & fish the cable to the location you want it to come forward to plug in your IPod or MP3 player.
Will take a little bit of effort but it sure beats trying to get the radio out.
My only concern now is what to do when the radio does have to come out.:confused
 
Specracer

Specracer

GT Owner
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Nov 28, 2005
7,205
MA
Can;t help with removal, but here is a pix at least what you are up against, Note the tape holding the RCS's to the harness:
 

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SuperB

SuperB

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Feb 8, 2006
954
South Florida
They showed someone the process and I watched.
The radio (mac) does not have RCA, guess the cable does.
As for radio removal, it looked very simple, with the tool.

I think you may be missing a step.....
There is a decorative black plastic part about 0.25 x 2.5 inches on each side of the radio. That part slides off, I think simply slides down, with that out of the way, the tool should slide in and do the trick.

I am using a cig lighter adaptor for my ipod and it works great. Holds the IPod in the right spot, charges it, turns if off with the ignition and sounds wonderful. It is one of those FM radio things.
 
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Silverbullitt

Silverbullitt

GT Owner
Mar 3, 2006
1,760
Lago Vista, TX
I'm assuming they are female connectors?
 
Spirit

Spirit

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Silverbullitt said:
I'm assuming they are female connectors?
Click to expand...
The "Pig Tails" are tapped to the main radio harnes, they have rubber boots covering each of the two RCA female connectors.
Pull the tape off, remove the rubber boots, & then plug your "Y" cable's RCA male plugs into the female's & you're set to go.
 
fjpikul

fjpikul

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Spirit, you sure have this male-female thing down pat with your hands. Been trying out the shifter boot a lot too, I imagine.
 
Spirit

Spirit

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fjpikul said:
Spirit, you sure have this male-female thing down pat with your hands. Been trying out the shifter boot a lot too, I imagine.
Click to expand...
Yes, and it's a good thing my wife likes to travel with me, otherwise who knows what might take place with that GT!
How's the "Reactor Light" Doing?
That just might look good on a Heritage!!
 
fjpikul

fjpikul

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I'm not home. I got DBTGT on the road, kids out, wife off, and turned around and drove to work. It's been a very lonely week with no GT handy. But, I'm home tomorrow night and will terrorize the Gateway City on Saturday and Sunday.
 
T

Townshend

GT Owner
May 22, 2006
75
Ok Spirit - Since this is one of the most friendly and useful car boards in existance I will not raise the :bs flag just yet :biggrin

After 20-30 minutes in the car, I have determined that you must be :

A) A circus contortionist
B) Flukeman from the X-Files
C) A women that I REALLY would like to date

Then I relaxed, and realised I must be missing something!

Did you remove the face plate? Any other tricks? My wife came out in the garage and saw my legs sticking up on the roof and just laughed and laughed.

Help me out - I now need redemption! I believe you pulled this off, but have no clue how!

Erick
 
fjpikul

fjpikul

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Trust me, this guy is great with smoke and mirrors!
 
DUROC

DUROC

GT Owner
Aug 6, 2006
57
Westchester, NY
SuperB,
Can you tell me which brand/model of FM iPod transmitter you've had good results with? I've tried those before, inexpensive ones like Belkin, years ago admittedly. I'd love to have a solution that offers decent sound without messing with wiring.

Others' opinions about this very welcome, obviously.

Thanks.
 
Silverbullitt

Silverbullitt

GT Owner
Mar 3, 2006
1,760
Lago Vista, TX
fjpikul said:
I'm not home. I got DBTGT on the road, kids out, wife off, and turned around and drove to work. It's been a very lonely week with no GT handy. But, I'm home tomorrow night and will terrorize the Gateway City on Saturday and Sunday.
Click to expand...

Tell Tiffany to pack her bags and move to Austin.
 
Silverbullitt

Silverbullitt

GT Owner
Mar 3, 2006
1,760
Lago Vista, TX
DUROC said:
SuperB,
Can you tell me which brand/model of FM iPod transmitter you've had good results with? I've tried those before, inexpensive ones like Belkin, years ago admittedly. I'd love to have a solution that offers decent sound without messing with wiring.

Others' opinions about this very welcome, obviously.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

My XM Myfi worked every mile up and back. It has a built in transmitter. There is a new Pioneer or Samsung model that is an XM radio and MP3 player. It stores 50 hrs.
 
Spirit

Spirit

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Erick,

Sorry, none of the above, just a guy who doesn’t do well following instruction manuals.

There is always another way to get things done.

No, I did not remove the radio face plate.

I’ll try to help you out.

Open the driver’s side door

Lay on your back with your head under the dash beneath the steering wheel

Feet out side the car [this may be where you missed it – you truly must have been a site with feet on the roof]

Put your right hand up under the dash behind the radio and feel for the main radio cable

You will feel the ‘pig tails’ that have the RCA connectors on them

They are not very long

Take the tape off the ‘pig tails’

Remove the rubber covers on the ‘pig tails’

Most all of this activity will need to be done via the ‘feel’ method due to the angles you will be at you, will not be able to see much up there

Now comes the fun part:

There are both a red and white female connectors on the ‘pig tails’ coming from the radio, match up colors on the male connectors from your IPod or MP3 adaptor cable to the colors on the ‘pig tails’

This is not easy, being it is next to impossible to see up behind the radio

I used a small telescoping mirror to see up there so as to get the channels correct

Plug in your MP3 adaptor cables

If you wish, you can fish the MP3 adaptor cable up and over the back of the radio’s main harness to a location of your choice to plug in your IPod or MP3 player

I brought mine out the small vent on the right side of the radio

Makes for a simple and clean installation, giving you easy access to the IPod

Can now listen to many hours of uninterrupted music via the AUX setting on the McIntosh

Hope this helps you out

You Can Do It Too!



Now as for SilverBullitt and fjpikul, PAY NO ATTENTION TO THEM – you know it just eggs them on.:biggrin

I should know after spending a week on the road with these two – what a ride!

It was a blast!!
 
T

Townshend

GT Owner
May 22, 2006
75
Spirit,

Thank you very much for the detailed instructions - I'll give it a shot this weekend again.

And yes - My feet were really on the roof :biggrin

Hopefully I will post soon of my success!

Erick
 
MAD IN NC

MAD IN NC

Proud Owner/ BOD blah bla
Mark IV Lifetime
Feb 14, 2006
4,220
North Carolina
secret message in Spirit's posting

Due to the font color with a black BBS site format I missed the first part of the last message being :

"Erick,

Sorry, none of the above, just a guy who doesn’t do well following instruction manuals.

There is always another way to get things done.

No, I did not remove the radio face plate.

I’ll try to help you out.

Open the driver’s side door

Lay on your back with your head under the dash beneath the steering wheel

Feet out side the car [this may be where you missed it – you truly must have been a site with feet on the roof]

Put your right hand up under the dash behind the radio and feel for the main radio cable

You will feel the ‘pig tails’ that have the RCA connectors on them

They are not very long"
:lol
 
Silverbullitt

Silverbullitt

GT Owner
Mar 3, 2006
1,760
Lago Vista, TX
Spirit [font=Verdana said:
Now as for SilverBullitt and fjpikul, PAY NO ATTENTION TO THEM – you know it just eggs them on.:biggrin [/font]

I should know after spending a week on the road with these two – what a ride!

It was a blast!!
Click to expand...

That's usually what the girls warn each other about. And after I hooked you up with the hot clamshell girls.
 
Spirit

Spirit

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Erick,
Have your wife take a pic of the "Roofer" & post it.
MAD IN NC got a good one of me at SSV on the floor on my back doing what I do best, trying to see whats going on from the bottom up!!
 

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Silverbullitt

Silverbullitt

GT Owner
Mar 3, 2006
1,760
Lago Vista, TX
Spirit said:
Erick,
Have your wife take a pic of the "Roofer" & post it.
MAD IN NC got a good one of me at SSV on the floor on my back doing what I do best, trying to see whats going on from the bottom up!!
Click to expand...

Great shot of Spirit inspecting the outhouse drain plug at Saleen.
 
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