ptricks

Bill,

Do yourself a favor and do the hardware bypass during installation- you (or your relatives) won't regret it. I have the 700 in both my 1999 F-250 and 2002 Excursion- love the ability to change the nav on the fly, and crank in a vid for those long drives with family....

IMO, unless you're of need for a dedicated DVD player, get the 700. I play vids from the SD card and my iPhone, and both work great.

I don't have experience with MSN Direct, but I don't see the need to pay for movie info/gas info/traffic info.

VSS= vehicle speed sensor. It's a way for the GPS to dead-reckon your position if signal is lost.

I have an iPhone, and haven't had this problem. I always have the phone connected as an audio source, and when I get/place a call, the media automatically mutes, and comes back when the call is ended.

Ah- I understand. Have you called Pioneer tech support and asked them?

Nothing like a google search to find the info:

install manual:

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pio/p ... Manual.pdf

operations manual:

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pio/p ... Manual.pdf

hardware manual:

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pio/p ... Manual.pdf

grab a beer, and have a read!

If anybody is in Washington, I can assist with your install......

Parts: Metra kit for the faceplate, wiring harness adapter, soldering iron, solder, shrink wrap, fine screwdrivers (for the hardware bypass), dremel w/bits, xacto knife w/ straight blade, Ford radio removal tool or equivalent, zip ties or electrical tape.

The labor side:

1.) Prep the wiring; on your table, connect the Pioneer harness to the adapter. If so inclined, do the hardware bypass at this time: http://www.avic411.com/forum/viewtopic. ... ght=bypass

2.) Remove the old radio using the Ford tools.

3.) Remove the dash cover, and take it to your bench. The radio hole will have a lip around the perimeter; carefully remove the lip with the dremel and the xacto blade. You want to end up with a smooth radio hole all the way around.

4.) Determine where to install the GPS antenna- I put mine under the dash; I cleaned the ducting behind and above the radio area, then used the stick-on baseplate on the top of the duct (flat area). GPS antenna base is magnetic, and it stuck onto the baseplate.

5.) Determine where to place the microphone- I placed mine in the top of the A pillar, pointing towards the driver. I drilled a hole, then used a grommet to mount the mike. Cabling runs under the dash to the radio.

6.) Determine where to place the USB/iPod wiring: I placed mine in the cubby in the dash above the right knee. I drilled a hole in the back of the cubby large enough for the iPod adapter cable (USB and RCA connectors) to pass thru, and installed the cable.

7.) Install the sideplates from the Metra kit onto the new radio. You want to install the sideplates so the front edge of the plate is even with the front edge of the radio chassis, NOT even with the front of the touch-screen. Put the faceplate on the radio, and test fit the unit in the dash you modified earlier. Make any changes you need to make to the dash now- the radio with faceplate should be an even fit into the radio hole.

8.) Zip tie any loose/excess wiring on the radio, and in the dash. Connect the wiring harnesses, the radio antenna, GPS antenna, USB/RCA connectors, and mike, and test everything BEFORE installing!

9.) After passing run test, install the radio. I won't post in public how I secure the radio into the car, but I can assure you that it's secure.

10.) Reinstall the dash. Don't worry about the screws above the radio.

Total time to install is about 1.5/2 hours, not including how much time you take to determine where you want to mount the GPS antenna, iPod cable, and mike.

PM me with any questions/comments.

Here's mine in a 1999 F-250: I can walk you thru the install (parts, etc), as I have the same unit in my 2001 Excursion, too.

Let me know.....

Check the basics- wiring, grounds, harness connections.

Hijack start....

It's all good! I just sold my 540i, and I totally respect the STi and the M3's handling.....there's just something evil and sooooo right about a lil' ol' V-6 with a hairdryer putting 450+ ponies to the ground using 80s' technology- and still getting a respectable 20+ mpg.

Too many times I've gone to the local track, and can't get people to believe that I drove to the track, laid down back to back 11s in the 1/4 mile, and then drive home- without crew, trailer, or massive spare parts.

And, insurance is cheap

OK, hijack over.....Sweet install, OP!

Wuss because he doesn't drive stick?

 

OP, love what you did with the USB. Nice install.

 

No, because he bought a WRX in automatic

 

Keep your panties on, just joking around! All us 6MT owners give flack to people who buy sports cars in automatic.

I'll take my granny auto against your 6 speed manual anytime....

You indicated that you did the hardware bypass, and then tried to do the software bypass. You only need to do one or the other.

Get the Pioneer (or similar) iPod/iPhone cable. It has both the USB and RCA connectors.

Hook it up per the instructions, go the the settings, set audio 1 to ipod, annd go play....