Hey all,

I'm wanting to install a Z1 in my new 07 expedition, but I have the factory DVD installed and Crutchfield insists that the factory DVD will be dead if I install an aftermarket head unit. This can't be true? I don't care about listening to the factory DVD over the speakers, I can use the wireless headphones in back for that, I just want to make sure that it still works.

Anyone have any info on adapters or whatever that I would need?

Also, anyone have any info on the wiring pinout? I can't seem to find it anywhere.

Thanks in advance,

Russell

I have an 02 Excursion with a factory DVD player. It's hooked up to my AVIC D2. It works better than the factory system. I can watch DVD's on my AVIC being played on the factory DVD player. I can listen to satellite or reg. radio while kids watch DVD using headphones. You can also use your factory steering wheel controls. Crutchfield is wrong, you probably have to get it installed by a pro.

BTW, my brother-in-law is a road shop manager at Circuit City, he also told me it wouldn't work.

Derf,

What did you have to do to get it all integrated like that? That sounds awesome if I could do it. I'd prefer to do the install myself, both to save money and to make sure that it's done right.

Russell

My days of crawling under a dash are over. I had it installed at a high end auto radio shop. It can be done.

Gotcha!

That's the problem. I've talked to a couple places and noone seems to be aware of how to do it. One really high-end place said it could be done, but quoted me $700 to install the unit and steering wheel controls Though they do a lot of their installs on Ferrari's and Aston Martin's so I'm sure it would be a quality install

That seems a bit high. I think I paid about $300.00 plus any parts.

I have a 2006 F150 with factory DVD and had best buy intall mine and it works fine.. As long as your factory DVD keeps power your wireless headphones will work... and the Z1 will be its own... Works for me...

dwhitely,

That's good to know. I don't know why these places are telling me it can't be done. Do you know if they added some sort of adapter to get power to the dvd?

Thanks,

Russell

Russell,

I have an '05 Navigator and I believe the wiring is nearly the same as your Expedition. I installed a D3 myself last month. I have the factory DVD and to get it to power on, I used the Metra 70-5520AV harness.

I also have the video that is playing on the factory DVD playing on the D3 as well. To do that, I took a 12' long RCA video cable and cut the end of one side. I tapped that end into the factory DVD and ran the other end to the video input on the D3.

I'll send you a step by step guide if you are inetersted.

John

John,

I'd definitely be interested! I had seen that metra harness but couldn't confirm if it would work on the 07's or not. I know that the 07 dvd player looks different, but it may be the same internally.

Russell

So,

After finally getting hold of someone at Metra, they told me the factory dvd player is completely independant of the factory stereo. That is, if you remove the factory head unit, the factory dvd will still function as normal, but the audio will only go out of the headphones. No additional harness needed.

1 quirck though, the factory harness does not have a 12V accessory lead, so you have to run one yourself from under the steering column Not a big deal, but a PITA though. I guess it has something to do with how the retained accessory power works but I'm not sure.

The other cool thing is that the factory sub amp uses low level inputs so there is no need for a line level converter or other magic box

I'm still looking for the wiring diagram though, so that I can identify VSS, reverse, brake, and the DVD pinout to see if I can get DVD audio into the new headunit.

Russell

Actually the power should be in your overhead its really simple.. use a power meter and you should be ok... I hate to say it but Best Buy would do it for you cheap.... I am not a big fan but if you get a real good installer there then you will be ok...

After your first post, I did actually stop by bestbuy to talk to their installers. My local bestbuy is a bit more highend and their installer was actually in his mid 30's and had been installing "profesionally" for 9 years. Anyhow, they gave me a price quote of $400 including the steering wheel interface. Not too bad, but I think I can install this unit without too much effort. I've always installed my own systems in the past. The only thing that bothered me was the DVD and factory amps, but now that Metra has cleared that up for me, I think I'm set.

Still looking for the factory pinouts though

Russell

Cool... I am sure you will be fine... and we are here for you.. please pose some pics when all done...

Russell,

Have you had any luck getting this to work ? I am currently looking to buy an 07 expedition with a factory rear entertainment system (DVD).. Then have a D3 intalled. However, I am being told by the ford dealer, and their installer that it cannot be done since the factory radio has a data link to the rear enterainment system.. so net/net.. if i install the avic d3, by rear system is dead. It sounds like you had the same issue and it was solved ? Did it work ? Thanks...

if ford went to a style wiring like in the navigator/aviator, you should be fine taking out the factory radio. speed pulse should be a grey/black in the main harness(24 pin). steering wheel controls may be different. i have seen two types from ford now, one easy, one not so. check with your local shop for more help, or post back and i will see what i can come up with from my sources at ford.

Marc,

Thanks.... I did go to my local installer.. In fact I went to 2 of them... The first one is the guy who I want to do it... but he was nervous since he had a problem with a rear dvd on a ford freestyle and the D3.. the 2nd is the installer my local Ford dealer uses.. he told me that he was informed by ford not to do it.. and that there was a special data sync interface between the dash unit and the rear factor installed DVD entertainment unit .. My prime installer is also going to do some digging.... so if there is anything you learn from Ford pls let me know.. Thanks

ford is completely fucked up in the situation you guys are in. i service several ford and lincoln dealerships. every truck, and every year has been different. ive been able to do some with no problems at all. some i've had to extend and relocate the stock radio to keep the dvd operational. others wouldnt work at all even with relocating. its gonna be trial and error for you guys. metra makes a harness 70-5520v, but its not going to work on all trucks

wakebum,

I haven't had it installed yet, because I haven't decided which unit I want yet However, I have spoken with Metra and with a couple of the high end Houston installers and they are all telling me that the factory rear dvd is self-contained and continues to work even without the factory head unit. The Metra guy told me that they were actually doing an install in an 07 and were surprised when they removed the factory head unit and just for fun, hit the power button on the dvd player and it fired right up. He said he picked up a set of headphones and it was playing just fine over the headphones. The data link is only for streaming the fm/am/sat/aux/etc to the headphones from the front and for controlling the dvd from the front. However, you will obviously loose the ability to play the dvd through the factory speakers.

Sorry I can't confirm, but I'm 95% certain that you can remove the factory head unit and retain your dvd player.

ok,

my guy at ford says the radio and dvd overhead are separate, but the best way to tell is to unplug the main connector to the radio and then try the dvd with headphones. if it works, your ok. if not, you may need to relocate the factory radio to retain it.

Does anyone know how to remove the factory radio? I can't seem to find out how to do it anywhere. I'm a bit nervous to just go pulling on the fascia like my old expedition.

Russell

if ford went to a style wiring like in the navigator/aviator, you should be fine taking out the factory radio. speed pulse should be a grey/black in the main harness(24 pin). steering wheel controls may be different. i have seen two types from ford now, one easy, one not so. check with your local shop for more help, or post back and i will see what i can come up with from my sources at ford.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls we have another installer on the forum. Welcome.

Just a quick update, to remove the factory radio, simply remove the bezel between the radio and shifter console, it is small and below the main radio bezel. It can be a PITA to remove but it does pop out. Then pull from the bottom up on the main radio bezel and it too pop's right out.

I removed my factory radio and confirmed that the dvd and wireless headphones work as before.

Anyone know what wiring harness I need? Metra guide suggests the XSVI-5520 but that sucker is expensive ($75) and I'm not sure why? Crutchfield sells a harness for $13 but I'm confused as to why there are 2 different harnesses at such different prices. Also, I can't seem to get the radio wiring diagram anywhere? Mine is a limited so it has the factory amp and subwoofer.

Russell