Hello, this forum has been a tremendous source of info and I am ready to pull the trigger. I will be purchasing an explorer 2004 with ford DVD player built in. How will this configuration work with the DVD player in the Z1. Will a DVD in one show up on both screens or can my passenger watch a different movie than those in the back seat. If that is the case how would that work with the speakers. What are the available options with two DVD players and two screens in the car? Thanks for the info ahead of time.

sdp1969 said:

Hello, this forum has been a tremendous source of info and I am ready to pull the trigger. I will be purchasing an explorer 2004 with ford DVD player built in. How will this configuration work with the DVD player in the Z1. Will a DVD in one show up on both screens or can my passenger watch a different movie than those in the back seat. If that is the case how would that work with the speakers. What are the available options with two DVD players and two screens in the car? Thanks for the info ahead of time.

Steve,

I have a 2005 F150 with a factory DVD player/monitor installed in the overhead. When you pull the factory headunit the DVD player will not work even if it is connected to the Z1. So we had to reinstall the factory HU inside the dash behind the Z1. All we need it for was to power the overhead system. Now my kids can watch their movies in the rear seats using their headsets only, but when I put in a DVD in the Z1 they can watch it also but the sound comes out of the speakers. During playback if they decide they do not want to watch what is playing on the Z1 they can put in a movie on their DVD player and that signal overrides the Z1s signal. Again when they hear through their wireless headphones and my can listen to music or she can watch the movie on the Z1 or her visor monitor. I have attached a picture of setup and a picture of the factory HU in the dash. I hope this helps you out.

John

Hi, Thanks for the quick reply and the fantastic news. That really helps alot!!

Steven

sdp1969 said:

Hi, Thanks for the quick reply and the fantastic news. That really helps alot!!

Steven

No problem that is what we are here for, to help one another.

John

Navyguy-

"AF" guy here. I have an F150 with the factory DVD also...how did you get the same picture on all three screens if the factory is not connected to the Z1?

Navyguy...I know of a guy that bought an overhead factory DVD set up off eBay for his Aviator and hooked it up to his aftermarket head unit. You are correct...the overhead unit requires the head unit to initialize it. However, he was able to successfully accomplish that with his aftermarket unit. I wish I knew what model it was. But I'm sure he used an output off the head unit that is similar to turning on (but not actually powering) an external amp, antenna, etc. I need to dig my wiring diagram back out and see what's up with that.

dmerri12 said:

Navyguy-

"AF" guy here. I have an F150 with the factory DVD also...how did you get the same picture on all three screens if the factory is not connected to the Z1?

The factory is connected the Z1, but through the rca outputs that are right in front of the DVD player. You know in the F150 when you pull the screen down there is three rca plugs for connecting a game system or a camera? We tapped into the back of them and used a Y connector. That is how you can see the same picture on all three screens.

03Aviator said:

Navyguy...I know of a guy that bought an overhead factory DVD set up off eBay for his Aviator and hooked it up to his aftermarket head unit. You are correct...the overhead unit requires the head unit to initialize it. However, he was able to successfully accomplish that with his aftermarket unit. I wish I knew what model it was. But I'm sure he used an output off the head unit that is similar to turning on (but not actually powering) an external amp, antenna, etc. I need to dig my wiring diagram back out and see what's up with that.

The one that he bought off ebay is different from the one that comes from the Ford dealership. I know which one you are speaking of but it is a different brand and is connected different.

Navyguy said:

03Aviator said:

Navyguy...I know of a guy that bought an overhead factory DVD set up off eBay for his Aviator and hooked it up to his aftermarket head unit. You are correct...the overhead unit requires the head unit to initialize it. However, he was able to successfully accomplish that with his aftermarket unit. I wish I knew what model it was. But I'm sure he used an output off the head unit that is similar to turning on (but not actually powering) an external amp, antenna, etc. I need to dig my wiring diagram back out and see what's up with that.

The one that he bought off ebay is different from the one that comes from the Ford dealership. I know which one you are speaking of but it is a different brand and is connected different.

No no....this was an actual Lincoln unit that was taken out of a wrecked Aviator. It was the unit that comes from the factory.

03Aviator said:

Navyguy said:

03Aviator said:

Navyguy...I know of a guy that bought an overhead factory DVD set up off eBay for his Aviator and hooked it up to his aftermarket head unit. You are correct...the overhead unit requires the head unit to initialize it. However, he was able to successfully accomplish that with his aftermarket unit. I wish I knew what model it was. But I'm sure he used an output off the head unit that is similar to turning on (but not actually powering) an external amp, antenna, etc. I need to dig my wiring diagram back out and see what's up with that.

The one that he bought off ebay is different from the one that comes from the Ford dealership. I know which one you are speaking of but it is a different brand and is connected different.

No no....this was an actual Lincoln unit that was taken out of a wrecked Aviator. It was the unit that comes from the factory.

Oh okay.