Ford Super Duty 4x4 Stereo Upgrade

 

2004 F250 4x4 XLT Sport

 

Ever since I bought my truck I had planned to upgrade the stereo unit. I'm pretty sure everything below holds true for all 1999-2004 Super Duty pickups, but before buying a new unit its always best to pull yours and verify the mounting type, plugs, etc. I know Ford used this stereo type back in 1999, because I gave my original stereo unit to my Dad to put in a 1999 Light Duty F250 and it was a direct replacement for his AM/FM unit.

 

Here's the original stereo from my truck, just the typical AM/FM single CD unit.

 

These generation Ford stereos are double-DIN units so the aftermarket options aren't so great. The most common option is to get a double DIN install kit which allows you to mount a single DIN unit at the top and use the remaining height of the double DIN space as a storage pocket. Here's an example of this kit from Crutchfield.

 

I didn't particularly like this option so I started researching the stock Ford stereos from other vehicles. I knew there were better options out there because my Dad & sister both have in dash 6-disc changers in their 2002 Explorers. So, I started researching whether or not I could get one of these units and use it as a direct replacement for mine.

 

I found that there are a LOT of different versions of stereos in the newer (1999-2004, and some 2005-2008) Fords that appear to be a direct fit. However, there are different stereo types, mounting types, and connector types to watch out for.

 

First, the stereo types. Starting around 2005, most Ford vehicles started using the larger (taller) stereo units similar to the one on the left, below. The one on the right is the typical 1999-2004 size, that will fit.

 

Next, the mounting type. In order for the stereo to be a direct replacement, it has to have two release holes on each side. If the release holes aren't there, then it uses brackets at the top & bottom to mount and will not be a direct replacement. You can see these holes in the above pic on the right.

 

Next, the connector types. From what I've read on the internet, the typical 1999-2004 connectors are black and are referred to as "world plugs". The newer type stereos use "Audiophile" or "phase 2" connectors which are gray. It is possible to find an earlier size stereo with the release holes, and phase 2 connectors so that's something to watch for. However, there are adapter harnesses available that will make it work.

 

Here's a pic of the "world plugs" like my stereo has. The one circled in red is the only one used in my truck. I'm not sure what the other plug is. Maybe for the satellite radio input....?

 

Here's a pic of the phase 2 or Audiophile connectors which will not (without an adapter harness) work.

 

So, once I found which size, mounting type, and connector type I needed, I narrowed my search to find the features that I wanted. I was shooting for a 6-disc in dash changer that plays MP3s. I watched ebay for quite a while before finding, bidding on, and winning the one I wanted. Thanks to some great info from DavidB on the Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forum I now know that this radio is from a 2006 Ford Escape. So, I went to the Ford-Fleet site and downloaded the owner's manual for an '06 Escape, which has all the info for operating the radio.

 

Not all auctions have good descriptions of what the unit really is. One way to easily distinguish a single-CD from a 6-disc changer is that the button to the left of the CD slot will have "LOAD" on it, on the CD6 models. On the single CD units, that button will just have "CD" on it. Some of the CD6 units actually have "CD6" written on the face somewhere, but not all of them.

 

Similarly, one way to tell whether or not a unit plays MP3s is to see if there are any buttons that have "FOLDER" on them.

 

So, the install was as easy as I'd hoped. Used the U-shaped removal tools to remove the old one, plugged in the antenna cable and stereo harness, pushed it into the slot, and clipped it into place.