I have a Ford Taurus 2004 and from what I have found on the web, there are no compatible mounting kits in existence for this Ford Year, Make and Model. I have done a bunch of research and there are only mounting kits for 2002 and below models of Ford Taurus. The reason is that the 2004 has an airbag light integrated in the climate control area that wasnt there in earlier Ford pre-2004 models and trying to install the mounting kits I have been able to find for 2000-02 models, covers up the air bag light and disables the air bag. Have you had any experience with installing an aftermarket stereo in the 2004 and up models or know how to overcome the problem with any installation techniques or other car mounting kits? I canvassed the web and cannot find any mounting kits specifically designed for the Ford Taurus 2004 and up models that take care of the problem with the airbag disable issue. I am unable to even find any blogs or comments on the issue which kind of baffles me as there have to thousands of people trying to replace the hideous factory installed stereo with a nicer after market solution. I need help! Thanks! GreggI have a Ford Taurus 2004 and from what I have found on the web, there are no compatible mounting kits in existence for this Ford Year, Make and Model. I have done a bunch of research and there are only mounting kits for 2002 and below models of Ford Taurus. The reason is that the 2004 has an airbag light integrated in the climate control area that wasnt there in earlier Ford pre-2004 models and trying to install the mounting kits I have been able to find for 2000-02 models, covers up the air bag light and disables the air bag. Have you had any experience with installing an aftermarket stereo in the 2004 and up models or know how to overcome the problem with any installation techniques or other car mounting kits? I canvassed the web and cannot find any mounting kits specifically designed for the Ford Taurus 2004 and up models that take care of the problem with the airbag disable issue. I am unable to even find any blogs or comments on the issue which kind of baffles me as there have to thousands of people trying to replace the hideous factory installed stereo with a nicer after market solution. Are you considering creating a mounting kit for the 2004 and up Ford Taurus models or do you know a competitor who has the solution and solved the issue yet? I need help! Thanks! Gregg
Replies (12)
newB on 01/14/2006 03:54:45
well... from a newB stand-point i think ur in some trouble... i could give you a list of like a thousand solutions... but i would have 2 break the code into swez's vault of solutions... and last i tried i can't... OH MIGHTY SWEZ!!! PLEASE HELP!!!!
-Drew
=)
compvr15s on 01/14/2006 05:41:44
this is of an 05 taurus but it should be the same id imagine, it does not look very good at all but it does allow you to use aftermarket headunit and still have full function of the controls and the airbag light.. not sure if you need a special harness to keep the airbag working but if you do might want to do a search for PAC harnesses and see if they make what you need... the link is just for a picture but im sure you could contact the person as ask where they got the kit or if they had to make it...
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/812434/3
its the second to bottom picture... looks very plain, if it was me i would either do a custom install on that maybe try to do some fiberglass work and make it look a lil better or keep the factory stereo and use Line Out Converters to add additional equipment like amps to run speakers and subs... im bored right now so im gonna keep looking, im sure there is something out there that will work.
gravinga on 01/14/2006 07:58:26
Thanks compvr15s! The second to the bottom picture is the unit I had been looking at. How would you handle the fact that in the 2004 Ford Taurus, the Rear Defrost button is on the left not the right and that goofy airbag indicator light is on the right where the Rear Defrost button resides in that second to the bottom picture?
Also, I live in the New York City/New Jersey area. Do you have any recommendations for any good profressional installation guys who can "think out of the box" like you are and implement any of the solutions you are discussing like custom work and special harnassing for the air bag thing? I dont really care if it looks too sexy, it just has to be functional, cover the slot and allow the air bags to work.
Also, do you have any experience with the line-out converters and adding amps to a factory stereo and then, for example, putting in better speakers to handle the sound? Is the factory head unit good enough, that with an amp, that you could get a materially better sound without distortion? Is it the speakers that create the distortion and lack of sound quality or the factory radio or is it a combo? Just trying to find out if the amp would basically handle it. If this is the case then I can keep what I have, add the amp then my peripherals I want to put in the car. Reason I am really upgrading is because I want to integrate my iPod and add Sirius and currently at higher speeds in my car I can barely hear the radio due to the low through put to the speakers. The other problem is the fact the the iPod2car adaptor doesnt allow a great deal of control and scrolling from the factory radio screens which is why I really wanted to obtain a newer after market deck to be able to have better browsing capability on the iPod as well as integrate Sirius, then I wouldnt have to have all the devices bracketed to the dash. Any experience with this? I know this is whole other story!
Thanks! Gregg
ttocs on 01/14/2006 10:14:27
ford premium sound systems are not known for SU. They are more known for their $$. You can try the LOC if you want, it would not be hard. The tuner in the taurus is/was located on the back drivers side of the trunk behind the liner. IT would not require running as many wires as putting a new deck in would. When you pull the factory deck you have to run wires from the tuner package to the front.
I have done a few taurus's, but not that year. For has loved to change one small thing on each one, requiring a new kit. I remember the first time I realized the hrns's did not match between the years, metra did not even know at the time. I know of some installers online in that area that are really great installers, but you may have to pay a premium fer them. I do not know what they charge, but I have seen their work and always been inmpressed.
I also believe they are starting to advertise factory ipod controllers but they are still new.
gravinga on 01/14/2006 12:06:52
Thanks tt0cs. I agree, I have looked Metra and Scosche who appear to be the 2 major providers of dash kits and neither kits fit nor are either company providing market leadership in the area. Any good company would at a minimum be doing active research, letting you know if they have thought about the issue or if they have an opinion.
I have sent a detailed explanation of the Ford Taurus situation to both the technical departments of Metra and Scosche as well as a myriad of other aftermarket sales companys and will let you guys know what opinions I unearth directly from the companies themselves.
Its intersting how far you have to go and how much research is necessary to get what seems to be a simple question answered and it baffles me that virtually no professional installer I have contacted has any clue about how to handle this until I found this forum and you guys. Granted, I have been going to bulk bracket installers like Circuit City and Best Buy. Looks like I need to branch out to more professional outfits with obviously more money which I have been trying to avoid by finding a more cost effective solution.
gravinga on 01/14/2006 12:48:03
Here is the response from Crutchfield:
Hi Gregg,
Thanks for your e-mail, and for shopping the Crutchfield web site.
Unfortunately there are no kits or harnesses available to help with your installation in the 2004 Ford Taurus. I'm sorry I don't have better news for you there. As far as I know, there will be none offered in the foreseeable future.
Thanks for contacting us, and we appreciate your patronage.
Frank
Crutchfield Product Advisor
solutions@crutchfield.com
(800)388-2911 x3226
swez on 01/15/2006 15:53:34
Am wondering if you use the stock HU, add a D/A processor that can handle speaker level input voltages (LOC inclusive) and a Line driver w/ EQ and an AUX input, this could allow one to keep the stock HU and add key features such as EQ, mutil-line outputs, (RCA level signals for Front, Rear & sub outs) and add your own amps and speakers as desired.
One place you might try contacting about this option, is:
http://davidnavone.com/
They have a good deal of products that can be used to integrate a stock system, into a 1st rate Aftermarket performers. Contact them and see what options they can offer in this scenario.
Swez
PS This is not my strong suit. Our Pro Installers like ttocs, UKInstaller and a few others, have a better handle on these specifics. My major focus is mainly on Aftermarket Systems Integration, troubleshooting and product selections. Good luck!
ttocs on 01/15/2006 16:18:04
they will make one, only a matter of time.
all you loose is the airbag light, or is it a totally different hrns that the light is included in? If it is just an extra hrns, you can probably try to locate a bulb and hrns to plug in and leave it somewhere so at least you can check if the light is on?
I own a ranger and in the last year I have been going to some ranger forums. They know these vehicles inside and out and know what to do. MAybe do a google search for taurus forums?
gravinga on 01/15/2006 20:44:52
Thanks swez and ttocs. Ill add it to my checklist when I get ready to install. Here is some good information I got from the tech guys at Metra around the dash kit and a workaround for the Ford Taurus 2004:
METRA RESPONSE:
I do not but it depends on the service advisor you speak with or in extreme cases, your lawyer. I have dealt with dealers for many years and have been blamed numorous times for non existent claims. It's like the wild wild west when it comes to a question like this and sad to say, it's there call. There is an organization that helps the aftermarket industry and is quite powerful and helpful. I will send you a link to their website and the page you need. That should help you with unanswered questions and help in case of an extreme situation.
http://www.sema.org/main/semaorghome.aspx?ID=50096
MY RESPONSE/QUESTION:
That's good news. One last question for you Matt: do you know if installing the aftermarket unit and replacing the airbag light with a resistor could possibly void extended warranty service contracts on a car? I realize this may not be a fair question to ask you but I just wanted to find out if you hand any experience with this or heard of anyone who researched this issue or has had any experience with this.
I assume that it could likely voids the part of the contract that might repair the radio but what the main question is, is could it void the entire extended warranty contract when you make any aftermarket installation configurations. That is, for example, if we add your Metra kit could that void them honoring the warranty on perhaps repairing the transmission if goes, etc..
METRA RESPONSE:
We purposely did that to give the aftermarket radio more room when installing it. That does not change the performance of the switch and no rewiring is necessary because of it. It's for your convenience.
MY RESPONSE/QUESTION:
Thanks Matt, by the way. How would yoy handle the fact that the existing Ford Taurus Mounting kit you have has the rear defrost button on the right side but in the factory unit the rear defrost button resides on the left side. What would be your workaround recommendation for that since it is a press and release time initiated button that seems to be hard wired to the left hand side?
METRA RESPONSE:
We will be coming out with a kit in the future for the 04'-05' Taurus'. No ETA as of yet. This is what you can do until then. Seek a professional installer who is comfortable with figuring out factory wires and have him/her find the two wires which feed the airbag light. From there, find the resistance of that light and either replace the light with another of equal resistance or put on a resistor and forget about having an airbag light.
ttocs on 01/16/2006 11:17:42
I'm thinking LOC.....
gravinga on 01/16/2006 13:14:29
The Response from Scosche on their mounting kit compatibility (just goes to show you how much better of a service oriented company Metra is!):
Unfortunately we do not offer a dash kit for this vehicle as it does feature an airbag disengage switch. There is currently no ETA available on this application.
--
Jorge Barrios
Technical Support Specialist
Scosche Industries Inc.
(800) 363-4490 x154
jorgeb@scosche.com
ttocs on 01/16/2006 18:44:13
they said the same to me when I discovered the difference between the old and new kits that had the different hrns. I don't think they like to give a date as it could be wrong, and then a whole different can of worms. Some one will make it or make a go-around for it. I have installed a number of systems running off of factory radios. If you do it right you can get great sound and not have to worry about some one stealing your radio.
Replies (12)
newB on 01/14/2006 03:54:45
well... from a newB stand-point i think ur in some trouble... i could give you a list of like a thousand solutions... but i would have 2 break the code into swez's vault of solutions... and last i tried i can't... OH MIGHTY SWEZ!!! PLEASE HELP!!!!
-Drew
=)
compvr15s on 01/14/2006 05:41:44
this is of an 05 taurus but it should be the same id imagine, it does not look very good at all but it does allow you to use aftermarket headunit and still have full function of the controls and the airbag light.. not sure if you need a special harness to keep the airbag working but if you do might want to do a search for PAC harnesses and see if they make what you need... the link is just for a picture but im sure you could contact the person as ask where they got the kit or if they had to make it...
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/812434/3
its the second to bottom picture... looks very plain, if it was me i would either do a custom install on that maybe try to do some fiberglass work and make it look a lil better or keep the factory stereo and use Line Out Converters to add additional equipment like amps to run speakers and subs... im bored right now so im gonna keep looking, im sure there is something out there that will work.
gravinga on 01/14/2006 07:58:26
Thanks compvr15s! The second to the bottom picture is the unit I had been looking at. How would you handle the fact that in the 2004 Ford Taurus, the Rear Defrost button is on the left not the right and that goofy airbag indicator light is on the right where the Rear Defrost button resides in that second to the bottom picture?
Also, I live in the New York City/New Jersey area. Do you have any recommendations for any good profressional installation guys who can "think out of the box" like you are and implement any of the solutions you are discussing like custom work and special harnassing for the air bag thing? I dont really care if it looks too sexy, it just has to be functional, cover the slot and allow the air bags to work.
Also, do you have any experience with the line-out converters and adding amps to a factory stereo and then, for example, putting in better speakers to handle the sound? Is the factory head unit good enough, that with an amp, that you could get a materially better sound without distortion? Is it the speakers that create the distortion and lack of sound quality or the factory radio or is it a combo? Just trying to find out if the amp would basically handle it. If this is the case then I can keep what I have, add the amp then my peripherals I want to put in the car. Reason I am really upgrading is because I want to integrate my iPod and add Sirius and currently at higher speeds in my car I can barely hear the radio due to the low through put to the speakers. The other problem is the fact the the iPod2car adaptor doesnt allow a great deal of control and scrolling from the factory radio screens which is why I really wanted to obtain a newer after market deck to be able to have better browsing capability on the iPod as well as integrate Sirius, then I wouldnt have to have all the devices bracketed to the dash. Any experience with this? I know this is whole other story!
Thanks! Gregg
ttocs on 01/14/2006 10:14:27
ford premium sound systems are not known for SU. They are more known for their $$. You can try the LOC if you want, it would not be hard. The tuner in the taurus is/was located on the back drivers side of the trunk behind the liner. IT would not require running as many wires as putting a new deck in would. When you pull the factory deck you have to run wires from the tuner package to the front.
I have done a few taurus's, but not that year. For has loved to change one small thing on each one, requiring a new kit. I remember the first time I realized the hrns's did not match between the years, metra did not even know at the time. I know of some installers online in that area that are really great installers, but you may have to pay a premium fer them. I do not know what they charge, but I have seen their work and always been inmpressed.
I also believe they are starting to advertise factory ipod controllers but they are still new.
gravinga on 01/14/2006 12:06:52
Thanks tt0cs. I agree, I have looked Metra and Scosche who appear to be the 2 major providers of dash kits and neither kits fit nor are either company providing market leadership in the area. Any good company would at a minimum be doing active research, letting you know if they have thought about the issue or if they have an opinion.
I have sent a detailed explanation of the Ford Taurus situation to both the technical departments of Metra and Scosche as well as a myriad of other aftermarket sales companys and will let you guys know what opinions I unearth directly from the companies themselves.
Its intersting how far you have to go and how much research is necessary to get what seems to be a simple question answered and it baffles me that virtually no professional installer I have contacted has any clue about how to handle this until I found this forum and you guys. Granted, I have been going to bulk bracket installers like Circuit City and Best Buy. Looks like I need to branch out to more professional outfits with obviously more money which I have been trying to avoid by finding a more cost effective solution.
gravinga on 01/14/2006 12:48:03
Here is the response from Crutchfield:
Hi Gregg,
Thanks for your e-mail, and for shopping the Crutchfield web site.
Unfortunately there are no kits or harnesses available to help with your installation in the 2004 Ford Taurus. I'm sorry I don't have better news for you there. As far as I know, there will be none offered in the foreseeable future.
Thanks for contacting us, and we appreciate your patronage.
Frank
Crutchfield Product Advisor
solutions@crutchfield.com
(800)388-2911 x3226
swez on 01/15/2006 15:53:34
Am wondering if you use the stock HU, add a D/A processor that can handle speaker level input voltages (LOC inclusive) and a Line driver w/ EQ and an AUX input, this could allow one to keep the stock HU and add key features such as EQ, mutil-line outputs, (RCA level signals for Front, Rear & sub outs) and add your own amps and speakers as desired.
One place you might try contacting about this option, is:
http://davidnavone.com/
They have a good deal of products that can be used to integrate a stock system, into a 1st rate Aftermarket performers. Contact them and see what options they can offer in this scenario.
Swez
PS This is not my strong suit. Our Pro Installers like ttocs, UKInstaller and a few others, have a better handle on these specifics. My major focus is mainly on Aftermarket Systems Integration, troubleshooting and product selections. Good luck!
ttocs on 01/15/2006 16:18:04
they will make one, only a matter of time.
all you loose is the airbag light, or is it a totally different hrns that the light is included in? If it is just an extra hrns, you can probably try to locate a bulb and hrns to plug in and leave it somewhere so at least you can check if the light is on?
I own a ranger and in the last year I have been going to some ranger forums. They know these vehicles inside and out and know what to do. MAybe do a google search for taurus forums?
gravinga on 01/15/2006 20:44:52
Thanks swez and ttocs. Ill add it to my checklist when I get ready to install. Here is some good information I got from the tech guys at Metra around the dash kit and a workaround for the Ford Taurus 2004:
METRA RESPONSE:
I do not but it depends on the service advisor you speak with or in extreme cases, your lawyer. I have dealt with dealers for many years and have been blamed numorous times for non existent claims. It's like the wild wild west when it comes to a question like this and sad to say, it's there call. There is an organization that helps the aftermarket industry and is quite powerful and helpful. I will send you a link to their website and the page you need. That should help you with unanswered questions and help in case of an extreme situation.
http://www.sema.org/main/semaorghome.aspx?ID=50096
MY RESPONSE/QUESTION:
That's good news. One last question for you Matt: do you know if installing the aftermarket unit and replacing the airbag light with a resistor could possibly void extended warranty service contracts on a car? I realize this may not be a fair question to ask you but I just wanted to find out if you hand any experience with this or heard of anyone who researched this issue or has had any experience with this.
I assume that it could likely voids the part of the contract that might repair the radio but what the main question is, is could it void the entire extended warranty contract when you make any aftermarket installation configurations. That is, for example, if we add your Metra kit could that void them honoring the warranty on perhaps repairing the transmission if goes, etc..
METRA RESPONSE:
We purposely did that to give the aftermarket radio more room when installing it. That does not change the performance of the switch and no rewiring is necessary because of it. It's for your convenience.
MY RESPONSE/QUESTION:
Thanks Matt, by the way. How would yoy handle the fact that the existing Ford Taurus Mounting kit you have has the rear defrost button on the right side but in the factory unit the rear defrost button resides on the left side. What would be your workaround recommendation for that since it is a press and release time initiated button that seems to be hard wired to the left hand side?
METRA RESPONSE:
We will be coming out with a kit in the future for the 04'-05' Taurus'. No ETA as of yet. This is what you can do until then. Seek a professional installer who is comfortable with figuring out factory wires and have him/her find the two wires which feed the airbag light. From there, find the resistance of that light and either replace the light with another of equal resistance or put on a resistor and forget about having an airbag light.
ttocs on 01/16/2006 11:17:42
I'm thinking LOC.....
gravinga on 01/16/2006 13:14:29
The Response from Scosche on their mounting kit compatibility (just goes to show you how much better of a service oriented company Metra is!):
Unfortunately we do not offer a dash kit for this vehicle as it does feature an airbag disengage switch. There is currently no ETA available on this application.
--
Jorge Barrios
Technical Support Specialist
Scosche Industries Inc.
(800) 363-4490 x154
jorgeb@scosche.com
ttocs on 01/16/2006 18:44:13
they said the same to me when I discovered the difference between the old and new kits that had the different hrns. I don't think they like to give a date as it could be wrong, and then a whole different can of worms. Some one will make it or make a go-around for it. I have installed a number of systems running off of factory radios. If you do it right you can get great sound and not have to worry about some one stealing your radio.
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