It is my assumption that there are aftermarket companies (one member referred to Blitzsafe and Soundgate) who are creating a wiring module to open up the AUX function. Anyone have any info about this?

 

Just did a search on google for Blitzsafe and Soundgate.

I doesn't appear that www.blitzsafe.com has anything available for 04 Ford. Just 03 and previous.

Soundgate however has one for those with cd changer http://www.soundgate.com/products/do...tion/index.htm and those without http://www.soundgate.com/products/aux-in/ford.htm .

Looks like I might try the one when I get my truck.

 

Those aren't for the 04 either. The 04 uses a entirely different system from any other ford vehicle that I have found. It uses controller area network technology. All new vehicles are required to use this by 2008. I found some similarities between the lincoln ls's radio system, but I not sure if it is the same.

Adam

 

fx4triton is correct. the only product to date that utilizes the aux input is the dvd. it does have aux inputs.

aftermarket wire harness suppliers are working on something but it will be more than jsut a wire harness . as fx4triton mentioned the "CAN buss" is a sophisticated protocol to control the radio aux input and other features.

Ramb

 

Rambunctious,
I was wondering if you could tell us what the other features etc. are that are controlled by CAN buss. What more information does it pass besides the audio and video? In short, what was the thought process behind going to it? Thanks.

 

I'm just a mechanical engineer, not a "sparkie"
but the can buss sends control signals between the DVD and radio head. there are still audio leads (wires) between the two devices

the can buss logic allows the radio to turn on the dvd player, play, FF, Rewind, Skip, select, etc the dvd chapters, it lets the DVD remote control tune the radio, or the buttons on the DVD to tune the radio. It allows the front passenger to hear the radio, and the rear passengers (through headphones) hear the radio's CD, etc, etc. it let's the radio know for exaple when you loadede a dvd, and switches automatically to Aux (D VD) input. jsut some examples.

there are other protocols (like ACP, MOST) that use some of the same wires to carry both audio and logic signals. but the CAN buss is a more secure protocol that is used in other industries like office communication, etc. it jsut transmits signal (instruction sets)

I don't know if the CAN buss is used elsewhere in the vehicle, only that this technology is used for this audio control

and that's all I know about that

hope that helps


Ramb

 

Thanks, that helped alot. I was just looking for some background. Thanks again