Question about the factory installed cassette stereo.
About a year ago I bought a 2001 Ford Focus sedan. With it came a factory installed cassette stereo. On the stereo is a "CD" button, when pressed the message "NO CD" is shown on the screen.
What is the purpose of the "CD" button? There is little information in the manual. I'm thinking of upgrading to a CD player.
Thanks for any help.
Rob
What is the purpose of the "CD" button? There is little information in the manual. I'm thinking of upgrading to a CD player.
Thanks for any help.
Rob
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Comments
Have a look at these links for adapters and complete systems. This is very common; no need to spend mega $$$ for the factory changer.
http://www.installer.com/adapt.html
These two companies sell adapters too but stinkin' WebX won't let me post the links:
http://www.crutchfield.com
http://www.sounddomain.com
Nothing more than a 30 second Google search. Something *anyone* could have done....
http://www.mnrelectronics.com/index.html
Thanks again for the help!
Rob
you don't want to splice, cut, mangle, and tape a new unit in. if you can't scare up a mod kit to wire another brand unit up, get one at crutchfield.
in fact, I think it is an excellent idea to start a modification project by going to www.crutchfield.com and see what is a direct physical fit into your dash... they will also be glad to sell you the proper wiring adaptor for anything that will fit.
they can even scare up a compatible CD changer for your car at a better price.
If you do go in-dash, the CD player is a direct plug-in. Literally remove and unplug the cassette unit and plug in the CD unit. Should take you about 20 minutes. Any car stereo installer on the planet can do this in a matter of seconds, it's that easy.
I found a Ford Focus CD player/radio at Ebay. In fact, it's soon to be in the mail on it's way to my car. ($77.00 for the sale and it's shipping.)
You say it's easy to remove the factory installed cassette player and replace it with a new one. I can see that the wiring would be easy to deal with, plug and play, eh, but how do you physically remove one of these radios from the dash? Are there some hidden screws under the dash? Some more in the four small holes in the front of the radio? How do you attach a new one?
I can imagine the radio would slip in like the CD burner did into my computer, that it would "clip" in some sort of rail. Am I right?
Thanks for the help!
So I'm ignorant,
Bob
The wiring is a no brainer...all the connections are on a plug that should unplug from the cassette radio and just plug right into the CD. Then its just slid the new unit in till it locks and its done.
Suggest you give Crutchfield and call and ask about buying the tools or check with a local stereo place who can probably pop your old radio out in 2 minutes.
FDIII
You are correct about the "plug & play"; prolly just one Molex connector and an antenna connector is all it will be.
If you don't feel up to tackling this job then I'd suggest taking it to Best Buy or Circuit City and letting them install it. They likely have the correct tool to remove the current stereo. Watch them do it and you'll see how easy it is. Install shouldn't cost more than $30-40 and should not need an install kit.
Best of luck.
comes in pairs... push 'em in until they click, push them outward a little, the radio slithers right out when you pull.
Thank you for all the information you've sent these past several days. I've learn a lot!
Today I went to Best Buy, Circuit City, G I Joes, K Mart and finally Walmart.
Walmart had the "DIN Radio Removal Tool", 2 sort of "U" shaped dealy-bobs with notches on the ends. Cost $3.97.
There is a warning included in the box they came in: " CAUTION: Some vehicles may have a "Code Protected" radio. If these types of radios are to be re-installed you must have the code or the unit will not operate."
My fingers are crossed that Ford Focus radios aren't coded.
Thanks again for all the help!
Bob
if you park in a rough enough neighborhood that you have to frequently replace the radio and/or the dash, there is something to be said for wiring a grenade to the door and the pin to the brake pedal... slow the crack fiend down enough so the cops can catch 'em, don't you know. won't mess up the interior much more than a wild-head who breaks in and doesn't find a good radio, anyway.
I've got the techique down for removing and installing the radios, I think, but just curious... Is it necessary to undo the car's battery before doing performing these "duties"?
Duh... this dude ain't no mechanic! LOL!
YMMV
LOL!
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Thanks again for all the instruction a couple weeks back. You all taught me well.
I finally got the Ford Focus CD player in the mail today. It had to be cleaned up. Once cleaned, I found the nerve to install it. Slipped them "U" shaped DIN removal tools into the slots, heard them "click" and pulled the old radio, (with cassette deck), right out. There were three cables attached. I unattached them and plugged them into the new stereo. Pushed the "on" button and voila`, it worked!
The next item to tackle is the console. I found one with an arm rest on Ebay last week. I should get it next week. Wish me luck!
Thanks again guys!
Bob