This weekend my I was able to get my iPod hooked up to the McIntosh.
I found and used the 415-003 tools, and am going to post some hopefully helpful tips here. Some of this has been covered, but this forum is so great I feel the need to give something back. (I was going to take pictures, but my garage was so damn hot I just wanted to get the job done - sorry.)
1 - Find the tools - This took time, so if you want to borrow mine send me a PM with your address. I'll be shipping them out tomorrow to Sharp33 with a return envelope. We can chain the tools around the country and save you a bunch of phone calls to Ford Parts (and $20.00!)
2 - Lay down a towel over the console. Don't skip this unless you want scratches.
3 - The side pieces do NOT come off to the sides, they come off straight out with a clip on the top and the bottom. After trying many things I used the thin part of the S tool that comes with the kit to pop the bottom and then the top off. Do not worry about scratching the top or sides of the pieces, you can't see them when it goes back anyway. A little force is required, but the pieces seem pretty tough.
4 - When using the removal tools - That look like some odd Klingon weapon - make 100% sure that you put them on the OUTSIDE of the metal spring that you can see on each side of the radio. Think far left for the left, far right for the right. On my right side the clip was bowed out and prevented the tool from going in. Simple pressure with a screwdriver fixed it.
5 - I hooked up my iPod with this cable iPod Cable for two reasons - It uses the main connector of the iPod, so it is line level output (cleaner, no headphone amp, no iPod volume control) AND it charges the iPod while the car is on.
6 - Power Power Power - The wiring diagrams in the shop manual refer to a harness that is way up the chain. They did not match the back of my radio at all. Using a volt meter I found two +12v lines going to the radio. They are both on the left side of the connector. The one I used was yellow and black.
DO NOT TAKE MY WORD FOR IT - GRAB A VOLT METER AND CHECK
I stripped the wire about one inch back from the connector, wire wrapped the + line around it, quick drop of solder and some electrical tape. I hooked the ground strap to a screw right by the connector.
7 - Fishing - I fished the wire out the front hole - I wanted to go back farther, but without drilling the firewall it wasn't going to work. I bought a hard plastic case for my iPod to prevent scratches and dropped it in the little pouch on the side.
8 - Finishing - PUT THE TRIM PIECES ON FIRST and ease the radio back in until it clicks in place.
9 - Play Bob Seger's Heavy Music (or one of your other 10,000 songs) so loud in the garage that the wife comes out and says, "I can see you are finally done with that damn project." :cheers
Hope this helped someone - Sorry again for no pictures.
Feel free to PM me your address if you want in on the tool progressive mailing.
Erick
I found and used the 415-003 tools, and am going to post some hopefully helpful tips here. Some of this has been covered, but this forum is so great I feel the need to give something back. (I was going to take pictures, but my garage was so damn hot I just wanted to get the job done - sorry.)
1 - Find the tools - This took time, so if you want to borrow mine send me a PM with your address. I'll be shipping them out tomorrow to Sharp33 with a return envelope. We can chain the tools around the country and save you a bunch of phone calls to Ford Parts (and $20.00!)
2 - Lay down a towel over the console. Don't skip this unless you want scratches.
3 - The side pieces do NOT come off to the sides, they come off straight out with a clip on the top and the bottom. After trying many things I used the thin part of the S tool that comes with the kit to pop the bottom and then the top off. Do not worry about scratching the top or sides of the pieces, you can't see them when it goes back anyway. A little force is required, but the pieces seem pretty tough.
4 - When using the removal tools - That look like some odd Klingon weapon - make 100% sure that you put them on the OUTSIDE of the metal spring that you can see on each side of the radio. Think far left for the left, far right for the right. On my right side the clip was bowed out and prevented the tool from going in. Simple pressure with a screwdriver fixed it.
5 - I hooked up my iPod with this cable iPod Cable for two reasons - It uses the main connector of the iPod, so it is line level output (cleaner, no headphone amp, no iPod volume control) AND it charges the iPod while the car is on.
6 - Power Power Power - The wiring diagrams in the shop manual refer to a harness that is way up the chain. They did not match the back of my radio at all. Using a volt meter I found two +12v lines going to the radio. They are both on the left side of the connector. The one I used was yellow and black.
DO NOT TAKE MY WORD FOR IT - GRAB A VOLT METER AND CHECK
I stripped the wire about one inch back from the connector, wire wrapped the + line around it, quick drop of solder and some electrical tape. I hooked the ground strap to a screw right by the connector.
7 - Fishing - I fished the wire out the front hole - I wanted to go back farther, but without drilling the firewall it wasn't going to work. I bought a hard plastic case for my iPod to prevent scratches and dropped it in the little pouch on the side.
8 - Finishing - PUT THE TRIM PIECES ON FIRST and ease the radio back in until it clicks in place.
9 - Play Bob Seger's Heavy Music (or one of your other 10,000 songs) so loud in the garage that the wife comes out and says, "I can see you are finally done with that damn project." :cheers
Hope this helped someone - Sorry again for no pictures.
Feel free to PM me your address if you want in on the tool progressive mailing.
Erick