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Stereo base 4.3" head unit upgrade: Ideas? Plans?***

aggieStang

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Hey aggieStang,

Did your monitor come with a sync module attached to the back? Also, did your headunit come from a mustang or another vehicle?
The monitor came with the sync unit. That is the only way the plugs were interchangable. Im sticking with the stock audio unit because my research all pointed to that part behaving indepentantly from the screen.
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zackmd1

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The monitor came with the sync unit. That is the only way the plugs were interchangable. Im sticking with the stock audio unit because my research all pointed to that part behaving indepentantly from the screen.
Got it. So your research as pointed to the user interface being contained in the lcd screen and not in the headunit. All the headunit is doing is sending information and status updates to the screen?
 

aggieStang

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Got it. So your research as pointed to the user interface being contained in the lcd screen and not in the headunit. All the headunit is doing is sending information and status updates to the screen?
From what i read on a bunch of forums (focus, stang, f150, etc...) the brains are in the screen. My main clue to this was due to the fact that you could unlock nav by sending someone just your screen. Next clues came from readi g about some looking at part numbers and testinf done one a focus. He was saying the cd player/radio and even the symc module behaved as extensions to mft. So long story short, the two parts i narrowed the brains down to are the screen and the sync module.

Again just a theory, but it seems ford has become fond of making interchangable modules. Lucky for us they cheaped out and put a lot of the same parts in premium/base and also in other vehicle lines. This theory will be tested tomorrow evening. Until then i get to speculate and sit in anticipation.
 

zackmd1

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From what i read on a bunch of forums (focus, stang, f150, etc...) the brains are in the screen. My main clue to this was due to the fact that you could unlock nav by sending someone just your screen. Next clues came from readi g about some looking at part numbers and testinf done one a focus. He was saying the cd player/radio and even the symc module behaved as extensions to mft. So long story short, the two parts i narrowed the brains down to are the screen and the sync module.

Again just a theory, but it seems ford has become fond of making interchangable modules. Lucky for us they cheaped out and put a lot of the same parts in premium/base and also in other vehicle lines. This theory will be tested tomorrow evening. Until then i get to speculate and sit in anticipation.
What would make sense to me is that the sync module contains the necessary components for sync 2 MFT. The sync module basically is a small computer running windows embedded OS. If you look at this teardown video where they add navigation they are interfacing with the touch controller between the screen and sync. The question comes in whether or not the sync module will power on because of different signals coming from the headunit.

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zackmd1

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Notice here all they did was replace the sync module...

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If this is true then we can get an OEM touch screen very easily on a base model. GPS might be a different story because the gps antenna and sd card attach to the headunit. One of these addon aftermarket kits though would probably do the trick.

If your climate controls still don't work then we can just make a bezel to add the screen in front of the base models circuit board to retain the base model controls.
 

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aggieStang

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Ok you have changed my mind. I never saw the inner workings of the screen. The brains have to be in the sync module. I still think the base head unit will be fine at the cost of gps.
 

zackmd1

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Ok you have changed my mind. I never saw the inner workings of the screen. The brains have to be in the sync module. I still think the base head unit will be fine at the cost of gps.

Like I said, my worry is the programming on the base model unit... Since the 4.3" screen has it's own connector separate from the sync system then I am wondering if you plug up the new module to the base wiring if it will have the signals needed... It might require some repining of the base model sync connector to reincorporate the wiring being sent to the 4.3" screen.
 

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I see what you mean. Well i may just up my cost by another $100 and grab a head unit. All this waiting is killing me
 

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I see what you mean. Well i may just up my cost by another $100 and grab a head unit. All this waiting is killing me
Haha tell your wife to get home ASAP! We are all waiting. I am almost inclined to think that if you just deconstruct the 4.3" connecter then you can re-pin the OEM sync connector with the 6/8 wires from the 4.3" screen. You would have to have a wiring diagram of both a premium and base though to do this.
 

aggieStang

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Well that is what im going to spend my waiting time doing. I may just go buy the service manual tonight. I have a diagram of some of the audio stuff, but i think it is only the speakers.
 

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Well that is what im going to spend my waiting time doing. I may just go buy the service manual tonight. I have a diagram of some of the audio stuff, but i think it is only the speakers.
Yea I hear ya... It would be extremely nice if the base OEM sync connector contains all of the necessary signals for the new module. A true plug and play OEM option for around $300.
 

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zackmd1

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dfrost

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The screen is available from Rostra, as well as several china companies. Ford has it listed as discontinued. One site showed the ACM the same Ford number between base and preium and another showed different...no figure. Meant to call Ford today, got busy.
I didn't order one for a Focus, I'm installing one for someone. It's at the shop, but I'm not. Will look at it tomorrow hopefully.
From all my reading, and limited knowledge in this area-mind you, I believe your correct in saying the screen decodes the info....more or less...
The one I ordered I believe, pending it even shows up, will be a larger touch screen, with a GPS module attached. Everything else will use factory equipment, programing ect...
I did let Amazon know and fwd them the email about saying out of stock.

Iceman2733
Did tomtop ever get back to you? Sent me a reply stating they would need two days before shipping but had several in stock.
On a completely different and positive note: got the bracket for my 4pot rear Brembos finished... :)
 
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dfrost

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Difference between nav and reg 4.2 screen.
Question is, is the 4.2 missing the ACM? And that's what's behind the screen on the 8".
Screenshot_2015-08-17-17-59-32.webp
Screenshot_2015-08-17-18-01-10.webp
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