I just finished installing my ovrhead console!!! It was pretty easy, a bit time consuming and just plain HOT!!!

Email me w/ questions.

Here are a series of pics during install...
This is obviously the bare roof.

Here is where I tapped my dome light wires for the console map lights.

Here is where I ran some wires... If it wasnt so damn hot, I would have wrapped up nicely in tape!!!

Here is where I mounted my sensor... Note the piece of ice, I was testing the temp readings... It works!!!

Here is the console testing in the cab before wrap-up and clean-up!!! Notice the temp, 97 degree and that was w/ the ice... It was reading 101 earlier!!! OUCH!!!

That looks SWEET!! I can't wait to get mine installed this weekend!

Thanks for the pics.

Chuck

Hey Fonzy. Believ it or not i almost got mine hooked up the same way you did yours, except the sensor. There is nothing hard about it. That looks sweet. I only got one silly problem. My sensor is located in the console, so when the sun beats down on the roof it shows around 115F instead of 85F, but I can relocate the sensor no problem. At least I know which direction Im going now. Haaaa ha.
Those pictures couldn't be any simpler and clearer
That looks PHAT.
GOOD JOB.
AND I GOTTA ADMI IT IF IT WASN'T FOR KEVIN I WOULD STILL HAVE MY HEADLINER AND CONSOLE SITTING IN MY GARAGE.
:nuts: :nuts: :nuts: :nuts: :nuts: :nuts: :nuts: :nuts: :nuts:

You know what though... My console doesnt know where east is... lol

Is has i'm either going W, SW, NW... Worst part is when I know I'm definitely going E, is says W...

Any ideas!!!

Could there be a problem with a compas, or have you tried to drive in every direction. And how old is the console, and when you got it was it pretty dirty, or dusty or anything of that type. I would try to take the brain apart and clean inside that might help. Thats if you want to mess with it.

That looks Great!!! I would love to do that sometime!!

Hey Fonzie, did you calibrate your compass after the install? If not, that's why it is 'confused'. The way to calibrate it (as with most digital compass') is to drive around in a circle...no, don't go out and do donuts, although that might be fun!!! :nuts:

Get the console in the calibration mode. You do this by pressing and HOLDING the 'mode' button from the power off point. (You can press 'mode' and cycle through *F, *C and OFF.). The display will come up and say 'VAR'. This is to set the temperature variable...basically, it compensates for speedometer error (NOT to be confused with the VSS, but if you have changed read-end gears, added larger tires, etc. Keep in mind that this unit, the electronics anyway, is used in everything from a basic explorer with 15" wheels, to an Expedition with 17" wheels and a number of different gear ratios.) and I believe the default is 4. Once you do that the display will flash, and then 'CAL' will be lit up. At this point drive very slowly in circles (about 1.5 times). This allows the compass to find 'magnetic north' and set everything else accordingly. You know it is done when 'CAL' goes off. The compass is now calibrated and should be reading right. :beer:

Now that that's done...Can anyone help me with the temp sensor??? Mine is reading 84* no matter what I do!! :er: If I disconnect the sensor completely the temp display flashes between 'ICE' and '-40*' so I know the sensor is being 'seen' by the unit (the wiring is correct). I know the sensor is working (not sure it is working *properly* though) because I can take the sensor, hook it up to an ohm meter and put a hair dryer to it and watch the resistance change. Is the 'brain' dead in this thing?

As a side note, I have not been able to locate the wires for the VSS. I measured the voltage at the VSS sensor (A small sensor in the top of the differential) and am getting a +5VDC signal (+5VDC represents a logic 'HI' in the world of computers). The only place you can get a +5VDC signal is from the computer. I tried to trace this back to the coomputer but to no avail. I don't believe that this will lock up the temp readings therefore I don't think it is related to the problem I am having above.

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance....

Sorry this is so long! Chuck

HI GUYS, I AM NEW TO FORUM. I INSTALLED THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE BUT SOMETIMES MY TEMP SENSOR STAYS ON TEMP READING FROM MORNING AND DOES NOT CHANGE AS DAY GETS HOTTER.

Chuckn2000 your sensor is not hookeu up it happen to me too when i was hooking it up to the battery and forgot to plug wires into the sensor check your connections:confused:

HOAGMAN make sure your sensor is working you might have to check connections too:confused:

MB2300, thanks for the info however, I have checked and re-checked the connections so many times I can hook one of these things up in my sleep! :cussing:

The truth has finally shown it ugly head and here's the low-down...

I checked, side by side, with another temp sensor (thanks to Donnie a.k.a., Stinger) and have determined that my sensor is good. The problems lies in the 'brain' of this thing. It gets to a certain point and locks up. In other words, if I substitute the sensor for a variable resistor (decade box) and adjust the value up and down, the display moves up and down. However, it gets to a point where it just stops responding and locks up above a certain resistance. Diagnosis...it's brain dead, mystery solved. I'm going to confirm this by swapping out the console with another one but I have a feeling that I gotta go out and try to find another console (brain) or attempt to fix this one! :cussing: :bawl: :confused:

Chuck

Chuck, did you have a chance to find out if its the brain that's bad?

Fonz,

Did you hook up the Speedometer Temp wire?

Its the one that somehow splice's into your speedometer to compensate for the Temp while at speeds.

If did, how

if didn't, never mind :E

Nah, I've looked, looked and looked... I ahven't noticed a difference at all, so I don't think I'm going to!!!

Originally posted by Kevin Pate
Chuck, did you have a chance to find out if its the brain that's bad?

I haven't been able to determine if it's bad or not yet. I'm hooking up with 'Stinger' one night this week to do a quick swap. He just installed his this weekend and he said his is working fine. I'll know more by the end of the week.

If it is bad, I guess I'll put it on the bench and see if I can figure out what is bad with it. Shouldn't be all that complicated of a circuit. The biggest problem I think I'll see is that everything is burned on one IC (chip).

Thanks for checking and I'll let ya know.

Chuck

Hey guys...

Welp... got mine installed too... as Chuck just said... seems to be working fine... when the sun peeps out tomorrow I will be able to realy test it...

Got something for you... the VAR setting is not for the Temperature... its for the Compass... so you can micro adjust the settings... try it.... you'll see... Point your truck (say) due west... then adjust the VAR to 1... it will say "SW"... then adjust the VAR to 15 and it will say "NW".... then send it back to around 6-8 and it should go back to "W"... give it a shot... Each truck has a different electrical signal which will through off the setting... so you might need to setup yours at a different setting... but I just thought you guys would like to know!!!

Well... Here is a pic of mine!! :-) also note the Auto-Diming mirror and hard wired Radar Detector that I installed at the same time!! :-)

Laters...
Donnie

Man that is clean!!! Nice job...

I LIKE!
If I am not mistaken that came of a late model explorer right?
If not what?
I am also curious are their space I could drill and install toggle switches for offroad lights?

Hi,
Yes that is from a late model Explorer... 1999-2000....
Yes I think you could put switches up there... I plan to... I have a set of Oakleys that wont fit into that small sunglass holder... and i dont have a garage door opener either.... so rite now that compartment is not gonna be used... I plan on adding a piece inside and mounting switches in there... :-) it will take some work... but i think it can be done!
Hope that helped...
Donnie


Originally posted by bjielsl
I LIKE!
If I am not mistaken that came of a late model explorer right?
If not what?
I am also curious are their space I could drill and install toggle switches for offroad lights?

Well you guys got me totally interested. How much did you guys pay for your overhead consoles? Heh I guess im not the only one with the offroad lights idea.

I think 99% have found them at the yards!!! Some cheaper than others. I can get my hands on a tan colored console, w/ bracket and sesnor for $81, shipped.

The tan could be painted if need be!!!

Let me know.

Hey Donnie, that install looks great! How much did you get the mirror for? The mirror I got came out of a '95, its a looks a little more boxxy, I think they probably changed them in '98....

And about your dimmer wire, you have a few options to go with on that one :)

Anyone know how much a temp sensor is? Just the temp sensor. I found a really good price on just the console, and it doenst have teh sensor. Fonzie I think I might be interested in that tan one in like 1-2 more weeks, would you still have it on you then? So if I buy the one you have woudl you be able to write me some directions no how to install and include it in the package :)

Sure, it easy pretty simple better yet, the directions are on this board under (2) posts.

The General Discussion board & Interior boards

did u guys have to put the rear veiw mirror in along with the console?
also is there anyway to hook up the gas milage sensor with the rangers ?

they look really nice guys mine is in the work

Donnie, u got that dimming mirror working?

Did u hook up the headlight turn out option???

Let me know how u like it, thx!!! And how the install was???

Originally posted by Fonzie
Here is where I tapped my dome light wires for the console map lights.

Man that **** got me for a while when I did mine, I though that both screws when into the light but only one does and I could not figure out how to put my light back up for a while I figured it out though.