• Sign Up! To view all forums and unlock additional cool features

    Welcome to the #1 Explorer ST Forum and Explorer ST community dedicated to Explorer ST owners and enthusiasts. Register for an account, it's free and it's easy, so don't hesitate to join the Explorer ST Forum today!


Audio System Overhaul

OP
BrooseDaMoose

BrooseDaMoose

1000 Post Club
Thread Starter #81
Messages
1,601
Reactions
1,043
Points
162
Location
East Freetown, MA
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST, Silver Spruce Metalic
Thread Starter #81
MrBigglesworrth said:
Yeah, that’s not it. Hope he didn’t fry something. But that does not sound good to me if it’s not the fuse. There are two fuse boxes. If I were you I would be hoping he checked the wrong fuse.
Click to expand...
I mean, it’s possible, but I know this guy very well and he is top notch! I’ve known him for 30+ years! He does all high end stuff like Mercedes, BMW, Ferrari, etc. so he knows what he’s doing. But I guess even the best can screw up once in a while. I don’t know how because it’s pretty much plug-n-play with the ZEN. I hope it’s not the case but, if it is, he will make it right.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

M

MrBigglesworrth

Member
#82
Messages
119
Reactions
77
Points
27
Location
Florida
Vehicle
'22 ST
#82
BrooseDaMoose said:
I mean, it’s possible, but I know this guy very well and he is top notch! I’ve known him for 30+ years! He does all high end stuff like Mercedes, BMW, Ferrari, etc. so he knows what he’s doing. But I guess even the best can screw up once in a while. I don’t know how because it’s pretty much plug-n-play with the ZEN. I hope it’s not the case but, if it is, he will make it right.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
It is definitely plug and play. That simple. What doesn’t make sense is the fact you have lost your screen. That doesn’t strike me as a zen issue at all. He wouldn’t have had to mess with the screen either. All the connections are in the back. It’s not like he removed the screen and then it stopped working. He would have never touched it. So the fact that it’s dead would be concerning to me. Once again, I would triple check that he checked the correct fuse and really hope that is the issue.
 

OP
BrooseDaMoose

BrooseDaMoose

1000 Post Club
Thread Starter #83
Messages
1,601
Reactions
1,043
Points
162
Location
East Freetown, MA
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST, Silver Spruce Metalic
Thread Starter #83
So here's the update; I went to the shop and the screen is lighting up and works fine. The problem he is having is there is no signal at the A2B in the back. Even when he put the factory amp back in it doesn't work. Right now he thinks it lost communication with the ACM and needs to be reprogrammed. Either that or he did in fact fry it. But would the screen still power up and the warning chimes still work if it was fried?
 

C

Cruising68

1000 Post Club
#84
Messages
1,987
Reactions
1,405
Points
262
Location
Chicago, IL, USA
#84
BrooseDaMoose said:
So here's the update; I went to the shop and the screen is lighting up and works fine. The problem he is having is there is no signal at the A2B in the back. Even when he put the factory amp back in it doesn't work. Right now he thinks it lost communication with the ACM and needs to be reprogrammed. Either that or he did in fact fry it. But would the screen still power up and the warning chimes still work if it was fried?
Click to expand...
Strange indeed. I added a zen and bunch of amps myself and it was really plug and play simple. No need to touch the dash. Curious what he could have done. Maybe unplugging something that had power at that moment? I did disconnect the battery when I did mine.

Good luck and keep us posted.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

M

MrBigglesworrth

Member
#85
Messages
119
Reactions
77
Points
27
Location
Florida
Vehicle
'22 ST
#85
BrooseDaMoose said:
So here's the update; I went to the shop and the screen is lighting up and works fine. The problem he is having is there is no signal at the A2B in the back. Even when he put the factory amp back in it doesn't work. Right now he thinks it lost communication with the ACM and needs to be reprogrammed. Either that or he did in fact fry it. But would the screen still power up and the warning chimes still work if it was fried?
Click to expand...
I had same issue. Tiny fuse in engine bay fuse block had fried. I think it’s #127. But I could be wrong.
 

OP
BrooseDaMoose

BrooseDaMoose

1000 Post Club
Thread Starter #86
Messages
1,601
Reactions
1,043
Points
162
Location
East Freetown, MA
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST, Silver Spruce Metalic
Thread Starter #86
I checked and #115 and #127 are for the amplifier and are located in the engine bay. The ACM fuse is #32 and is located inside the vehicle. He said he checked them but would check again. I should be able to check the ACM with FORScan right?
 

M

MrBigglesworrth

Member
#87
Messages
119
Reactions
77
Points
27
Location
Florida
Vehicle
'22 ST
#87
BrooseDaMoose said:
I checked and #115 and #127 are for the amplifier and are located in the engine bay. The ACM fuse is #32 and is located inside the vehicle. He said he checked them but would check again. I should be able to check the ACM with FORScan right?
Click to expand...
When I wasn’t getting power at the nav/amp it was because #127 was blown. They are the tiny fuses. I seriously think it is just a fuse.
 

OP
BrooseDaMoose

BrooseDaMoose

1000 Post Club
Thread Starter #88
Messages
1,601
Reactions
1,043
Points
162
Location
East Freetown, MA
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST, Silver Spruce Metalic
Thread Starter #88
I just talked to him and it's definately not a fuse or a fried ACM. He said he ran a scan with his scan tool and then cleared everything. Unfortunately he didn't write down the codes first. But after clearing the DTC's he plugged the factory amp in and it played for a little while then stopped. I told him to just leave it as is and that I'd be over with my laptop. I'll see what I can find out with FORScan and post the results.
 

C

Cruising68

1000 Post Club
#89
Messages
1,987
Reactions
1,405
Points
262
Location
Chicago, IL, USA
#89
BrooseDaMoose said:
I just talked to him and it's definately not a fuse or a fried ACM. He said he ran a scan with his scan tool and then cleared everything. Unfortunately he didn't write down the codes first. But after clearing the DTC's he plugged the factory amp in and it played for a little while then stopped. I told him to just leave it as is and that I'd be over with my laptop. I'll see what I can find out with FORScan and post the results.
Click to expand...
Brutal. Something strange going on for sure.

Does the screen stay on now when the audio stops?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

OP
BrooseDaMoose

BrooseDaMoose

1000 Post Club
Thread Starter #90
Messages
1,601
Reactions
1,043
Points
162
Location
East Freetown, MA
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST, Silver Spruce Metalic
Thread Starter #90
The screen is fine. Powers up and works like it should. Chimes also work as they should. When it stops playing the screen displays "Audio Off".
 

M

MrBigglesworrth

Member
#91
Messages
119
Reactions
77
Points
27
Location
Florida
Vehicle
'22 ST
#91
BrooseDaMoose said:
The screen is fine. Powers up and works like it should. Chimes also work as they should. When it stops playing the screen displays "Audio Off".
Click to expand...
Interesting. Keep us posted.
 

C

Cruising68

1000 Post Club
#92
Messages
1,987
Reactions
1,405
Points
262
Location
Chicago, IL, USA
#92
BrooseDaMoose said:
The screen is fine. Powers up and works like it should. Chimes also work as they should. When it stops playing the screen displays "Audio Off".
Click to expand...
Hmmm. If it says audio off my guess would be something in the head unit since it knows it is not sending audio. Definitely making progress albeit slowly.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

OP
BrooseDaMoose

BrooseDaMoose

1000 Post Club
Thread Starter #93
Messages
1,601
Reactions
1,043
Points
162
Location
East Freetown, MA
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST, Silver Spruce Metalic
Thread Starter #93
I was able to narrow it down to the purple and white wires that connect the hi/low canbus wires to the ZEN. Every time I cleared the DTC's the radio would play. But as soon as I wiggled the purple and white wires it would quit and throw the codes again. I didn't have time to pull it all apart but he said he would do it later and check the connections. He has someone helping him and I guess he is the one who made the connections. He said the connections are soldered and doesn't think that's it but I was able to repeat the issue three concecutive times!
 

C

Cruising68

1000 Post Club
#94
Messages
1,987
Reactions
1,405
Points
262
Location
Chicago, IL, USA
#94
Progress. FYI my zen came with a harness so plug and play, no soldering. Got to be somewhere in those wires.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

OP
BrooseDaMoose

BrooseDaMoose

1000 Post Club
Thread Starter #95
Messages
1,601
Reactions
1,043
Points
162
Location
East Freetown, MA
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST, Silver Spruce Metalic
Thread Starter #95
Yea, I’m not sure why he had to solder the wires. I thought it was all plug-n-play too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

UNBROKEN

UNBROKEN

5000 Post Club
#96
Messages
5,395
Reactions
6,448
Points
352
Location
Houston, TX, USA
#96
BrooseDaMoose said:
Yea, I’m not sure why he had to solder the wires. I thought it was all plug-n-play too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
It is. That’s the whole point of using one.
 

B

banniar

Member
#97
Messages
62
Reactions
36
Points
17
Location
SW Louisiana
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST
#97
The harness with the CAN wires is the large 20-pin one that is mostly speaker wires. I'd left it disconnected at first, and the screen would power up but the audio would not turn on. I had to shave a key on my factory harness end to get it to fit into the socket on Zen. Maybe your installer cut wires because he didn't think the harness would plug in? How unfortunate if that is the case...
 

OP
BrooseDaMoose

BrooseDaMoose

1000 Post Club
Thread Starter #98
Messages
1,601
Reactions
1,043
Points
162
Location
East Freetown, MA
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST, Silver Spruce Metalic
Thread Starter #98
I just talked to him and asked why he had to cut the wires and he said, "That's how it comes. Those are the only two wires you have to splice." So I told him how everyone is saying it should be just plug-n-play and he got mad and said, "Maybe you should have one of those guys do it then." He said he talked to the people at Nav-TV when he fist had the problem and explained how it was hooked up and they said it was correct. I don't know know! What a shit show this turned out to be! I've known this guy for more than 30 years and he's done work for me in the past and his work is so excellent. Everything he does has to be perfect. Nothing can be just "good enough" with him. I wish I had some pic of his work so you could see. I know he will get to the bottom of this and make it right but I don't like the idea that he may be lying to me!
 

OP
BrooseDaMoose

BrooseDaMoose

1000 Post Club
Thread Starter #99
Messages
1,601
Reactions
1,043
Points
162
Location
East Freetown, MA
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST, Silver Spruce Metalic
Thread Starter #99
So after a long talk this is what I got, after getting everything all hooked up the correct way (plug-n-play), the ZEN was flashing blue and red. He called Nav-TV and they are the ones who told him to splice the wires directly. Something about resistance. Doesn't make sense to me either but that's what they said. Long story short, after having a Ford tech go over the system there is a break in one of the wires of the 21 pin harness. He was able to locate it as one coming from the ACM. So we have ordered a new harness to connect the ACM to the ZEN and hopefuly all should be good. Not sure exactly how this happens but I guess it does. The tech also pointed out that my battery was at about 54% so I'm putting in a new one. He is only charging me $185 for the battery (vs. $249 from Interstate) and installing it at no cost. I'm hoping to have it back by the first of next week. Just depends on how long it takes to get the new harness. I'll sure be glad when this is finally done!
 

C

Cruising68

1000 Post Club
#100
Messages
1,987
Reactions
1,405
Points
262
Location
Chicago, IL, USA
#100
BrooseDaMoose said:
So after a long talk this is what I got, after getting everything all hooked up the correct way (plug-n-play), the ZEN was flashing blue and red. He called Nav-TV and they are the ones who told him to splice the wires directly. Something about resistance. Doesn't make sense to me either but that's what they said. Long story short, after having a Ford tech go over the system there is a break in one of the wires of the 21 pin harness. He was able to locate it as one coming from the ACM. So we have ordered a new harness to connect the ACM to the ZEN and hopefuly all should be good. Not sure exactly how this happens but I guess it does. The tech also pointed out that my battery was at about 54% so I'm putting in a new one. He is only charging me $185 for the battery (vs. $249 from Interstate) and installing it at no cost. I'm hoping to have it back by the first of next week. Just depends on how long it takes to get the new harness. I'll sure be glad when this is finally done!
Click to expand...
Excellent. Electric gremlins are tough to track down sometimes. Good to hear you got it figured out and parts on their way. Kind of disappointing they screwed up the harness. I made wiring harnesses as a youngster and it’s just not that hard imo.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Explorer ST Posts



Top