CD player

How does a CD changer hook up to a factory stereo on a 1997 Ford Explorer Sport?

There is no simple plug in?  I want to control the CD changer with my factory head unit. There are only two wire harnesses on the back of the stereo.  One is the power, ground and, etc.  The other has like twenty wires in it and I already know that 8 of them are for the speakers.  Also, some of them would be for the rear seat stereo controls.  It is so that the rear passengers can control the radio.  Maybe some of the wires are for a CD changer,  but I bought the vehicle without a CD player / changer.  What are the other 12 wires for?  Am I stuck with buying a different head unit (aftermarket)? 

Unless your truck came with the factory CD changer option, the Ford factory radio will NOT have CD changer controls built in.  Ford sells at least four versions of every year's factory head unit and the one installed in your truck is dependant on the original options ordered.  They are not universal.

Your best bet would be to add an FM modulated CD changer with stand-alone controls. 

If you want to keep that "factory original" feeling, you could probably order the factory original head unit with the CD changer option through www.fordpartsnetwork.com or www.radiosandmore.com, but expect to pay in the vicinity of $700 or more for this.  I highly recomend that if you have $700 to burn, there are FAR better solutions than ANY factory OEM equipment!  But the option is there.

Cheers.