98 Grand Marquis Factory CD Changer

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Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=63242
Printed Date: May 14, 2024 at 1:52 AM

Topic: 98 Grand Marquis Factory CD Changer

Posted By: tronmonster
Subject: 98 Grand Marquis Factory CD Changer
Date Posted: September 25, 2005 at 12:11 PM

I got rid of my old 95 Grand Marquis at 175,000 miles and replaced it with a cherry 98 (65,000 miles---barely broken in!). The 98 has the factory Premium AM-FM Cassette, and the head unit includes controls for a CD Changer, but the car is not equipped with one.

Which factory CD Changer unit should I be looking for? What other models came with that unit?

I have checked out the wiring on the back of the head unit, and there is no empty connector where a CD Changer would connect. I am assuming that somewhere in my trunk, there is a pre-wired connector that will plug right in to the factory CD Changer. Am I correct in this assumption?

Thanks fo rsponses, in advance!

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Don't wanna hear your "boom-boom," just wanna hear my "weeee-yaaah-deedle-dee."

Replies:

Posted By: Hornshockey
Date Posted: September 26, 2005 at 12:17 AM

check with your local Mercury dealership; I'm sure the price for that changer will be outrageous. Your only other option is to go with an FM modulated changer; but there are no aftermarket pieces that will integrate with the factory HU

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Life moves pretty fast; if you don't stop and look around once in a while; you could miss it.

Posted By: tronmonster
Date Posted: September 27, 2005 at 7:34 AM

My 98 Grand Marquis has the factory Premium AM-FM Cassette, and the head unit includes controls for a CD Changer, but the car is not equipped with one.

I am thinking of finding a CD Changer on eBay. Which factory CD Changer unit should I be looking for? What other models came with that unit?

I have checked out the wiring on the back of the head unit, and there is no empty connector where a CD Changer would connect. I am assuming that somewhere in my trunk, there is a pre-wired connector that will plug right in to the factory CD Changer. Am I correct in this assumption?

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Don't wanna hear your "boom-boom," just wanna hear my "weeee-yaaah-deedle-dee."

Posted By: jstruckman
Date Posted: September 27, 2005 at 9:41 AM

You could always add an aftermarket CD changer with an interface. Look into SoundGate, PAC, Peripheral. They should have CD changer interfaces available for that car.

Jazzy

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Posted By: tronmonster
Date Posted: September 30, 2005 at 8:02 PM

Bump back to top, one more time.

Can anyone tell me if there's a cable somewhere in my trunk ready to plug into the factory CD changer? And which factory changer would work for this application?

Thanks!

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Don't wanna hear your "boom-boom," just wanna hear my "weeee-yaaah-deedle-dee."

Posted By: celent
Date Posted: October 13, 2005 at 3:22 AM

My 2002 Mercury GM has a cable in the trunk for that very purpose. According to Crutchfield, you can get a CD changer from Alpine or Kenwwod that would work with the Premium am/fm cassette so long as it has a CD button on the HU. Mine has this as well, and I may go this route as the dealer wants way too much $$$.

Here is a link https://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/ISEO-rgbtcspd/learningcenter/car/changers_oem.html

Posted By: tronmonster
Date Posted: October 16, 2005 at 9:48 AM

Thank you for the response, celent.

I've gone through the trunk, trying to find the cable----I believe it's there, but I haven't found it. As I've said, I think it's there somewhere because there are NO empty jacks or connectors on the back of the factory head unit...every jack has a connector in it. I've even removed the back seat, and no joy.

Thanks for the link. Maybe there's an answer in Crutchfield's website.

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Don't wanna hear your "boom-boom," just wanna hear my "weeee-yaaah-deedle-dee."

Posted By: celent
Date Posted: October 19, 2005 at 1:03 AM

It's amazing that the cable is so hard to find. Maybe a previous owner removed it for some reason? Maybe you can get a tech to try to find it, or wherever you bring the car for service. They should be able to trace it from the back of the unit to the trunk. You might try emailing or calling Crutchfield.

Another option is to just get one of those plastic doohickeys shaped like a cassette and plug it into a portable CD player. That's what I've been doing so far...<g>

Good luck!

Posted By: tronmonster
Date Posted: October 22, 2005 at 7:20 PM

Maybe I am not looking in the right place. Where should I find the cable? Where is the factory CD changer supposed to mount?

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Don't wanna hear your "boom-boom," just wanna hear my "weeee-yaaah-deedle-dee."

Posted By: tronmonster
Date Posted: October 22, 2005 at 9:37 PM

Posted By: geepherder
Date Posted: October 24, 2005 at 11:59 AM

When you get your interface piece, the factory Ford harness will plug into it, and the adapter will plug into your factory radio. The adapter will have an input for changer- like the M-bus Alpine 6-disc. You'll have to run the cable that comes with your Alpine changer to the back of the car (whereever you're installing your changer), and hook it up this way. This will work, I've done it before, but I don't remember what part number or anything.

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My ex once told me I have a perfect face for radio.

Posted By: cdjr
Date Posted: October 24, 2005 at 8:03 PM

If it helps any, in my 2001 the harness is on the left hand side behind the trunk lining closest to the tail-lights. There are two black plastic screw caps holding that piece of lining in place.

posted_image

Posted By: tronmonster
Date Posted: December 17, 2005 at 6:18 PM

I have the answers!

I found a factory changer and harness and a bit of help from a friendly fellow named Devin at Premier Audio, and the price was quite reasonable.

As it turns out, the CD Changer harness plugs into the factory radio unit, and the existing radio harness plugs into the changer harness. In other words, the changer harness ends up between the radio harness and the radio.

There never was an existing changer harness in my trunk...which would explain my being unable to find it!

The hardest part of the installation was getting all those connectors to fit into the recess in the dash behind the factory radio. I wrestled with it for a good while, and when I least expected it, the unit just popped into place. The rest was a piece of cake.

In case anyone needs part numbers, these are what I see on my semi-legible invoice:

Changer - 2U6F18C82AAB
Harness - XU3F14588CA

I don't know whose numbers those are, but they may be useful to anyone attempting to do what I have done.

-tm-

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Don't wanna hear your "boom-boom," just wanna hear my "weeee-yaaah-deedle-dee."