2000 Ford Taurus - problems adding Kenwood CD changer

I'm trying to add a CD changer (Kenwood KDC-C719 with a P.I.E. FRDR/PC-KNN interface purchased through Crutchfield) to a 2000 Ford Taurus SES with CD changer controls on the factory dash unit. So far, I have been through 3 of these interfaces and none of the seem to want to work. The first interface I used would supply power to the player, but the car's radio would not recognize the CD player (the dash unit would show "No DJ," when pushing the CD button). The second interface that Crutchfield sent I could tell was defective without even installing it in the car - several of the wires in one of the the harnesses were loose. I just went round and round with the third interface today - this one wouldn't supply power to the CD changer, but the dash unit showed that it was recgonizing the presence of a CD changer; and there was also a clicking noise comming through the speakers (almost the same rythm as a horse running) when the CD button was selected - infact while working with the third interface, I had to go back and hook up the first interface (the one with power but no communication) inorder to get the CD magazine from the player).

First question, is there any hope that the Kenwood CD changer will work with my car? I am thinking that it will and that my problems are with these interfaces as the first interface supplied power (I could hear the motors as the player would take in the magazine and pull out the first CD to play) and with the third interface the radio recognized that a player was there, but the player had no power. Will I just have to keep trying new interfaces unitll I get one that works? (this is starting to become a problem as I started on this project 2 weeks ago and in 2 weeks, I will be taking the car on cross country road trip, so I won't be able to keep sending interfaces back and forth to Crutchfield for much longer).

Second, is there another brand of interface that will work with the Taurus and the Kenwood CD changer? Obviously, I am thinking that the company (Precision Interface Electronics, IIRC from the box) that makes these interfaces has some serious QC issues.

Third, if I can't get the Kenwood to work, are there any other brands of CD changer that I could try that can be connected to the factory stereo (and not the type that use RF modulators to play through an FM frequency)?

Thanx,

Paul

Reply to
Paul
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Just food for thought.....

You do realize that if you had paid the same price at a local car audio shop, you would have been done by now?

Crutchfield is no cheaper then any local store should be. Having someone to talk to, face to face, is a much better option.

Reply to
Masterson

Did you follow this procedure to get the RCU to recognize the changer?

1: Turn the car on (or ACC) 2: Set the radio to AM or FM (not TAPE) 3: Turn the radio OFF (push volume knob) 4: Turn the car OFF 5: Turn the car back ON (or ACC) 6: Turn the radio ON 7: Try the CD button

I have an AudioVox unit in my 2000 Sable. It's a 10-disk changer, and works fine. Other than an occasional NO DJ message (fixed by following above procedure), it works fine. I bought it from

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Did you already have the changer and just wanted an adapter, or did you buy both at the same time?

Reply to
Andrew Rossmann

changer?

I followed something similar that Crutchfield e-mailed me when I tried the first installation.

I bought them both @ the same time. But given the problems with these PIE adapters, I am curious as to if anyone else makes these type of adapters.

Reply to
Paul

Can you return what you have? AutoToys has the 10-disk for $234.95 (changer with adapter.) A 6-disk is $229, and a used 6-disk is $167.

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Even though the dash display says disk 1-6, it will actually work with any number of disks.

Reply to
Andrew Rossmann

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