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