2004 Marauder Stereo - MP3?

[Cordoba1]

Hello, All --

Question: In my old car, I bought an aftermarket stereo that played MP3's that were burned onto a CDR. I read somewhere that all 2004 FoMoCo vehicles with CD players would also play MP3's. I do know that if I lay down the cash for an in-trunk cd changer, 2004 model, that they will play MP3-CD's. My question to you guys that have 2004's, do the in-dash radios play MP3 CD's?

If anybody has a 2004 stereo, and they deside to swap it out, I'd love to buy it. I'd go with an aftermarket radio, but two things are holding me back: 1) I hate to mess up the "look" of the dash, and 2) I don't want a steering wheel full of buttons that do nothing.

There are kits available to make the steering wheel buttons work with aftermarket radios, but these are quite difficult to install. I'm electronics oriented, but this mod is a huge headache. If there is a plug&play kit, I'd love to know about it.

Oh -- and one rant while I'm talking about the stereo in the Marauder.. Does it irk anybody else that there isn't a "seek" button on the steering wheel? It seems like a no-brainer to me. I find myself resting the edge of my hand on the grey trim under the radio while trying to find a station I like -- and the auto seek is no better, because you still have to lean over and hit seek again to stop it.

Okay -- sorry about all that!

--Adam.

[stevengerard]

Oh -- and one rant while I'm talking about the stereo in the Marauder.. Does it irk anybody else that there isn't a "seek" button on the steering wheel? It seems like a no-brainer to me. I find myself resting the edge of my hand on the grey trim under the radio while trying to find a station I like -- and the auto seek is no better, because you still have to lean over and hit seek again to stop it.
--Adam.
yeah me too, my Suburban has it but doesn't have the fan speed only temp so.....

[SouLRioT]

I havent tried playing MP3 disks, ,but burnt CD-Rs will play. Its coastly but there is a company that has a replacement for the CD changer that puts in a hard drive in its place. PM me if you want more info.

[Cordoba1]

I don't have the factory changer -- Does anybody know if the wiring is pre-installed to the trunk?

[merc406]

What are mp3's, the real small disc's? I didn't think they made them anymore.

[SouLRioT]

I do not know if it is wired for the changer or not.

MP3's are a file format that is used by computers. A normal CD has about 25 songs on it, if it has songs encoded in MP3 format it could carry of 175 songs on the same disc.

[O's Fan Rich]

I installed a FM modulator into my system and play the MP3's in my mp3 player and my mp3/cd walkman.

[O's Fan Rich]

Question though: Does anyone know if the 04 changer will wrk with the 03 setup? If so, I'd be interested in ugrading for the MP3 direct disc play capability.

[woaface]

What are mp3's, the real small disc's? I didn't think they made them anymore.
No, MP3 is burnt onto a regular CD, but the songs are in MP3 format, instead of 15-25 songs per CD, you can have well over 100-130 songs per CD. It compresses the information without sacraficing an already degraded format (as far as I can tell).

[SouLRioT]

Question though: Does anyone know if the 04 changer will wrk with the 03 setup? If so, I'd be interested in ugrading for the MP3 direct disc play capability.I havent seen anyone state that the 04's had the MP3 capablities.

[Cordoba1]

I havent seen anyone state that the 04's had the MP3 capablities.

After pouring over Ford's website, I may have mis-remembered seeing that '04's play MP3's.

Don't you wish you could delete a thread that you (I) most likely started in error?

Based on what vehicles this: http://www.partydown.com/items/item391.htm fits, it very well may work on our cars -- but don't take my word for it -- a call to these guys might be interesting.

[Agent M79]

Naw... my '04 doesn't play MP3s.

...nor pennies... butter knives... bent up wire hangers... or saltines.

[jgc61sr2002]

I don't have the factory changer -- Does anybody know if the wiring is pre-installed to the trunk?


It is not wired. You need the wire harness. About $100.00.

[purelux]

I have seen in dash mp3 cd and mp3cd/tape am/fm in dash ford decks on ebay they seem to go for around 250-300 brand new out of vehicles. I also saw the 6 disc indash ford decks that play mp3's as well for the same price. While aftermarket decks could obviously outperform a factory deck most times. I would personally rather get a higherend factory deck and good quality speakers rather than tempt a theif. If not enough oomph get a 4channel amp with high level inputs and you can amp from a factory deck. But many times I think a descent factory deck with good speakers would give the sound quality most people are looking for and think that an afterarket deck is necessary to provide. If they only installed the speakers first there would be alot less decks sold.

[CRUZTAKER]

With todays technologies one can put any radio in the Marauder and STILL have the buttons on the steering wheel work. If you have the cash, anything is possible.

Me, I'm leaning toward DTS 7.1 :rock:

[mrogerc]

With todays technologies one can put any radio in the Marauder and STILL have the buttons on the steering wheel work. If you have the cash, anything is possible.

Me, I'm leaning toward DTS 7.1 :rock:


I have the steering wheel control converter installed in my '04 to run my Kenwood head. It workes quite well, but is a bit slower to control than the OEM unit. Also, it required drilling a hole above the radio for the LED transmitter.

[Cordoba1]

Yeah -- I saw those units that basically turn your steering wheel into a wireless remote control -- not quite as easy as a harness "Plug & Play".

[rookie1]

Hello, All --


If anybody has a 2004 stereo, and they deside to swap it out, I'd love to buy it. I'd go with an aftermarket radio, but two things are holding me back: 1) I hate to mess up the "look" of the dash, and 2) I don't want a steering wheel full of buttons that do nothing.

There are kits available to make the steering wheel buttons work with aftermarket radios, but these are quite difficult to install. I'm electronics oriented, but this mod is a huge headache. If there is a plug&play kit, I'd love to know about it.

Oh -- and one rant while I'm talking about the stereo in the Marauder.. Does it irk anybody else that there isn't a "seek" button on the steering wheel? It seems like a no-brainer to me. I find myself resting the edge of my hand on the grey trim under the radio while trying to find a station I like -- and the auto seek is no better, because you still have to lean over and hit seek again to stop it.

Okay -- sorry about all that!

--Adam.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39747&item=5703676885&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

There is a scan function on the radio that might help your seek problem.

[Cordoba1]

If it were on the damn wheel, but it ain't! That's my major complaint.

[dwasson]

I installed a FM modulator into my system and play the MP3's in my mp3 player and my mp3/cd walkman.

Are you happy with the sound of the FM modulator?

[Cordoba1]

Are you happy with the sound of the FM modulator?

I know you were quoting Rich on this one, but I use a modulator with an MP3 player, and am mostly happy with the sound -- What you loose in fidelity is already lost by that sweet, sweet tone coming from the tailpipes!

[AtomHeart]

www.phatnoise.com (http://www.phatnoise.com/)

That basically equates to about a 1000 disc changer with the MP3's burned at very high bitrates.

Can anyone here tell me the part number on the 2004 Marauder head unit? I would REALLY be thankful.

[O's Fan Rich]

Are you happy with the sound of the FM modulator?
Sorry I'm late.
I bought a Kenwood unit from Crutchfeild, and it works good. One issue, when I switch players ( I have Sony Walkman MP3/Cd disc player and a RCA Lyra MP3 Jukebox) I need to readjust the levels with the roller thingy on the side to get the sound clear again.
Otherwise its great.
And I installed it in my glove box, for easy access, using velcro.

[purelux]

There are actually available modules that allow steering wheel controls to function on a non stock radio. Which I was looking into before I was able to get a radio identical to the one in my brothers 2000 moutaineer. It should be possible to retain the controls as long as they made mp3 decks which had steering controls they would be the same as a non mp3 ford deck with steering controls. And since mp3 would be on the higher end decks they should be out there its just a matter of making sure the one your getting is capable. I would check radiosandmore to check and see what you need to look for when getting one.


With todays technologies one can put any radio in the Marauder and STILL have the buttons on the steering wheel work. If you have the cash, anything is possible.

Me, I'm leaning toward DTS 7.1 :rock: