Help me identify two cables?! w/pics

ke4unr

ke4unr

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Our '04 LS was pre-owned, but as far as I can tell it is factory stock. However, I have discovered these two cables in the trunk and am wondering what they might be for. They're located Passenger side, just behind the rear seat and tucked away behind the carpet/trim. I've never had A/V gear in any of my vehicles, but I'm thinking it might be for something like that (?).

Anyway, the details: One cable has a 6 pin Molex connector and is about 20' long. There are 5 conductors - red/pink/green/blue/black. The black goes to ground; red is tapped to red in the factory harness and pink is tapped to green with white stripe also in the harness. Both have inline 5 amp fuses.

The other cable has a 13 pin DIN connector and is about 10' long. It appears to be routed toward the front of the cabin, but I haven't yet found where.

I shot a few photos that hopefully will help.

Any clues?

Thanks,
Ray K.

100_4876.jpg


100_4878.jpg
 
fastmark1993 said:
yeah it has something to with car audio. the 13 pin cable looks like an atenna cable for a deck
Click to expand...

antenna cables are coaxial, 1 center pin with a shield layer around it.

its definitely aftermarket, most likely what frog said, the smaller plug looks like a power connector (that's why its tapped into power wires for the car, one constant and one accessory with fuses) and the other looks like a signal and control cable (some pins carry the sound signal from the unit to the deck or fm modulator and the others carry the control signals from the deck or fm mod to the source unit)
 
Thanks for the good guesses so far, please keep them coming as I'm curious about this.

It could be for a CD changer, but I've not found anywhere that a mount was installed. I wouldn't think you would want a changer sliding around and such.

I'm also not sure about the DIN connector being part of an antenna system.

I can see it carrying audio/video and control for whatever electronic device it's for.

Another thing that puzzles me is why the length of the cables were left so long? It almost seems as if this could be for a portable DVD player to be used in the cabin - surely in the backseat and maybe the front.

Thanks,
Ray K.
 
ke4unr said:
It could be for a CD changer, but I've not found anywhere that a mount was installed. I wouldn't think you would want a changer sliding around and such.
Click to expand...
There are plenty of places you could mount a CD changer without leaving obvious signs. Notably, you could use the stock mounting points for the factory Sirius unit or for the THX Nav system's DVD drive (both are on a plate behind the driver's side trunk liner). You could also do what I did with the Alpine changer I installed in my Explorer, and velcro it to the carpet behind the seat.
 
SoonerLS said:
There are plenty of places you could mount a CD changer without leaving obvious signs. Notably, you could use the stock mounting points for the factory Sirius unit or for the THX Nav system's DVD drive (both are on a plate behind the driver's side trunk liner). You could also do what I did with the Alpine changer I installed in my Explorer, and velcro it to the carpet behind the seat.
Click to expand...

To be painfully accurate...
The nav's four channel amplifier mounts behind the driver's side liner. The nav's DVD drive mounts under the center of the package tray.
 
we could guess all day, but that doesn't change the fact that you dont have the devices that used the cables so it really doesn't matter what they went to.

pull them out, throw them away, and call it a day :)
 
joegr said:
To be painfully accurate...
The nav's four channel amplifier mounts behind the driver's side liner. The nav's DVD drive mounts under the center of the package tray.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the detailed info. I'll have to take a closer look when I get back in town.

I did take a quick peak and saw what looked like an amp under the center of the package tray. (looking at it from the rear seats in the cabin) At least it had aluminum cooling fins, so I assumed it was an amp. I'm guessing it is for the factory subs back there? I don't have the Bose system that was available that year, but the 13 speaker system.

If this turns out to be for a CD changer, I doubt I will fool with it anymore. I can load 6 CD's in the factory head unit, which is usually plenty for me.

But, if it turns out this is for a DVD/Nav system, then I might research getting one, hoping the cables are hooked up correctly.

I guess I ought to trace the DIN cable, which appears to be headed toward the front of the cabin. I'd like to see if it terminates into the head unit or if there is a modulator/interface box.

Thanks,
Ray K.
 
ke4unr said:
Thanks for the detailed info. I'll have to take a closer look when I get back in town.

I did take a quick peak and saw what looked like an amp under the center of the package tray. (looking at it from the rear seats in the cabin) At least it had aluminum cooling fins, so I assumed it was an amp. I'm guessing it is for the factory subs back there? I don't have the Bose system that was available that year, but the 13 speaker system.

If this turns out to be for a CD changer, I doubt I will fool with it anymore. I can load 6 CD's in the factory head unit, which is usually plenty for me.

But, if it turns out this is for a DVD/Nav system, then I might research getting one, hoping the cables are hooked up correctly.

I guess I ought to trace the DIN cable, which appears to be headed toward the front of the cabin. I'd like to see if it terminates into the head unit or if there is a modulator/interface box.

Thanks,
Ray K.
Click to expand...

Yes, the subwoofer amplifier does mount under the package tray. I don't know of any LS with a 13 speaker system. The two upper end systems were 12 speaker (non-navigation) and 10 speaker (THX navigation).

It looks like an aftermarket CD changer cable to me. It does not look like aftermarket navigation at all.
 
i checked my car and it seems to be the power and data connection for the factory dvd drive for the NAV system.
 
Sorry, meant 12 speakers! Unless we want to go the way of Spinal Tap and claim mine is 1 louder...right? :rolleyes:

Yes, a CD changer is what I was thinking all along. Just being wishful, I guess that it was "more."

Thanks very much for your help!

Ray K.
 
chocolat1701 said:
i checked my car and it seems to be the power and data connection for the factory dvd drive for the NAV system.
Click to expand...
chocolat, we must have posted at the same time.

I was willing to go with joegr's assessment, but I really appreciate you taking the time to check your LS - thanks!! Interesting news to say the least!

Thanks,
Ray K.
 
tomorow i will confirm it was kinda dark in the trunk but if i followed the wires correctly yup thats what its for.
 
chocolat1701 said:
i checked my car and it seems to be the power and data connection for the factory dvd drive for the NAV system.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but you are dead wrong. Those don't look anything like the connectors to the DVD nav in the trunk! They also clearly are not factory. Factory wiring does not use crimp on splices and in-line fuses. It's aftermarket, no question.

Factory navigation for the LS.
1. Has ten speakers. No center console speakers.
2. Has the navigation head unit.
3. Has the DVD drive in the trunk.
4. Has the subwoofer amplifier in the trunk.
5. Has the four channel amplifier in the trunk (on the side) for the eight other speakers.
6. Has a special rear view mirror with microphone.
7. Has different radio buttons on the steering wheel.
8. Has a GPS antenna in the dash.
9. Has a different wiring harness than the non-nav LS.

The connector to the drive is 24 pins.
 
Sorry about the Bose slip-up. I'm on vacation this week and apparently my brain is also.

There was another system available though, I believe...am I thinking of THX?

Btw, I'm vacationing just "down the road" from joegr - The Grand at Point Clear.

Thanks,
Ray K.
 
ke4unr said:
You sure about this? A cankerzam or muntranami maybe, but I didn't think a flux capacitor was available for this make/model/year.
Click to expand...

It was a dealer option that usually came with the vinyl/cloth roof, but on rare,rare ocassions, fords "back to the future team" AKA B2F (you would have a badge that says that) would sneak one out of the top secret proving grounds and install them on random LS's at dealers across the nation.

Only one other person had this top secret mod, and he hooked it up, drove 88mph, and we never saw him again...:confused:
 
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