I like the overhead console in the 90's Explorer trucks. But how does one hook it up in a truck that did not come with one ? What about the outside temp, how does it get a reading ? Thanks !!!!

 

You can find how to's here and on therangerstation.com it will explain everything. Just use the search. If you're looking to buy one, I have a tan/black one for sale in the classifieds along with some dome lights.

 

as for the outside temp reading, you need to have the sensor on the outside, and get it wired into the cab
Explorer overhead console & lighted visor mirror installation in a Ford Ranger

 

Buy one from this guy^^^^

Then spend the time to create your own harness to wire it all in nice and clean. Dewey provides you with all the pieces (console, plug with enough wire to solder/heat shrink your harness to, and the temp sensor). Sure, you can piece this all together from Ebay, but when your done buying it all, plus the shipping, Dewey's complete "console package" is the same in price.

Using the "how to" article Dewey memtions, it's all there. I ran the sensor from the passenger side front radiator/body panel (there's a hole to snap the sensor into) to tha cab. I'd strongly suggest using solder and heat shrink tube over the electrical crinps, as they can get moisture/water into the connectors over time, affecting the reading of this temp sensor.

As to the remaining wires that route from the console to the dash (radio dimmer lead, radio power and ground, and VSS sensor from the GEM module), I measures about 11 feet of wire to allow for neat routing from the headliner to the A pillar, down the A pillar to the foot well panel, then over to the center dash area where the GEM and Radio harness are. At this point, I used the automotive "quick splices" to tap off of the radio and VSS connection.

Two wires of 2 feet 2 inches from the console plug to the back center dome light of the rangers exisiting overhead light will also be needed to connect the new consoles map lights and courtisy lights to.

I used electrical tape to wrap the entire harness (yes, all 11 feet to the center console, and the 2 feet to the overhead dome light) so that it was all clean looking and protected.

As to wire color coding, I could not find 6 different colors, so I used red for power leads, black for grounds, white for the VSS lead, and dark blue for light leads. I tagged eack end using tie wraps that have a plastic square on their head, that allows you to use a sharpie pen to lable each wire as to it's function.