Hi,

Brand new to hybrids as my wife and I just purchased our 2006 FEH. Loving the SUV so far!

My wife primarily drives the car and she is wanting to use bluetooth, her iPod, and satellite radio. I am having trouble finding what receiver I could purchase to replace the stock 6 disc CD changer that is currently installed. The unit DOES NOT have the navigation system in it.

Crutchfield told me it was impossible to replace the stock 6 disc changer with anything because it (the stock unit) controls the hybrid's information regarding the electric motor, the MPGs we get, etc. This didn't sound quite right but they said I would do damage to the vehicle by replacing the head unit.

Can anyone share their experiences/thoughts on this and whether or not this is correct? I've never heard of a radio/CD changer controlling anything other than the volume coming out of the speakers.

Thank you in advance for any help.

 

Modern day cars have a built in "network", datalink, wherein all electronic components, "body electronics", "talk". That may well include the OEM radio/cd player. The radio control panel may be a simple pushbutton/display set with the entire radio functionality located elsewhere, in the CD player for instance, with the communication/control between the two parts/components multiplexed over the datalink network.

 

No, absolutely false. You can install any aftermarket radio without messing anything up. Lots of people have installed upgraded navigation radios in the 2005-2007 Escape Hybrids.

 

If anyone has installed these units, I'd like to hear which unit they installed and if they noticed anything different at all.

 

This is a Kenwood DNX7100 unit via 2007 era. It replaced the old "Mach" unit that came with the vehicle. Significant improvement. One can even add overhead drop down display without any issues: