XM Roady2 installation in my 2004 Ford Taurus

I am also told this has been used successfully to install Sirius Satellite radio in a Ford Taurus
and for using an iPod in a Ford Taurus

Congratulations! If you have a Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable you are very lucky because you can easily install an XM Radio with superior CD quality sound without FM modulators, cassette adapters or wires everywhere. You need no special skills, but you will need to invest money in some adapters, a mount and a tool. It is well worth the investment.
You have the receiver, why not do it right?

Click on photos for larger image

Direct Connect to the Radio

Believe it or not, your radio is in the trunk. This makes it easily accessible to directly connect to it. Take the covering off of the left side, and pull it aside. There are little fasteners holding it in place. Connect the The PIE Adapter (P.I.E. part number FRDR-AUX) to the radio's CD Changer port as shown in the directions that come with it. In the photo below, the P.I.E. adapter is the small black box, and the car radio is the big metal box. The PIE Adapter connects to a 6" RCA Y-Adapter Cable and this connects to a 20' Stereo Extension Cord. The end of this cord connects to the Roady2 (later). The trunk covering is shown back in place in the place in the other photo. top

Antenna Placement

I bought the replacement antenna because it is slightly smaller than the one that came with my Roady2, and also so I can use the original antenna when I use a different car. I bought touch-up paint at Pep Boys to match my car color. The color code of the car is printed on the label on the door jam. It is 2 letter code, mine was TS. I painted the antenna, and ran the wire under the molding along the roof and down the back window, into the trunk.
Here, don't do what I did. I drilled a hole in the metal under the molding into the trunk. I ran the wire through the hole, put that little plastic wire protector around it, and sealed the hole with caulking material. It is fine, but I learned from another user a better way.
Better way: After running the wire across the roof and down the back window, gently lift the molding in the center of the trunk and file a small groove with a round file. Tape over the groove so you don't harm the wire, run the wire between the groove and the molding, and place the molding back in place. My antenna wire just made it all the way to the dash, so don't leave much slack in it. top

Running the Wires

Run the antenna wire along the inside of the trunk down the side and meet up with the audio wire in the back of the trunk. I ran both wires (the antenna, and the audio cable from the P.I.E. adapter through the trunk into the back seat and under the tread molding. The run it along the back of the driver seat. Be careful it doesn't get caught up in the seat movement. My Taurus has the center console that folds up to allow another passenger. Go between the seats and under the center console frame. Remove the change and you can easily thread the wires under the lip, and along the under side of the console. This is a good place to store extra slack in the audio wire.See picture. The next part is important. Using a wire snake, or just a wire coat hanger stretched out, pull the wire under the carpet all the way to the edge of the carpet under the dashboard. top
Don't be afraid, it is very easy.

Dashboard Mounting

Here is where you can put the icing on the cake. Invest in the Ford Dashboard Removal Tool. Just stick both tines of both tools into the four holes in the dash until in snaps in. Gently pull the radio face until it comes out a bit. Then feed the antenna, audio, and now the power cable through the space. In this example, I am just using the cigarette lighter power adapter. More on power later. Tie any loose wires under the dash with tie wraps.
Again, don't be afraid to remove the radio, it is easy and goes right back in.

Now, the wires are sticking out of the space between the radio and the dash. Here is where I decided to use the ProClip mount in conjunction with a mount that came with my Roady2. The clip was expensive ($30 plus shipping!) but is is made specifically for the Taurus, requires no permanent altering of the dashboard, no glue, no screws, no drilling into the dash. And it is extremely stable. I say "splurge for it" I mounted the ProClip per the instructions, and then I stuck the XM mount on the ProClip. Be careful not to cover the screws of the ProClip with the XM Mount. No need to block an AC vent, and the passenger still has plenty of room.
Plug the three wires into the Roady, and you are done. Congratulations! top

Feel free to send me your comments:

(you are not able to click on it, to fight the spam I have been getting)

Parts List
Pie Adapter P.I.E. part number FRDR-AUX
6" RCA Y-Adapter Cable
20' Stereo Extension Cord
Mount ProClip Taurus Angled mount
Pro-Fit Ford Din Radio Removal Tool
Optional
Replacement Mini-Micro Antenna (So you can use your Roady in another car)
Delphi Replacement DC Power Adapter (Same reason as above)
Car touch-up-paint for antenna (It is a very nice touch)
Add-a-circuit Something like this
Lighter adapter
Roady2 Remote Control

top

Note about power: I tried to use the add-a-circuit and power off the fuse box, with a power adapter to accept the cigarette lighter adapter. I couldn't get it to work. Perhaps my ground wasn't good. Then I learned that with the add-a-circuit you can't put the cover back on the fuse box. I decided to just use the cigarette lighter adapter and snake it through the dashboard. That is fine because I still have another cigarette power port in the Taurus.

One last note. I recommend the remote control. You can scan channels, jump between channels and scan your pre-sets. It is great.