PAC MS-FRD1 Wiring Interface

I got this and had it installed and it did not work. Not impressed

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Complicated And Unagornized Mess

Really difficult to install, instructions are unclear and doesn't seem to pair well with my sony xav -v630bt, which isn't heling the install process. It has been very frustrating and I put a after market stereo in my friends truck with out this convoluted interface. I shouldn't have to call the tech support (which I am going to very soon) the instructions aren't even instructions and there is no way for me to tell which wire to put to which since they are Different Colors and no identification for what they do. simplification and minimization is what needs to be corrected with this product to complicated and to messy

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Thought of everything

Could not have done the install without this. Made the install real easy.

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Multiple Issues

I am having multiple issues with this product. My system seems to reset at different intervals. The aftermarket HU stays on but the Sync system resets and the LCD in the dash displays "Sound Designed by Sony". I am hoping that I can get it working with some tech support. The SYNC system also seems to be intermittent.

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PAC MS-FRD1 Wiring Interface

A bit of a pain to install a little more elaborate connection details would help

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PAC MS-FRD1 Wiring Interface

Easy hookup

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PAC MS-FRD1 Wiring Interface

This is a great kit; makes integration with head unit and vehicle real easy. just follow instructions with the unit and also on line. However. I already had an idata link maestro from a kenwood install. I ended up using the idatalink unit instead of this one on my Pioneer head unit. Kenwood unit kept shutting down and rebooting. 3 years old. Nav could not update.

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PAC MS-FRD1 Wiring Interface

Straight forward. Worked well for my f1500

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Makes the install easy

Plenty plug-ins that kinda blows your mind but it's a snap to install

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I guess I needed it

Only reason I see to have this is to be able to pair phone with the Sync system, which I question if I even needed to do that.

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Utterly unusable

Me and my father and customer support spent at least 3 hours trying to get the buttons on the steering wheel to be coded into this device, but to no avail the only buttons we were able to sync are the volum buttons. I also payed extra to get this item and now it really serves no purpose. Do not buy.

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PAC MS-FRD1 Wiring Interface

As long as it works as it should paying to have installed

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has some glitches

It works, sort of. I have troubles with mine randomly turning off my radio. Somewhere the interface is having a miscommunication with the sync system in my truck. It turns the radio off at random, then the add on lcd screen says initializing.....and once I hit a button on that controller, my radio will boot back up. So I havent had the best experience with it so far, trying to work the kinks out yet.

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Good Product

The install seemed a bit daunting at first and the instructions weren't the best. However, it's mostly plug and play.

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PAC MS-FRD1 Wiring Interface

Need to have better instructions. I figured it out but Crutchfield claims they can help anybody install. The instructions they sent where to take my dash apart. Nothing more.

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PAC MS-FRD1 Wiring Interface

Easy to use lots of wires but take one step at a time

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Not the best

Install was a real hassle. The programming instruction were completely wrong. Their web site instructions were wrong. I actually had to dig through several forums on a Saturday do figure out how to program this thing. It does not retain all the steering wheel functions, most but not all. The playback through the existing Sync system is horrible. The only thing that kept me from returning everything I bought and going with something different was that the head unit that I bought had USB and Aux input on it.

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No good for 2009 F250 get the idatalink maestro

I tried 3 of these and none properly worked with the 2009 F250 with steering wheel and sync. Crutchfield let me upgrade to the idatalink maestro and it works great!

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PAC MS-FRD1 Wiring Interface

Easy install. My only issue would be how Sync interfaces and turns the radio off when you get a call or text. It does come back on when the all is over or you switch the source. The steering wheel controls are not the easiest to program. I couldn't get some of them to program.

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great

Works great east install

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Not sure it was needed.

While this product did make the installation go smoothly, once installed i wondered whether I really needed it. The only reason I chose this product was to make sure the factory SYNC system functioned. In actuality, the radio I installed (Alpine INE-W960) does everything the SYNC system does (almost). Seems like the only thing the radio doesn't do is request a vehicle health report from Ford - not a necessary item. Installing this product required placing a small display unit on the dash to display SYNC messages. This, in my opinion, is tacky, at best. I will be relocating the display unit BEHIND the dash, out of sight, and installing a separate satellite radio tuner to completely bypass the SYNC system.

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Good Product

Wiring and soldering was pretty easy. 99% is just finding the other color from the radio harness. Read The Instructions!over and over. All the information is there, I called Crutchfield for conformation of my wiring and I only had to change one wire (mute wire). Two thumbs up to there customer support. Lots Of Trial And Error. You have to Learn the set up. After learning the system I could set these things up all day.

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Good product

good product

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PAC MS-FRD1 Wiring Interface

Great product. Works great . Lot of wiring and settings but not to bad over all

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big music

Radio is awesome worth every penny, accessories not so much

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It works great.

This unit works great, it is a little mind blowing when you first open the box because of all the wires but its not a big deal, specially because crutchfield is on your side. Its pretty much plug in play once you figure it all out.

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PAC MS-FRD1 Wiring Interface

Easy

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Works well..but beware

This unit works pretty well once you get it working but the installation instructions are AWFUL and pretty incomplete. Now that I have it working I have all of the original Sync features but with a few caveats. If you are using aftermarket amplifiers, you will need to do some additional work to get voice activation to work. PAC suggests that you install a separate speaker. You can bridge into an existing speaker but I got interference. If you want to hear Sync voice prompts and you are not using the head unit amp or original factory amps, you will need to wire a speaker to the factory LR speaker harness coming out of the unit.

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PAC FRD1 for F150 FX4 with Sync

I have used PAC harness' previously but this was the most complex installation I have encountered due to the Sync System. The harness was so completely wired for this specific installation that many of my questions prior to receiving the equipment were answered simply by looking at the harness upon its arrival. Most connections I was expecting to make were already made to the extent the peripherals only needed be plugged in. Couldn't imagine doing an install without one.

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Not compatible with 2012 Ford SYNC

Easy plug and play. Instructions were conflicting regarding colour of wires used and left blank. Also conflicting information regarding the Ford setup when using the PAC steering wheel interface. These two items should've been mentioned in one sentence: "Use the Ford SW interface and you don't have to worry about which colour wires will be used in this application". I now have two Bluetooth Audio inputs, SYNC and AVHP-4400BH, for BT audio streaming. On my iPhone 4S, they show up as two separate 'Airplay' devices. SYNC automatically switches over the bluetooth, but doesn't revert it back once it's done say, taking a call. This has to be done manually. With the SYNC BT audio, since the AVHP-4400BH requires it to input through AV, the screen is black. Alternatively, I can stream BT audio through the AVHP-4400BH, but then I can't use the voice command, and resume play has to be done manually, unlike SYNC's voice command. This may not be the shortcomings of the 54MSFRD1 interface, but if you decide to buy this same setup, this unit is not entirely compatible. Other reviews may say otherwise, but this is the best setup I was able to achieve, with the help of Crutchfield's excellent tecnical support.

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I'm Glad I bought it. Mostly.

I installed this in my 2010 Ford F150 XLT Screw with SYNC. It did what is said it would. The directions were OK. When I first opened the package I nearly had a heart attack. The jumble of wires was quite intimidating. Carefully reviewing the directions and methodically making connections got me through it. I was very newrvous, but as I got into it I found it really wasnt that complicated. I installed it along with the PAC SWC PS and this made the installation of the SWC much easier, it truly is just a plug and play. No splicing or fiddling with resistors. DO cut the brown loop and connect to the radios ATT or MUTE wire. That way the Stereo wont turn off when the phone is active. Thats in the directions. The sync works like it always did, which im happy about. I prefer the SYNC bluetooth fone over my new Sony Nav BT fone. My biggest complaint and the reason for 4 stars? When I plug my iPod into the SYNC USB port I get an irritating static/crackle in the music. Ticks me off. I liked being able to use voice commands to select my tunes, but the static is so annoying I have to use the Sonys USB port for my iPod thereby bypassing the SYNC benefits! Bummer. At lwast the phone is still good!

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Good but with one BIG Issue

I took a long time reading the instructions for this unit and I also added the PAC SWI (steering wheel control) so I could retain all OEM Sync functions. I spent a good full day installing the HU, MSFRD1, and the SWI testing each one for power and function along the way. I did not want to pull everything apart again if there was a problem. On the first power up with everything installed all worked well ( did not program the SWI yet other than setting it for program 2 ). The HU itself worked as advertised and so did the MSFRD1 to include the backup cam. I set everything up and put everything back together. I was happy with the fact Sync worked just as it did before the new HU (Jensen VM9424). Steering wheel buttons worked also as advertised once programed. Now for the problem, After a few days and getting use to the new HU I was fueling up my F150 and finished, started the truck and pulled forward to the parking area, shut down the truck and went into the store to pay. When I came out and started the truck the unit did not want to come on. It still has power, if I push the reset button I can hear the beep associated with it. If I press the disk eject button a disk will eject for the HU. But the HU will not come on otherwise. After pulling apart the dash to troubleshoot I noticed that the PAC SWI module is not getting power either. I eventually unpluged ALL connectors to the MSFRD1 and checked all connections. After plugging the MSFRD1 back up the HU worked.

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sync interface

might as well take back out of car. my new stereo has bluetooth built in and to play my ipod using the hands free sync my stereo needs to be in av mode so it's a solid blue screen

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Good add-on if using Nav

The instructions are succinct but not easily understood. Some of the issues other purchasers had (like the unit shutting down when you enable SYNC) are by design, but the instructions tell you that you can disable this by cutting the brown loop on the FRD1. If you also purchase a SWC unit, make sure to NOT cut that brown loop on the SWC. I found that the aux and USB connection had a lot of noise, so I'm not using them. This might be a wiring/ground issue in my car, but it appears that the unit picks up alternator noise. Frankly, I could probably get away with only the SWC and didn't need the FRD1.

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LOVE IT!

I honestly thought adding a factory head unit to my 2012 Fusion SEL was going to be impossible, but this kit allowed me to keep full functionality of my SYNC system. As with any install, take your time, read the instructions and all will go your way!

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Good replacement

I installed this in a 2010 Focus. It retained all of my sync features just as advertised while being able to run an aftermarket head unit. I was very pleased with it. The only issues I ever really experienced were when it was extremely cold outside. It didn't want to respond when I'd push the button to activate the voice functions and would run very sluggishly and would at times cancel itself out because I'd push the button a second time not realizing that it knew I had already pushed it until it warmed up. I thought the price was a little steep, but it did everything I needed it to so I was happy with it.

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Doesn't interface with Sync as advertised.

It does a decent job but it is quarky and doesn't always work. Don't pay attention to the section that states vehicles with an external lcd display will not need the pac lcd panel. This is not true. It is the only way to access the system settings of the sync menu. [Editor's Note: After confirmation with PAC: Some vehicles (such as the Lincoln MKS, Lincoln MKT, and 2010+ Lincoln MKZ) have buttons on the OEM LCD, which allow you to not use the PACLCD. Most factory monitors will not have these buttons, and require the PACLCD.]

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Works Great

I bought this product because i wanted to retain my sync on my 2010 ford fusion. i paired this with the Pioneer Avic-Z120BT. Everything was pretty much plug-n-play. To my opinion it was an easy install.

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As Advertised

I Installed this product in a 2011 F-150. It was a simple installation with a Pioneer AVH-P3200BT 'plug and play'. The LCD screen is not used with my application, so I have no comment on that portion. Coupled with the SWC interface, the Pioneer and Sync systems perform as intended. I recommend reading the instructions thoroughly before performing install to ensure all wires are connected properly, i.e. cutting brown loop wire for mute option when Sync is enabled instead of turning the head unit off.

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Works as advertised

Installed this in my 2010 F-150, XLT, adding a Kenwood DNX-9960, with the PAC SWI-JACK for the steering wheel controls. It works as advertised. The display was intermittent but one call to Crutchfield and I had a replacement right away. The one feature that I've heard others not like (that I didn't like either) was when you turn on/enable SYNC, the Head Unit (HU) is powered off (no navigation - which was a major point of the upgrade). When you turn SYNC back off (idle mode) power is restored to the HU (and you have to go through the whole start up process again). After I little trouble shooting I found that it seems to be the vehicle computer telling the MS-FRD1 to turn the HU on and off via the radio Retained Accessory Power (RAP). To fix this and keep the HU on when SYNC is enabled, I ran power to the HU red accessory wire from the RAP fuse in the fuse box (fuse 41 in my truck - had to trim the fuse box cover) using a piggy back fuse. The HU now stays on when SYNC is on, and everything works great. I love this set up!

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Needs more work

Not what it cut out to be. PAC Audio needs to go back and re-think this. I used the MS-FRD1 for installation of a 2008 Ford Focus W/Sync without factory subwoofer. H/U is a Kenwood DNX-7100. Sync does not work properly. If U push either the Sync button or the phone button it shuts down the H/U completely. I have had to turn my vehicle off every time to get the H/U to come back on. And for the steering wheel controls, where the interface? Oh that's right it doesn't exist. So where's the additional part that has to be purchased to make it work? Only 2 stars casue the H/U works

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