Axxess FRST User manual

© COPYRIGHT 2004-2010 METRA ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
1-800-221-0932 axxessinterface.com
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR PART FRST
The FRST interface is for 2007 and up Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury
vehicles equipped with RSE (Rear Seat Entertainment), Sync,
or THX or any combination of the three to retain these features,
plus retain the OEM satellite radio (viewed through external LCD,
supplied) if so equipped . Also the FRST can retain the OEM
steering wheel control functions as long as the aftermarket radio
has a steering wheel control input. THE FRST also PROVIDES
a MUTE, PARKING BRAKE, VSS OR SPEED SENSE, and a
reverse output to make installing an aftermarket navigational radio
simpler and less time comsuming.
*Read Important Warning On Page 1
Before Attempting Any Installation*
NOTE: *compatiable with non amplifi ed and amplifi ed sound systems
*Sync or thx is not retained when replacing oem navigation radio
(Will not retain THX or SYNC in OE navigation models)
APPLICATIONS
FRST
FORD
Edge 2008-up
Escape 2008-up
Expedition 2007-up
Explorer 2008-up
Explorer sport trac 2008-up
F-150 2009-up
Five hundred 2006-07
Flex 2009-up
Focus 2008-up
Fusion 2007-up
Taurus 2008-up
Taurus x 2008-2009
LINCOLN
Mark lt 2007-08
Mkx 2008-up
Mkz 2007-up
Navigator 2007-up
MERCURY
Mariner 2008-up
Milan 2008-up
Montego 2006-07
Mountaineer 2008-up
Sable 2008-09

INTERFACE COMPONENTS
TOOLS REQUIRED FOR INSTALLATION
•A) FRST Interface •B) 4 pin harness with stripped leads •C) 20 pin harness with stripped leads
•D) 22 pin to Ford 24 pin harness •E) Female 3.5mm connector with Brown and Brown/White wires
•F) LCD Screen
•Cutting Tool •Tape •Crimping Tool •Connectors (I.E. butt-connectors, bell caps, ECT…)
A B C
D
F
IGNITION
TERMINALS
WIRE
CUTTER
M3.5
M2.6
M3
M5
M4
ISO
6
2.5
1.5
4 pin 20 pin
E

WIRING CONNECTIONS .............................................1-3
INSTALLING THE FRST ..............................................4-5
THE LCD SCREEN ..........................................................6
PROGRAMMING THE SWC .........................................7-9
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
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Log onto www.installerinstitute.com or call
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technicians
TABLE OF CONTENTS

*IMPORTANT: BEFORE BEGINNING ANY OF THE
FOLLOWING, DISCONNECT THE NEGATIVE BATTERY
TERMINAL TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENTAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
WIRING CONNECTIONS
FROM THE 20 PIN HARNESS:
• Connect the Red wire to the ignition/accessory wire of the aftermarket radio
• Connect the Orange/White wire to the illumination wire of the aftermarket radio. If
the aftermarket radio has no illumination wire just tape off the Orange/White wire.
• Connect the Blue/White wire to the amp turn on wire of the aftermarket radio.
• Connect the Brown wire to the mute wire of the aftermarket radio. If the
aftermarket radio does not have a Mute wire, tape up the Brown wire.
• The Black/Yellow wire will not be used in this application.
FOR NON-AMPLIFIED SYSTEMS:
• Connect the White wire to the left front positive speaker output of the
aftermarket radio
• Connect the White/Black wire to the left front negative speaker output of the
aftermarket radio
• Connect the Gray wire to the right front positive speaker output of the
aftermarket radio
• Connect the Gray/Black wire to the right front negative speaker output of the
aftermarket radio
1

2
FOR AMPLIFIED SYSTEMS:
• Connect the White rca to the left front low level output of the aftermarket radio
• Connect the Gray rca to the right front low level output of the aftermarket radio
• Connect the Green rca to the left rear low level output of the aftermarket radio
• Connect the Violet rca to the right rear low level output of the aftermarket radio
The following wires are for the aftermarket radios that have navigation built in:
• Connect the Green wire to the parking brake wire of the aftermarket
navigation radio
• Connect the Blue/Pink wire to the VSS or speed sense wire of the
aftermarket navigation radio
• Connect the Green/Purple wire to the reverse wire of the aftermarket
navigation radio
FROM THE 22 PIN HARNESS:
• Connect the Black wire with the ring terminal to the back of the aftermarket
radios chasis
• Connect the 3.5mm jack to your aftermarket radios steering wheel control input
(if equipped)
NOTE: If using an Eclipse or Kenwood radio, use supplied female 3.5 adaptor
FOR KENWOOD RADIOS:
Connect the Kenwood SWC wire (normally Blue/Yellow) to the Brown wire of the 3.5
jack. Isolate and tape the Brown/White wire, it will not be used.

3
FOR ECLIPSE RADIOS:
Connect the Eclipse SWC wires (Normally Brown and Brown/Black) to the Brown
and Brown/White wires of the 3.5 jack. Brown goes to Brown and Brown/White goes
to Brown/Black.
FROM THE FORD 24 PIN HARNESS:
• Connect the YELLOW wire to 12 volt constant wire of the aftermarket radio
• Connect the BLACK wire to the ground wire of the aftermarket radio
• Connect the BLUE/WHITE wire to the aftermarket radios amp turn on
FROM THE 8 PIN SUB/CENTER RCA HARNESS:
• Connect the WHITE RCA to the aftermarket radios SUB output
• Connect the RED RCA to the aftermarket radios CENTER channel output
(if equipped)
FROM THE 8 PIN RSE/SYNC/SAT RCA HARNESS:
• Connect the WHITE and RED RCA to the aftermarket radios AUX input
FROM THE 16 PIN 3.5 RCA HARNESS:
• Connect the WHITE and RED RCA to the AUX input of the aftermarket radio
(this is only used if vehicle is not equipped with SYNC/RSE/SAT and has the
factory 3.5mm jack)

4
INSTALLING THE FRST
1. With all the connections completed, plug the 22, 20, and 8 pin harnesses into the
FRST.
2. Reconnect the negative battery terminal.
3. Plug the 24, 16, and 8 pin FORD harnesses into the vehicle side harness, and
plug the aftermarket radio harness into the aftermarket radio.
4. Cycle the key by turning the ignition on then back off, then back on again to test
the radio.
VOLUME ADJUSTMENT
To adjust the chime volume, use a small screwdriver to rotate the potentiometer,
located on the 8 pin harness side of the interface, closest to the edge of the board,
clockwise to make the volume louder and counterclockwise to make the volume
softer.
POTENTIOMETER

5
SELECTING SYNC/RSE/SAT/DVD/AUX:
With the ignition on, and the aftermarket radio on (Make sure radio is in AUX mode):
(NOTE: Not all vehicles have all sources factory equipped)
Press and hold the Media button on the steering wheel for 2 seconds. This will switch
to the next available sources in your vehicle. Each time the media button is press
for 2 seconds the source will change. The sequence of sources are, SYNC→R.S.E.
(rear seat entertainment) →, Satellite radio, AUX, DVD. Pressing the media button
for 2 seconds again will take you back to SYNC. To temporarily disable SYNC/
RSE/SAT/DVD/AUX, press and hold the media button for 3 seconds. To turn it
back on press the voice button or press media for 2 seconds. There will be a visual
conrmation of what source you are in from the provided LCD screen. This screen
will also provide satellite and SYNC information.

6
THE LCD SCREEN
The LCD screen will allow you to navigate through factory installed SYNC, R.S.E.
(rear seat entertainment), aux, and satellite options. It will also allow you to view the
current source and any information that may be available.
1
2
3
4
5
1. Channel up: Allows channel up function in satellite or SYNC’s USB mode
2. Channel down: Allows channel down function in satellite or SYNC’s USB mode
3. Select/Enter button: Selects current item on screen
4. Escape/Exit button: Exits to previous screen
5. Screen: This is where your source conformation is viewed. Along with showing
any information that SYNC or factory installed satellite provides.

7
PROGRAMMING THE SWC
After all connections are made, turn ignition on and wait fteen seconds. After that
time period test SWC functions.
REMAPPING THE SWC BUTTONS
Let’s say you have the FRST programmed to your vehicle and your radio and you
want to change the button assignment for the steering wheel controls. For instance
you would like Seek Up to be Mute.
This process is the same as manually programming the FRST (please refer to the
Manual Programming section) with a couple of notes:
• The FRST must have detected the vehicle and radio it is attached to before you
can remap any buttons.
• You can only start the remapping of the steering wheel controls process within
the rst 20 seconds of turning the ignition key on. If you wait longer then the 20
seconds you will have to turn the ignition off then back on again.
• Within the rst 20 seconds if any button other then Volume Up or Volume Down
is pushed, the remapping process will stop.
• If during the remapping process no button is pushed for 30 seconds the
remapping process is aborted and the original settings are reset.
SO LET’S BEGIN THE REMAPPING PROCESS:
1. Ideally having the FRST visible is recommended since you can see the led
ashes to conrm button recognition.
2. Turning off the radio is recommended
3. Within the rst 20 seconds of turning the ignition on, press and hold down the
Volume Up button for at least 25 seconds.

8
4. The led will light up solid red. Release Volume Up and the led will go out. Volume
Up has now been programmed.
5. Follow the list below in order however pushing the steering wheel control button
you want for the function below. If you want to skip a command press the
Volume Up on the steering wheel, this will tell the FRST to skip the command
and go to the next one.
1. Volume Up
2. Volume Down
3. Seek Up/Next
4. Seek Down/Prev
5. Source/Mode
6. Mute
7. Preset Up
8. Preset Down
9. Power
10. Band
11. Play/Enter
12. PTT (Push To Talk)
13. On Hook
14. Off Hook
15. Fan Up
16. Fan Down
17. Temp Up
18. Temp Down
* Note: Remember not all radios will have all these commands. Please refer to the
radios’ owners manual for specic commands recognized by the radio.
For instance the next command to be mapped is the Volume Down command.
Let’s say you want the Mode button on your steering wheel to be the Volume Down

9
command. Hold down the Mode button till the led lights up solid red, and then
release it. Now your Mode button on the steering wheel is Volume Down.
6. After the last button is programmed on your steering wheel (you do not have to
go through the whole list), hold down the Volume Up button for at least 10
seconds then the led will go out.
Or
After the 18th button is programmed or skipped the led will go out and the remapping
is completed.
RESETTING OR FORCING AUTO LEARN ON THE SWC
If for any reason after remapping the steering wheel controls you want to go back to
the Original steering wheel control settings, follow these steps:
• After 30 seconds of turning the ignition on, press and hold the original Volume up
button for at least 30 seconds
• The led will blink rapidly
• Release the Volume Up button and wait until the led goes on solid
• After the led goes off the original steering wheel control settings will be restored
IF FOR ANY REASON AFTER REMAPPING THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS
YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL STEERING WHEEL CONTROL
SETTINGS, FOLLOW THESE STEPS:
1. Within the rst 20 seconds of turning the ignition on. Press and hold down the
original Volume Up button for at least 25 seconds.
2. The led will blink rapidly
3. Release the Volume Up button and wait until the led goes on solid.
4. After the led goes off the original steering wheel control settings will be restored.

NOTES

NOTES

NOTES

REV. 4/28/2010
1-800-221-0932 axxessinterface.com
© COPYRIGHT 2004-2010 METRA ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR PART FRST