- First Name
- Wesly
- Joined
- May 4, 2021
- Threads
- 8
- Messages
- 66
- Reaction score
- 196
- Location
- Arlington, TX
- Vehicle(s)
- '21 Bronco OBX; '11 Armada; '02 Tahoe Z71; '91 XJ6
- Your Bronco Model
- Outer Banks
- Thread starter
- #1
It can be done.
I buckled down and bought the sound bar that Ford is pushing (the JBL BB4000). It looks to be plug-n-play out of the box, because it uses the same connectors as the factory rear speakers. But, once you buy it, the installation instructions tell you to take it to the dealer after installing, so that the computer can be "flashed" to accept the sound bar.
I connected it up anyway without flashing it, and it sounded just like the factory rear speakers - high end unimpressive sound. I then took it to the dealer who "flashed" it for free. Then it performed like you would expect the sound bar to sound - full range and full of great sound.
Curious about this "flashing" business - just for kicks - I unplugged the sound bar and plugged back in the factory speakers I had removed - and viola - full sound range from the little factory speaker pods.
I don't know why it comes from the factory with limited rear speakers that way - but clearly it is intentionally limited.
To "flash" the audio, the sound bar instructions say you must have the FDRS software ACM (audio control module) to perform the "Audio Front Control
Module (ACM) Software Update." The trick then is - find out how to do that (or get the dealer to do the flash) without buying the sound bar.
The good thing is that I was able to tap into the rear speakers (instead of running wires all the way up to the front kick panel speakers) to add my subwoofer.
With the sound bar I've got the range all around and with a sub I'm done.
STILL - I wonder if I would have needed the sound bar if I could just broaden the range of the rear speaker pods.
Anyway - if this hasn't been posted before (I didn't find it - sorry if this is a repeat)- there's the answer.
I buckled down and bought the sound bar that Ford is pushing (the JBL BB4000). It looks to be plug-n-play out of the box, because it uses the same connectors as the factory rear speakers. But, once you buy it, the installation instructions tell you to take it to the dealer after installing, so that the computer can be "flashed" to accept the sound bar.
I connected it up anyway without flashing it, and it sounded just like the factory rear speakers - high end unimpressive sound. I then took it to the dealer who "flashed" it for free. Then it performed like you would expect the sound bar to sound - full range and full of great sound.
Curious about this "flashing" business - just for kicks - I unplugged the sound bar and plugged back in the factory speakers I had removed - and viola - full sound range from the little factory speaker pods.
I don't know why it comes from the factory with limited rear speakers that way - but clearly it is intentionally limited.
To "flash" the audio, the sound bar instructions say you must have the FDRS software ACM (audio control module) to perform the "Audio Front Control
Module (ACM) Software Update." The trick then is - find out how to do that (or get the dealer to do the flash) without buying the sound bar.
The good thing is that I was able to tap into the rear speakers (instead of running wires all the way up to the front kick panel speakers) to add my subwoofer.
With the sound bar I've got the range all around and with a sub I'm done.
STILL - I wonder if I would have needed the sound bar if I could just broaden the range of the rear speaker pods.
Anyway - if this hasn't been posted before (I didn't find it - sorry if this is a repeat)- there's the answer.
Sponsored
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