Audio Systems: Installing an XM Ready MP3 player in my Ford Taurus, car stereo installation, cd mp3 player

Question
Cody,

I have a factory CD player in my 2001 Ford Taurus that I don't like. I want to replace it and do the work myself. I currently have one of those Pioneer XM receivers I bought about two years ago and had installed at Circuit City. The receiver is in my trunk and I have never looked at it and I don't know its model number. The controller is attached to my headliner above my rearview mirror. The XM unit broadcasts on FM. It works well. I decided to look for a new CD player that plays mp3's and chose the Pioneer DEH-P4600 In Dash CD/MP3 player partly because it is XM ready. I have spent $232 so far for the stereo and the new faceplate. I'd like to keep my costs as low as possible. I would like to know where I can get step by step instructions to ease the pain of installing it myself AND it would be awesome to be able to hook the Pioneer XM receiver in the trunk to the new Pioneer player. Can you help? I am pretty handy with tools and wiring, etc., but haven't done a lot of car stereo installation and this one seems complicated given the presence of the satellite receiver. Thank you very much, Cody.

Answer
Frank,

 ok start out with what you will need for your head unit install .. go by radio shack and buy a dash install kit * about 10-15 bucks* and a wire harness adapter *8-12 dollars* .. these are vehicle specific so have one of the salepersons help you find the right one .. the dash install kit will help mount the new unit into the stock location where you factory unit is and also it has the full instructions on the removal of the old unit and the install of the new one .. now the wire harness adapter will wire into your new units harness color for color or the wires will be labled .. this will then plug into your factory dash plug DO NOT CUT the stock plug .. ok this has your head unit installed or almost there when you hook up the adapter harness you should see some wiring that feeds the XM unit in the truck you shoudlnt disturb this with your install if they did it correct it should be on the main harness so everything should work right and no need to mess with the XM unit it will still function as it did with your stock head unit ..now you said the cd player was XM ready if you want to take advantage of this just simply follow the instructions with the pioneer that will tell you where to hook everything up .. hope this helps you out if you need anything else let me know

thanks