Update to HD Radio - Correct ACM?

[NeuroDawg]

I miss HD radio so much that I am going to buy a second-had ACM and swap it out. But it appears there are many different part numbers for the same ACM in recent model-year F150s.

Does anyone know if part #ML3T-18K810-FDE will work in a '23 Lightning. I've seen on this forum that part # ML3T-18K810-FEE works, and pictures of both look the same, and both were made in Mexico.

The ACM ending in FDE is the part number for a 21-23 F150 Lariat King Ranch.

WhThe part ending in FEK is a year newer, manufactured in late 2022, but has only two fakra connectors.

I would imagine they are the same or simunit, but was hoping someone could give me confirmation before I drop a couple hundred dollars on the unit.

Thanks.

edited to add: what about part # ML3T-18K810-FEK? This one is a year newer, manufactured in late 2022, but has only two fakra connectors, rather than the three seen on FDE and FEE parts.

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[bmwhitetx]

According to the spec sheet HD radio was standard with Lariat and Platinum (B&O sound system). You’re the first I heard wanting it on lower trim here. If you don’t get any responses I suggest looking on the ICE forums for folks who may have updated their ACM without having B&O.​

 

[chl]

I found a local installer who can swap them out. They use the VIN to look up the specifics of the truck you have so they can program the new ACM to match your vehicle's spec when they put it in.

The ACM itself is about $600 and then install about $400, they quoted me.

If you plan on a DIY, then you need to get up on ForScan so you can program it correctly.

 

[jbirdzee]

Did you get this resolved? I know it's been a while since your post.

I added the HD radio to my lightning, but I used the -FEE version. It looks like there are more of those available on eBay. There is one on there this evening for $150 (Search for item #204846049414)

I think if you see the HDRadio logo on there in the pictures you'll be good to go. There are a few different versions of the ACM including diversity receive antennas.

Near as I can tell - I think you'd want to make sure it has the A2B port on the back - that's used for all of the B&O systems with the rear amplifier

(you don't need to use the port - I am just saying it's another way to identify the B&O ones.) The ACM still has speaker level outputs that you would turn on with Forscan. When I upgraded I:
1. Read out the As-Built of my ACM with forscan and saved it
2. Installed the ACM with HD Radio. I only used one of the three antenna jacks on the back. One is (I believe) diversity antenna and the second one is for a satellite radio antenna which my truck doesn't have.
3. Overwrote the replacement ACM with my as built ACM data that I saved from #1.
4. Made sure the radio worked the way it used to.
5. Enabled HD Radio with forscan. I had used the spreadsheet from Livinitup.

 

[21st Century Truck]

Did you get this resolved? I know it's been a while since your post.

I added the HD radio to my lightning, but I used the -FEE version. It looks like there are more of those available on eBay. There is one on there this evening for $150 (Search for item #204846049414)

I think if you see the HDRadio logo on there in the pictures you'll be good to go. There are a few different versions of the ACM including diversity receive antennas.

Near as I can tell - I think you'd want to make sure it has the A2B port on the back - that's used for all of the B&O systems with the rear amplifier

(you don't need to use the port - I am just saying it's another way to identify the B&O ones.) The ACM still has speaker level outputs that you would turn on with Forscan. When I upgraded I:
1. Read out the As-Built of my ACM with forscan and saved it
2. Installed the ACM with HD Radio. I only used one of the three antenna jacks on the back. One is (I believe) diversity antenna and the second one is for a satellite radio antenna which my truck doesn't have.
3. Overwrote the replacement ACM with my as built ACM data that I saved from #1.
4. Made sure the radio worked the way it used to.
5. Enabled HD Radio with forscan. I had used the spreadsheet from Livinitup.

I miss HD and I might do this. Thanks for the write-up.

 

[21st Century Truck]

I found a local installer who can swap them out. They use the VIN to look up the specifics of the truck you have so they can program the new ACM to match your vehicle's spec when they put it in.

The ACM itself is about $600 and then install about $400, they quoted me.

If you plan on a DIY, then you need to get up on ForScan so you can program it correctly.

Chris,

I see we are neighbors. Which installer did You use for this HD mod?

 

[NeuroDawg]

Did you get this resolved? I know it's been a while since your post.

I added the HD radio to my lightning, but I used the -FEE version. It looks like there are more of those available on eBay. There is one on there this evening for $150 (Search for item #204846049414)

I think if you see the HDRadio logo on there in the pictures you'll be good to go. There are a few different versions of the ACM including diversity receive antennas.

Near as I can tell - I think you'd want to make sure it has the A2B port on the back - that's used for all of the B&O systems with the rear amplifier

(you don't need to use the port - I am just saying it's another way to identify the B&O ones.) The ACM still has speaker level outputs that you would turn on with Forscan. When I upgraded I:
1. Read out the As-Built of my ACM with forscan and saved it
2. Installed the ACM with HD Radio. I only used one of the three antenna jacks on the back. One is (I believe) diversity antenna and the second one is for a satellite radio antenna which my truck doesn't have.
3. Overwrote the replacement ACM with my as built ACM data that I saved from #1.
4. Made sure the radio worked the way it used to.
5. Enabled HD Radio with forscan. I had used the spreadsheet from Livinitup.

Thanks for the assistance with that. I haven't gotten around to doing this yet, but your help will certainly make it easy.

 

[21st Century Truck]

I just did exactly this ACM - to - HD radio ACM swap today, along with some repositioning of my JL 280/4 channel 50 watt amplifier hidden within the guts of the center dash.

It's nice to have HD radio again, now that my XLT's speakers are upgraded and the little JL 280 amp is installed. This 4-channel amp is perfect for the non-B&O, six speaker Lightnings like mine. As the A Pillar tweeters are tied into the front door speaker input, all this OEM system needs to wake it up is a good quality 4-channel amp.

I also found a higher trim center dash speaker panel, junked the crappy center speaker and repurposed the speaker opening under the new trim panel's grille as a vertical passive airflow vent channel to keep the new amp cool, now buried under the new HD Radio ACM where the DSP would be on a higher trim truck.

I used the -FEE ACM with the HD Radio logo. Had to call Sirius/XM to give them my new ACM's radio ID. From reading this and the ICE F150 threads on H-D radio installations, the -FEE, -FDK and -FEK ACM modules will all work, as long as they have the HD Radio logo on the back.

This upgrade kept all the work and new amp power wiring in the dash area right by the firewall, so I didn't have to dig thru all the door sills to put the amp behind the back seats... that storage space is where my torque wrench for the wheel lug nuts, the Billy Club lug wrench multi-vehicle bar and the bag of RUD snow chain bag all live next to the OEM jack and tire gloves.

 

[Andrewbens]

It’s really surprising that my $74,000 XLT didn’t have basic HD when my 2013 VW SUV did

 

[21st Century Truck]

It’s really surprising that my $74,000 XLT didn’t have basic HD when my 2013 VW SUV did

Yeah I know... Ford Corporate has been known to cheap out here and there.

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