300B to 300A Mods (Clock, Brake Release, Fuel Door)

Jeronimojc

Jeronimojc

Boost Hunter
During the process of parting out my 300A I began considering making some upgrades to my 300B. The ones I became more interested in are:

  1. Clock on the dot matrix center trim
  2. Automatic Parking Brake Release
  3. Remote release fuel door

Things are a bit more complicated than I originally thought.

1) Clock on the dot matrix center trim. I had seen how sometimes the 300B models have some of the wiring for 300A features (like the traction control wiring) so I expected to find the wiring harness for the clock behind the dot matrix trim. Wrong! So now I have a trim with a clock face with no clock. Not sure how hard I’ll pursue this.

2) Automatic Parking Brake Release. This seems to be the easiest one. I haven’t finished, but it is looking good. All I have left to do is connect the vacuum hoses to the shifter. I may not get to until after I deal with other more important issues.

3) Remote release fuel door. Again, I was hoping the wiring was all there, but it isn’t. This means I’ll have to remove the wiring from the 300A, which perhaps isn’t a big deal. However, the wires for the fuel door and from the release button seem to merge into a big bundle of other wires. This is starting to look time consuming. For now, I’ll put the parts to the side and will save this project for some other time. Maybe I should just sell the darn parts and stay focused on better things.
Thoughts?
 
Jeronimojc said:
During the process of parting out my 300A I began considering making some upgrades to my 300B. The ones I became more interested in are:

  1. Clock on the dot matrix center trim
  2. Automatic Parking Brake Release
  3. Remote release fuel door

Things are a bit more complicated than I originally thought.

1) Clock on the dot matrix center trim. I had seen how sometimes the 300B models have some of the wiring for 300A features (like the traction control wiring) so I expected to find the wiring harness for the clock behind the dot matrix trim. Wrong! So now I have a trim with a clock face with no clock. Not sure how hard I’ll pursue this.

Another project is to get new seat covers made with the map pockets.

2) Automatic Parking Brake Release. This seems to be the easiest one. I haven’t finished, but it is looking good. All I have left to do is connect the vacuum hoses to the shifter. I may not get to until after I deal with other more important issues.

3) Remote release fuel door. Again, I was hoping the wiring was all there, but it isn’t. This means I’ll have to remove the wiring from the 300A, which perhaps isn’t a big deal. However, the wires for the fuel door and from the release button seem to merge into a big bundle of other wires. This is starting to look time consuming. For now, I’ll put the parts to the side and will save this project for some other time. Maybe I should just sell the darn parts and stay focused on better things.
Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I did all of those upgrades to my '04.

Clock - Best if you can get at least the connector for the clock. I can post the wiring when I get home.

Auto Parking Brake Release - You need the release motor on the parking brake assembly (I bought the entire assembly new), the switch on the gear shift assembly (I had to purchase a new one), some vacuum hose and connectors.

Remote Fuel Door Release - You only need to run one wire from the switch in the door to the connector at the fuel door. You can connect the ground to the inertia switch mounting. You get the power from the trunk release switch. I had to purchase a switch. I opted for a trunk release switch that is lockable.
 
fastblackmerc said:
I did all of those upgrades to my '04.

Clock - Best if you can get at least the connector for the clock. I can post the wiring when I get home.

Auto Parking Brake Release - You need the release motor on the parking brake assembly (I bought the entire assembly new), the switch on the gear shift assembly (I had to purchase a new one), some vacuum hose and connectors.

Remote Fuel Door Release - You only need to run one wire from the switch in the door to the connector at the fuel door. You can connect the ground to the inertia switch mounting. You get the power from the trunk release switch. I had to purchase a switch. I opted for a trunk release switch that is lockable.
Click to expand...


Clock - Yes, wiring info would be awesome.

Auto Parking Brake Release - I'll take a closer look. I didn't realize one has a motor and the other doesn't. They looked the same to me. I thought it as all handled by vacuum.

Remote Fuel Door Release - I was hoping I could just run one wire. Thanks!

I did check the DIY threads, but thought I knew enough. I'll go back and study things some more.


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I've owned 7 Marauders and can honestly say I've only depressed the parking brake once.
And I think that was back in 02
 
Zack said:
I've owned 7 Marauders and can honestly say I've only depressed the parking brake once.
And I think that was back in 02
Click to expand...


Funny. I do it all the time and then forget to release it. Bad habits.


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8UWITH6 said:
Why would you want a clock in the dash trim? Yuck! :)
Click to expand...


... eye of the beholder.

I don't wear a watch and sometimes it is nice to know what time it is. Plus I don't like the "something is missing there" look of a blank dot matrix trim.


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Sometime in late 2003 I posted how-to's with pictures on here for the fuel door and parking brake release. I thought they were still on here somewhere. Full instructions and relavant part numbers (but a lot of it has gone obsolete fom Ford).

The vacuum switch is usually in place and not connected on 300B's, no longer on the shifter base by 2004. But the switch is the same as 98-02 Lincoln Continental with floor shift. In fact the guts of the shifters are the same, the lever height and mounting base are only difference.

And you can get the vacuum motor off of any 98-03 CV or MGM with the brake release. It's a grey cansiter that snaps on the existing park brake assembly.
 
vegasmarauder said:
Sometime in late 2003 I posted how-to's with pictures on here for the fuel door and parking brake release. I thought they were still on here somewhere. Full instructions and relavant part numbers (but a lot of it has gone obsolete fom Ford).

The vacuum switch is usually in place and not connected on 300B's, no longer on the shifter base by 2004. But the switch is the same as 98-02 Lincoln Continental with floor shift. In fact the guts of the shifters are the same, the lever height and mounting base are only difference.

And you can get the vacuum motor off of any 98-03 CV or MGM with the brake release. It's a grey cansiter that snaps on the existing park brake assembly.
Click to expand...
Those are the instructions I used. Thanks vegasmarauder!
 
I upgraded my o4 marauder to have the fuel door from the 03. Had to order the fuel door itself (paint match), the solenoid to open it, the button to open it & then run the wires...
It has been installed for 10yrs & sill works great...
 
Someone jacked up my whole dash ('04) to steal my aftermarket radio. The only dot matrix that I could find has a hole for the clock. I got a clock and harness pigtails, but don't know which wire is which. That schematic would be GREATLY appreciated, as my 04 manuals make no mention, and google has failed me.
 
I like the clock. It breaks up the monotony of the trim piece.

People that live in hilly areas probably use the ebrake all the time. I live in a flat area and don't need it.

I wouldn't trade my 300A for a B with half the miles. If I totalled my car I would seek out another 300A. No substitute for the original and all the nice features it has, removed on later models to pay for traction control, which sucks.
 
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