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1992 Ranger radio questions


Dave

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2008
Messages
60
City
southern New Jersey
Vehicle Year
1992
Transmission
Automatic
Hello. I need to replace the factory AM/FM radio in my 1992 Ranger. Is there a factory radio/CD player that will be "plug & play"? I think the only thing available when new was AM/FM radio or AM/FM radio with cassette player.

Is the factory radio a standard size (DIN, 1 1/2 DIN, etc.)? How come Crutchfield has nothing available that fits? Is it an odd size?

Thanks.
 
hi, not sure exactly what ones will work for what deck you are seeking, and i am guessing you are not good with cutting wires and joining them back together and shrink wrapping them with heat tape? it isn't super hard to do when you know what wires are for what from the original harness.

here are a couple pages that may help your search.

cheers


 
i am guessing you are not good with cutting wires and joining them back together and shrink wrapping them with heat tape?

Actually I'm excellent at it. The quality of my work and my home shop is better than most.

What I don't want to do is get into a full blown custom modification. Which is why I said what I said about Crutchfield above: They have no installation kit for a 1992 Ranger.

Thanks for your useless reply.
 
Thanks for your useless reply.

then i don't understand you at all.... buy a new deck and splice the wires into it..... 99% of all new decks come with their own wire harnesses ....
 
I'm thinking they have adapter plugs at auto stores and W'mart
 
This was my old radio...

IMG_2414.JPG


these are the wire plugs for the radio...

IMG_2417.JPG


I got a set like these to plug into those...

71BDMOJFFjL._SL1500_.jpg


for this radio...

IMG_2418.JPG
 
If those wires are plug and play you've got it made. If you have to dig the ends out of there at this point, have fun is all I can say there.
Maybe plug it up and test it out in ACC to insure you don't get a smoke bomb out of there.
I am hoping you will be pleasantly surprised
 
OK. Let's start over. Does anybody know the answers to these questions:

1) Is there a factory radio/CD player that will be "plug & play" and properly fit in the dash without having to cut up any trim?

2) Is the factory radio a standard size (DIN, 1 1/2 DIN, etc.)? Or is it a unique Ford size?

3) Crutchfield says they don't have any dash mounting adapters or kit available. Are there any other companies that offer a dash kit?

I'll look over the 2nd link Angie suggested above.
Metra's website does not list any dash kits.
I've installed many radios over the years. I already have the Ford harness adapters.
Thanks.
 
Last edited:
I'm pretty sure that the second generation dash took a standard slide-in DIN size (whereas the earlier ones used mounting ears). If I remember right, the earlier ones needed a mounting kit, but on yours the aftermarket radio cage should mount directly into the opening behind the dash trim panel.

Been a while since I messed with the radios in any of my trucks.
 
My 93 has a factory am/fm cassette, I'm not sure when the CD changer was added but judging from the wiring it was after market. I don't recall ever even trying a cassette but since the changer ate a CD I could never get free I've had radio only.
 
Dave is asking whether an adapter kit is necessary for an aftermarket DIN radio in his Ranger.

The answer is yes. Here's a source:

CarID 1992 Ranger kit page

Hope this helps.

The problem with Crutchfield is that it's geared toward newer vehicles.

I replaced the factory head unit with an aftermarket DIN unit in my old 1997 Escort and 1998 Taurus wagons years back, but this involved getting a kit that included provision for the climate control switches and a wiring harness to adapt the new radio.

These days for some parts you might as well check eBay, Amazon, and search engines if you have an older vehicle.
 
I'm installing one now .Those plugs are correct . You should have a plug for the radio .Those will hook to them , which will have the same color. Then plug them into your harness . Those wires however will not match your factory colors . Mine is a 90 Ranger. The plug you show will work on a standard radio or one with the factory amp and power antenna. Hope this helps
 
Are you opposed to just going with another factory radio?

They are all over ebay. You can even get ones thats got an auxilary port wired into them.

I believe any of the square style digital radios will work up thru 96 or so.
 
OK. Let's start over. Does anybody know the answers to these questions:

1) Is there a factory radio/CD player that will be "plug & play" and properly fit in the dash without having to cut up any trim?
yes. FORD did make a single din CD player
2) Is the factory radio a standard size (DIN, 1 1/2 DIN, etc.)? Or is it a unique Ford size?
OEM Ford Premium CD player Radio head unit stereo Single Din SVT - copied from link above
3) Crutchfield says they don't have any dash mounting adapters or kit available. Are there any other companies that offer a dash kit?
Check Walmart or BestBuy
I'll look over the 2nd link Angie suggested above.
Metra's website does not list any dash kits.
I've installed many radios over the years. I already have the Ford harness adapters.
Thanks.


 
RobbieD is correct. No kit required . Got mine finally in . However the opening in the dash was a tad to small. Took a fine flat file and opened it up . It was on the sides that was to small. File a little and check. Like I said it's not very much.
 

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