Radio reception and non-working buttons

[bigalpha]

I'm running a stock head unit, but the radio reception is terrible at best. Is there a common cause for this problem?

Also, two buttons on the head unit don't work, the "6" and "Fade (down arrow)" button doesn't work. So, all the sound is faded to the doors, and no sound from the 6x8's. Is there anyway to get these buttons fixed?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

replace the radio. aftermarket head units are cheap, sound better, and have stronger tuners...its not worth messing around with the factory junk radio.

while you have the radio out of the dash, you can check your antenna wire to make sure it doesnt have any breaks and is plugged firmly into the back of the head unit.

 

[aaron_ariens]

Yeah, I would just go out and get a newone as well. At cartoys, if you spent 100 or more, they will put it in for free.

 

[Bob Ayers]

replace the radio. aftermarket head units are cheap, sound better, and have stronger tuners...

There is an entire range of aftermarket head units, junk to audiophile stuff.....
Just a matter of how much money you want to spend......

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

its been my experience that even the crappy $80 sony head units that wal-mart carries put out better sound and have better radio reception than most of the crap ford puts in the rangers. fords factory head units just fail to impress me completely. that is unless you buy something like an MKS or edge or some other higher-end model.

just my experience.

 

[bigalpha]

Yeah, I surely want to replace it (esp. since there's not even a tape player in it) and install some nicer speakers, but the money is escaping me before I get to spend it on fun things. The woman just quit and is going back to school, so that puts us back into the po' category.

For now, I'm trying to stick with what I have. What's the easiest way to pull the radio out? I saw that some people mentioned using wire coat hangers.

Anything to be done with non-working buttons?

 

[Pistons23]

you can just pull the entire trim piece out with the ac/heat controls as one unit. theres 2 bolts under the trim piece. then it slides out as one unit.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

does your stereo have 2 holes on either side of it? if so, coat hangers would work, but i would just swing by the ford dealer or any aftermarket radio installation place and have them pop the radio out for you. they shouldnt charge you to just pop it out.

after its out, check your antenna wire like i mentioned. for the inoperative buttons, you could take the stereo apart and inspect the micro switches behind the plastic buttons to see whats going on. they may just need cleaned with some electical contact cleaner...or they may be broken and thus, not fixable.

 

[bigalpha]

Thanks for the replies. I haven't had a chance to pull the trim and stereo yet. When I do, I'll check the cable and make sure it's all connected and such.

Would it be possible to stick something up underneath the buttons to push the micro-button? Or would this break something more than it is now?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

i doubt youll be able to accomplish much without taking the ratio apart. the actual plastic buttons you push are just hollow plastic covers. the actual electrical buttons are underneath them, mounted to a circuit board. you cant really get to them or see what your doing without taking the head unit apart.

 

[bigalpha]

Well, I figured out the problem.

The truck has an (aftermarket) 10 CD changer. Since the stock head unit has not RCA inputs, there is a converter that plugs into the antenna jack. The CD player only comes through on channel 88.3.

Without that thing plugged in, the radio gets perfect reception. With it plugged in, reception sucks balls.

Now, I don't have the dough to upgrade my head unit, so I'm stuck with stock. I don't mind having a CD player, either. Is there a 'Y' connector I can plug in the CD changer and the antenna together; then plug that into the head unit?

Presumably, at least in my head, it would allow me to get the radio reception and still use the CD changer.

I'm working on taking this thing apart. I've got the black faceplate off, but the hex screw they use to hold the circuit panel down to the actual faceplate is an off-size. I have a size bigger and a size lower.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

i do think they make Y connector for hooking up dual antennas. it should work for your purpous. ask around at radio shack or a local stereo installer.

you could also replace the RCA-antenna adaptor with one of those FM transmitters. that way you have your antenna connected directly to the stereo and you just tune in the CD changer when you want.

have you tried both metric and standard sizes on the allen bolt?

 

[bigalpha]

Connector like this?

If I get this, do you think it'd give me the best of both worlds?

I got those bolts off using Pliers.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

that connector should be your ticket.

 

[bigalpha]

You think I could find that at Radio Shack or such?