help :2007 explorer radio illuminaion not working

[drawesome]

Please help me
I just bought a 2007 explorer, When I turn on the dashboard lights, everything lights up fine except for the stereo buttons..it works fine including the display but the buttons just dont illuminate. The display also does not dimm down when the interior dash lights are turned on.

Is this a fuse issue? It is a stock stereo and my guess is that it was never removed or tampered with...anyone knows what I can do? Do I have to take the unit out and replace some bulbs? Are they easy to get to?

Thanks in advance for any help

 

[drawesome]

bump

Anybody? Please

if you can also tell me whether buying a used ford fusion or mercury milan 2006 6 cd changer system will work in my 07 explorer?

 

[jrford]

It might, but what won't be the same is DSP button if you have it. They are set to a specific interior. Other than that i would expect it to work.
First pull the old radio and find what plugs you have, take if pic if you can.

As to the light, no Warr? Can you find anyone local to fix it? While you have it out check the wires in the back and see if they look 'seated'.

If you buy a CD6 it must be shipped in 'Ship' mode and with somehting holding the CD trays in place. Otherwise if it's tipped and shaken while upside down, back of a shipping truck, then the trays will get jammed. No matter how well packed. If you send it in for rapair they should do it for you. . . .

 

[drawesome]

Thanks for your reply...What is DSP button?

A little update...The speed volume feature is also not working. I took the unit out and it is a refurbished unit. All the connections are fine. I took it apart and tested the LEDs on the display board and they all work

A ford dealer just confirmed that when a FORD radio is installed from one Ford model car into a different one, the speed volume and the buttons light may not work. He said I needed to bring the car in to see if they can reprogram it through the GEM module. $80 charge regardless of whether it will be fixed or not.

 

[jrford]

Find the model number on the radio you can tell what vehicle its for.
It might be a missmatched unit, which would explain a few things.
Digital Signal Proccessing - DSP or Hall, Stadium, type of sound. I don't use it much anyways.

 

[drawesome]

Find the model number on the radio you can tell what vehicle its for.
It might be a missmatched unit, which would explain a few things.
Digital Signal Proccessing - DSP or Hall, Stadium, type of sound. I don't use it much anyways.

is this it?
DZU7A, part # 7L2T-18C869-AE

Can you tell?

 

[jrford]

Its a '07 (7) out of an Explorer (L2t). 18c869 or is it 18c868? which should be a CD/Cass combo??

 

[drawesome]

Its a '07 (7) out of an Explorer (L2t). 18c869 or is it 18c868? which should be a CD/Cass combo??

It is 869..single CD

Strange..it should work then...I dont know if I should take the chance and pay the $80 for reprogramming

 

[jrford]

is this what you have?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford...temQQimsxZ20081222?IMSfp=TL0812221110005r5529

 

[drawesome]

is this what you have?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford...temQQimsxZ20081222?IMSfp=TL0812221110005r5529

Yes except the antenna connector is the newer model one.

I now called a repair shop and they said they have never heard of a GEM module needing to be programmed for these features! what a nightmare

 

[jrford]

we keep replying at the same time . . .
Anyways it should work, if you pulled it apart and everthing checks out . . .then i'd go kicking and screaming to the stearlership,. . heck a replacement junkyard is about $80 if they even have them. . .
by chance check the harness out at the radio for the dimmer - maybe a blue wire. . .i'll double check. . .

 

[jrford]

Yes except the antenna connector is the newer model one.

I now called a repair shop and they said they have never heard of a GEM module needing to be programmed for these features! what a nightmare

i'd agree with them for the most part. For me i switched an '03 into an '04, never needed to either. But the Sound thing that should read off the VSS wire and the dimmer is on its own cirucit. . . .I could only guess but i'd imagine (maybe) they could swap in a radio to test and swap yours into another vehicle would be my thought.
it would be my last resort. . .
hopefully this helps.

 

[drawesome]

look at the description for this item

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/05-0....c0.m245&_trkparms=72:543|65:12|39:1|240:1318

In the description, he talks about certain features not working (Exactly the featres i am missing) unless reprogrammed!

 

[jrford]

sorry to hear that . . .so you got a Ford Dealer saying it needs it and an independant . . .if your in no rush see if anyone here can confirm it . . . .although i havent seen many posts about '07 audio so you might be the first one to find out. This would be a 'new one' - bummer dude.
Maybe try and call repair shops i've seen on ebay, i've seen speicals if you tell them whats wrong they maybe able to confirm. If true then stealership would be the only option. I doubt any local shop could do it or even knows about it.

 

[drawesome]

FYI...Problem solved

The ford dealership had to reprogram the Radio unit to read and connect with the car's GEM module. This lets the radio unit communicate with the car as far as the light switch and the speed volume feature.

The technician was not sure if this will work but he said he was gonna give it a try at a cost of 1 hour labour to me (85 dollars)..I took =the chance

He said he downloaded the GEM modules "AS BUILT" information specific to my car (according to the VIN number) from a ford on line database. He then matched that information with the existing GEM module information (Which had shown a missing piece of information related to the audio unit which he said was caused by taking the original unit out and putting in a new one that had a different serial number and therefore the GEM module did not recognize). All he had to do is tell the GEM module to start communicating with the new Audio unit.

The radio is now fully functional..

Just wanted to inform you all about this potential problem

Thanks

 

[Walloinc]

Same problem

Hey thanks for posting this. I just had the same problem. I'll see about getting it fixed now

FYI...Problem solved

The ford dealership had to reprogram the Radio unit to read and connect with the car's GEM module. This lets the radio unit communicate with the car as far as the light switch and the speed volume feature.

The technician was not sure if this will work but he said he was gonna give it a try at a cost of 1 hour labour to me (85 dollars)..I took =the chance

He said he downloaded the GEM modules "AS BUILT" information specific to my car (according to the VIN number) from a ford on line database. He then matched that information with the existing GEM module information (Which had shown a missing piece of information related to the audio unit which he said was caused by taking the original unit out and putting in a new one that had a different serial number and therefore the GEM module did not recognize). All he had to do is tell the GEM module to start communicating with the new Audio unit.

The radio is now fully functional..

Just wanted to inform you all about this potential problem

Thanks