Mach radio has me puzzled...

[koda2000]

i just bought a used Mach radio from another forum member. it's out of a 2001 Explorer and is to replace the broken radio in one of my 2000 Mountaineer's. although the seller's vehicle had the CD changer, steering wheel mounted controls and amp/sub woofer, the part number for the radio was different from the original radio out of my Mountaineer (no big surprise there, as they're from different years). i was concerned there might be a wiring, or some other incompatibility, between the years, so i pulled the radio out of my 2001 EB and tried it in the 2000 Mountaineer and it worked fine. i should note that the part number on my '01 EB radio was also different from the seller's radio, but i figured it should work.

i received the radio yesterday and installed in in the Mounty. it seems to work perfectly in every respect, but there are several differences. firstly, the display layout is a bit different (for example, the clock is in the center of the display, instead of on the right-hand side) and there is no RDS button. however, neither of these things bothers me.

here's what has me puzzled, all three of my Mach radio equipped vehicles have 3 plugs that go to the back of the radio. this radio only has pins for 2 plugs. the smallest square plug has a hole to plug into, but there are no pins in the hole. as everything seems to work (CD changer, steering wheel mounted controls, rear seat controls, amp/sub woofer) what the heck is this little square plug connected to? i've looked at the wiring diagrams, but if the answer is there, i don't see it. :scratch:

 

[JCat]

Could it be for a sub woofer equipped vehicle ? (I know you said your sub woofer works fine but I seem to recall dealing with this issue when I replaced mine . . . . are you sure it is working ?)

 

[shadowless127]

The radio you received is not a MACH radio. All MACH radios have RDS and 3 plugs.

 

[koda2000]

Could it be for a sub woofer equipped vehicle ? (I know you said your sub woofer works fine but I seem to recall dealing with this issue when I replaced mine . . . . are you sure it is working ?)

i will double check it, but the PO said his Explorer had the factory amp & sub woofer.

Update: I don't think the sub is working. that must be what the 3rd plug is for. oh well, everything else works, it sounds okay to my ear and the price was right (and it's sounds much better than a Mach that doesn't work... lol).

 

[SoNic67]

The RDS radio has connection for the rear subwoofer. However, it does not send the bas to the rear doors speakers anymore, the bass is redirected to the subwoofer.
The "normal" radio does not have the connection for the subwoofer, but in compensation, it DOES send the bass to rear doors speakers.

The RDS radio display was well-known to have a defective power circuit and would go blank. A mod with a beefier resistor can be done to prevent that black-out:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2786615&postcount=227
See here the replacement display power board:
http://www.carid.com/1998-ford-rang...orman-radio-display-power-board-16855579.html

 

[koda2000]

The RDS radio has connection for the rear subwoofer. However, it does not send the bas to the rear doors speakers anymore, the bass is redirected to the subwoofer.
The "normal" radio does not have the connection for the subwoofer, but in compensation, it DOES send the bass to rear doors speakers.

The RDS radio display was well-known to have a defective power circuit and would go blank. A mod with a beefier resistor can be done to prevent that black-out:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2786615&postcount=227

i'm well aware of the RDS radio display issue. i even tried a new power board in my Mountaineer's RDS radio to no avail. there must be something else wrong with it. in any event, i'd done screwing with it. if i loose another radio it will be replaced with an aftermarket one.

 

[Bobmbx]

i'm well aware of the RDS radio display issue. i even tried a new power board in my Mountaineer's RDS radio to no avail. there must be something else wrong with it. in any event, i'd done screwing with it. if i loose another radio it will be replaced with an aftermarket one.

I got tired of screwing with wires and antennas and all that. So I got one of these.

http://www.johnrutherfordmusic.com/storage/DSCN0707.JPG?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1280073449881

Theft-proof, too.

 

[koda2000]

I got tired of screwing with wires and antennas and all that. So I got one of these.

http://www.johnrutherfordmusic.com/storage/DSCN0707.JPG?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1280073449881

Theft-proof, too.

sweeeet! reminds me of the Emerson transistor radio i had strapped to the handle bars of my Huffy bicycle, listening to The Lion Sleeps Tonight... or am i dating myself? 1961? better yet the Heath-Kit crystal radio set i built (no batteries to worry about, but not very portable).

 

[SoNic67]

better yet the Heath-Kit crystal radio set i built (no batteries to worry about, but not very portable).

You too? Man, how time flies... from that to the phone/tablet/laptop that I have now in less than a lifetime.

 

[shadowless127]

This thread just got really old really fast lol jk