New with a few questions

[vdaily89]

First off I'd like to say hello to everyone! We are purchasing a 98 XLT 4x4 with the 4.0 v6. It only has 42k miles and is in really good shape. It has a few small things that I will have to fix. One is the drivers side power lock switch. It unlocks but doesn't lock. Shouldn't the armrest panel just pop off and I can replace the switch? The other is the radio. It is the single CD/tape player. The lighting on it (clock/station/etc..) comes on sometimes and goes off sometimes. Is there a fix for this? The radio/CD player works fine, the display just doen't light up all the time.
Any help would be great. Thanks in advance and hope to be around for a long time.

 

[aldive]

One is the drivers side power lock switch. It unlocks but doesn't lock. Shouldn't the armrest panel just pop off and I can replace the switch?

The other is the radio. It is the single CD/tape player. The lighting on it (clock/station/etc..) comes on sometimes and goes off sometimes. Is there a fix for this? The radio/CD player works fine, the display just doen't light up all the time.

You have to remove the entire door panel and then take out the armrest part.

The radio problem is a common one, The best best is to replace with an aftermarket HU.

Good luck and welcome aboard.

 

[IZwack]

It only has 42k miles and is in really good shape.

thats amazing! 42k!

 

[vdaily89]

thats amazing! 42k!

yeah, it's hardly been driven. We can get it for 7k, so it's not a bad deal at all.

 

[Lee S.]

Hi and welcome to the site.

For the door lock, I would suspect a dirty switch or possible loose or dirty wiring contacts. I wouldn't go out and buy a new switch until I dismantled and inspected the switch (and linkage) in question. It's probably something simple. (the door panel is easy to remove and the switches and wiring are easy to get at)

Regarding the radio, I am certainly not an audiophile and I may be in the minority on this but... I find the stock unit more than adequate for my needs. The thought of installing a new aftermarket head unit in a 7 year old truck especially when I find the stock unit acceptible make no sense to me. If you want to upgrade to a new head unit then by all means, do your thing. The displays on these radios always fail and there are many people who make a living fixing them. Some members on the site have had success ordering the parts and fixing it themselves (if you do a search on 'radio display' you'll find a ton of info on the subject). I sent mine out had it fixed and it's been working fine since (1 yr. now give or take). Cost was in the $110 range. I do remember seeing a post about a guy on ebay who will fix them for less $. My point is... you can fix the one you have a lot cheaper than buying a new head unit. It all depends on what you want to do (soundwise that is)...

Lee

 

[vdaily89]

Hi and welcome to the site.

For the door lock, I would suspect a dirty switch or possible loose or dirty wiring contacts. I wouldn't go out and buy a new switch until I dismantled and inspected the switch (and linkage) in question. It's probably something simple. (the door panel is easy to remove and the switches and wiring are easy to get at)

Regarding the radio, I am certainly not an audiophile and I may be in the minority on this but... I find the stock unit more than adequate for my needs. The thought of installing a new aftermarket head unit in a 7 year old truck especially when I find the stock unit acceptible make no sense to me. If you want to upgrade to a new head unit then by all means, do your thing. The displays on these radios always fail and there are many people who make a living fixing them. Some members on the site have had success ordering the parts and fixing it themselves (if you do a search on 'radio display' you'll find a ton of info on the subject). I sent mine out had it fixed and it's been working fine since (1 yr. now give or take). Cost was in the $110 range. I do remember seeing a post about a guy on ebay who will fix them for less $. My point is... you can fix the one you have a lot cheaper than buying a new head unit. It all depends on what you want to do (soundwise that is)...

Lee

Thanks Lee. I don't want to replace the HU if I don't have to. My wife will drive this mainly and she could care less about a high end system. Heck, she's tickled that it has a CD player. I may look into having it repaired. If anyone on here does it, let me know. I will also check ebay.

 

[IAmTodd]

I'd check Ebay. They're not too badly priced on there. Just try and steer away from the ones with the RDS button. And make sure its for a '98 and newer. The older ones are compatible. If you're not sure post the link for the one you're looking at on here and someone will chime in.

Oh yea, Welcome!

 

[Lee S.]

Thanks Lee. I don't want to replace the HU if I don't have to. My wife will drive this mainly and she could care less about a high end system. Heck, she's tickled that it has a CD player. I may look into having it repaired. If anyone on here does it, let me know. I will also check ebay.

Just an FYI.... I used these guys to fix my radio:

http://www.videoservicestop.com/fordradiorepairs/

Their service was excellent and turnaround time was a few days. Like I mentioned in my previous post, you can probably find someone cheaper (Ebay??? etc.).

Lee

 

[vdaily89]

I found this guy on Ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...=7997944789&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWA:IT&rd=1

anyone heard of him?

 

[aldive]

If you replace with another stock HU, chances are you will have the same display problem.

 

[vdaily89]

If you replace with another stock HU, chances are you will have the same display problem.

yeah, I won't replace it with a stock HU. I'd either get this one fixed (if the price is right) or just get another HU.

 

[Lee S.]

I found this guy on Ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...=7997944789&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWA:IT&rd=1

anyone heard of him?

Vince:

I'm not sure, but that does seem to be the ebay repair guy I've seen mentioned in a previous post. The ebay ad shows his web site which has a phone #. You can always call him to make sure he actually replaces the circuit boards (I think there are 2 of them). Also, I believe from reading other posts that the OEM circuit boards have actually been improved and the newer replacement boards should last longer. If you like what you hear from him give it a shot. It certainly won't cost you a lot to find out.

Lee