Radio LED display fix!!!

[941a]

Hello guys new to the post,i have the same problem in my 98 xlt V8 think i will try it!!!:>

 

[zachsmak]

I can't believe I just found this forum and information on this very problem! My LED just went out a couple days ago for the first time. I was hoping to find a fix rather than drop some $$ at a dealer. I'm going to try it this too. Wish me luck.

 

[TLoewenberg]

Even more important is to make sure EVERYONE with the "disappearing" display problem contact Ford. Go to their web site and follow the buttons to the owner section. I had the problem, contacted Ford, and they claimed that they had no history which is an absolute crock! The radio carries a Visteon nameplate but is actually manufactured by Pioneer. The Visteon web site listed two authorized service centers in the Denver area. Both acknowledged that the problem has been around for a while. When I exchanged the radio for a repaired one, the technician stated that they see it all the time "another great Ford idea." The dealers will only pull the radio and send it out. If you do that yourself, assuming you have an authorized service center in your area, the cost should be no more that $175. If the radio has to be sent to Pioneer, the turnaround is about 7-10 working days. Pioneer replaces the board with a "supposedly" redesigned board that is more heat tolerant. Good luck and remember to make your feelings known to Ford!

 

[dyoung3]

Originally posted by TLoewenberg
Even more important is to make sure EVERYONE with the "disappearing" display problem contact Ford. Go to their web site and follow the buttons to the owner section. I had the problem, contacted Ford, and they claimed that they had no history which is an absolute crock! . . . Good luck and remember to make your feelings known to Ford!

Ford may not have a history, but the Visteon service center here in Austin, TX sure does. As soon as I said "'98 Ford Explorer", the technician said "CD/cassette head unit, right?" He said it should cost about $150 to fix.

Some manufacturers ask their suppliers for out-of-warranty repair info. Maybe Ford doesn't do that.

 

[941a]

The Damn thing is fixed!!!!!

After taking it out the first time and cleaning the display board,put it back in and it would go in and out!!!Not good!Went to radio shack and got some contact cleaner and a little brass brush.Took the display board out and cleaned it real good,let sit over night(cleaner had a non conductive oil in it to protect from heat) and put it back together.Also above the radio hole in the dash,i put heat tape under the heat&a/c,vents.working good sence i have done all of this.IT WORK GREAT FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[djh]

Great imfo. Found site while looking for imfo on ordering new board for unit after getting nowhere with Ford dealer. Same problem on my AM/FM Cass/CD unit. Will try fix this week and let you know. Could use more imfo on that heat tape idea. Thanks to all.

 

[941a]

heat tape

Above the radio is 2 heat ducts,i placed the tape on the bottom side between the ducts and the radio.And it is still working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[djh]

It worked, two min with toothbrush and rubbing alcohol even though I could not see any problem with solder points. Just did backside. Display now works fine. When you say heat tape is that a reflective tape, I have a foam insulation on the ducts already.

 

[ronev]

It Works!

Fixed it in the parking lot of my company during lunch...('98 Mountaineer) in literally 28 minutes!
Used a potato scrubber brush with no liquid. The circuit board had kind of a scortched look on the entire board, but looked a lot cleaner after scrubbing. The display had only been out about three weeks (47k miles on the vehicle), and my jaw dropped when the clock came back on!

Don't know how long it will last, but I sure know what to do next time.

Thanks to bseblfevr9 and others!

Ron Evans
Jackson, MS

 

[BIGCHIEF]

I AM AMAZED!!!!!!!!

AFTER REMOVING DUEL MEDIA UNIT FROM DASH, AND A LITTLE SCRUBBING, I NOW CAN SEE MY DISPLAY. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS COMMENTED ON THIS SUBJECT. WHEN MY CLOCK CAME ON, I WAS AT A LOSS FOR WORDS JUST GRINNING FROM EAR TO EAR. THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE

 

[tcant]

Just completed the fix for the display on the cassette, disc, radio unit. It was very easy and it worked like a charm. I didn't need to re-solder, just bent back the clips! Thanks to all who contributed. I will complain to Ford.

 

[schaltegger]

Okay, the display just went out yesterday on my premium audio unit ('99 EB, 30,000 miles this week!). What kind of tool is needed to get the unit out of the dash? I want to try the fix this weekend before I spend $$ for a refurb unit. Thanks!

 

[ronev]

Just go to Auto Zone or similar type store, they have the removal tool for $5.

Ron Evans

 

[schaltegger]

Okay, tried the fix last night using rubbing alcohol and an old toothbrush. There was some brownish crud around the solder points which I was able to scrub off. However, after reassembling the unit I still have no display. I will try again this weekend using electrical contact cleaner but I don't have much hope. Presuming it DOESN'T work, what is the next step? Take my truck to a dealer and request an exchange for a refurbed unit?

 

[djh]

I have cleaned my radio a number of times and the longest its worked is the present ongoing time of 2 weeks. The last time I used a stiffer brush nylon one used for household cleaning and really soaked the board with contact cleaner it was dripping off as I scurbed. I still have not taken off heat shield to clean topside but did spray contact cleaner on top side and let it dry.

 

[schaltegger]

While perusing the Explorer usenet group, I ran across a posting (an ad, really) that contained this URL:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/stereorepair/ford.htm

Sounds like they recognize the problem and its usual (exclusive?) cause. Anyone tried these folks out? I figure I'll try to fix it once more and if that doesn't do the trick I'll send the unit to them. $80 is a lot cheaper than a refurbed unit for $175 or so, even when you count in shipping charges.

 

[schaltegger]

Surprise, surprise! Just for grins I tried again tonight after work. I used a LOT more alcohol and scrubbed a lot harder across the entire board, not just on the solder points. Voila, like magic my radio display is back from the dead! Makes me wonder if it's not just the solder crud per se that's causing the problem but maybe that the crud is causing the board to short against the metal frame of the radio unit itself, the little shelf the board is clipped onto. If it happens again I'm going to put some insulating electrical tape all across that shelf under the circuit board after cleaning and see if that stops it from recurring.

To all previous posters in this thread, is your display still working and it so, how long has it been?

 

[ok89]

This summer I'm going to try mine again. However I really don't want to solder the heat shield back on (i have no soldering iron anymore)

 

[djh]

Two weeks and counting this time, (fixed 6-7 times), longest before was one week both those times I cleaned top of board best I could. Can do fix in 10 min now. Small brush and lots of contact cleaner second time. The radio is made by Pioneer might be possible to buy new part from them or authorized dealer.If(when) mine goes out again I'm looking into that possibility.

 

[schaltegger]

Update: The display was dead again the next morning. Friday night I tried again, this time using contact cleaner. It worked all Friday evening and most of Saturday before dying Saturday afternoon. I guess I'll try another time or two, but this is pretty stupid, really. I'm thinking more seriously about the $78 repair job from the URL I posted above or just chucking the factory system and getting something new. But I REALLY like the secondary controls on my steering wheel and for the back seat.