Radio LED display fix!!!

[crush319]

Fixed it.

Just completed your fix. IT WORKED!

Thx. Will update if display goes blank again.

 

[rc-guy]

Thanks!!

Just want to bump this back to the top - I searched a while to find this thread but I'm glad I did!

I had the unit in my 99 Mountaineer out twice to re-solder anything that looked loose or broken. No results.

After finding this post, I cleaned the upper board (with the heat shield), and again no effect. Then I cleaned the back of the faceplate board, put it all back together and turned it on, and voila! I only drove for about 10 minutes so it didn't get a chance to really warm up. I'm making a lengthy trip tomorrow, and will post back if the fix doesn't last.

One other thing - some of the front control buttons, maybe 1/3, which were not lit up before this fix are still not lit up. If the display continues to work, I'll probably leave the rest alone though.

Thanks to all who've shared their knowledge! I was about to spend a lot on a new (used) unit.

Alex

 

[gsjoe]

Radio display FIX

If you're still having problems with your radio display I can suggest a fix for under $60.. As you know I had this problem also and was recommended the services of this guy out of South Carolina that advertises on ebay this is his contact info:
Edward Harrington (ebay seller name - biscaynekid )
304 hartin Blvd
Summerville, SC 29483
United States
843-875-6796
sayko4@aol.com
I sent him my radio on monday, i got it back on saturday of the same week- all fixed! and if it ever goes out again he will redo it for free.
I recommend him, its the best $57. bucks I've spent.

 

[RockyMtnHigh]

One other thing - some of the front control buttons, maybe 1/3, which were not lit up before this fix are still not lit up. If the display continues to work, I'll probably leave the rest alone though.


Alex

If you have the same premium sound system that I do (AM/FM/Cassette/CD) then the lights might be functioning properly even though some are not lit up all the time.

When I first got my Ex I thought some of the lights were burnt out too. Then I started to notice that the lights change with different functions. In fact, some buttons, like the 1 through 6 buttons, have multiple functions and light a different part of the button depending upon what input you have selected. When you select the CD input, only the buttons that control CD functions light up. Flip to AM and only the radio control buttons light. Even switching to FM from AM will change some.

Try it out by watching what buttons light with different functions. All of mine do work, the only ones I have not seen come on are the tape control functions because all of my tapes went to the landfill back in the early 90's.

Hopefully this will prevent people from changing perfectly good lamps.

 

[rc-guy]

Today the radio quit again. I guess it really was a bad connection, which I just happened to jostle the last time I tried to work on it. I looked one last time at the two boards for any cold solder joints or broken connections and couldn't find any. I guess I'm going to go ahead and replace it.

Regarding the changing functions of the buttons - Yes, I have observed that. However, a couple of the 1-6 buttons and some like "CD" are never on. But I was willing to live with that as long as the screen worked.

 

[CDW6212R]

Contact one of the repair businesses that easily repair those, such as the one three posts up. They can also repair any other things like the odd bulb in a button not working.

Why waste the time digging into the radio to possibly fix it or end up where you started. Don't waste ant time, send it off to have it fixed permanently for under $60.

 

[BrianDye]

I used contact cleaner and a tooth brush. It last about a month ...then had to repeat the procedure and it is fine now. Be sure to resolder the heat shield back on!

You guys could just maybe replace the whole radio?
Lol, well i mean from the sounds of it, idk if its like a certain year doing this or what, but you can get an aftermarket dash kit, harness, and headunit for around 150$ for a good one, plus it'l make your speakers sound a bit better than the stock unit.


just a suggestion

 

[CDW6212R]

You guys could just maybe replace the whole radio?
Lol, well i mean from the sounds of it, idk if its like a certain year doing this or what, but you can get an aftermarket dash kit, harness, and headunit for around 150$ for a good one, plus it'l make your speakers sound a bit better than the stock unit.


just a suggestion

No Brian, the Mach radio and Premium radio of these Fords is just as high quality as any aftermarket radio. They are 100% Pioneer HU's made for Ford. They have many features not available then in aftermarket radios. Now they are just as good, but thieves don't go out of their way to steal factory radios.

They look good, they fit right, and produce great sound. For my truck that's what want. I installed an aftermarket HU in my other truck, my work truck. I had the Kenwood already, and yes the installation parts were about $20 or so. If that one goes, I'll buy another cheap HU to replace it, for my work vehicle.

 

[BrianDye]

Ahhh, i didnt know you guys were talkin Mach sound haha I thought it was just the stock basic radio with 4 speakers,

but go on crutchfield.com, when you buy a headunit on there, they send you EVERYTHING, wire harness, dash kit, removal tools for the stock stuff, and detailed pictured instructions

 

[RockyMtnHigh]

Ahhh, i didnt know you guys were talkin Mach sound haha I thought it was just the stock basic radio with 4 speakers,

but go on crutchfield.com, when you buy a headunit on there, they send you EVERYTHING, wire harness, dash kit, removal tools for the stock stuff, and detailed pictured instructions

I think we ARE talking the stock basic radio with 4 speakers.

I have a factory Mach 460 in my Mustang. It sounds good. So does the factory premium in my Explorer. I just want good sound while I'm driving. If I want really good sound I drive home and turn on the surround system. I also find that the police are much less hostile if I enjoy a glass of wine or scotch while listening in my home instead of the Explorer/Mustang on the road.

Then again, if I really want good sound on the road, I drop the top on the Mustang, turn off the Mach and listen to that oh so wonderfull stereo sound coming out the back.

 

[CDW6212R]

I think we ARE talking the stock basic radio with 4 speakers.

I have a factory Mach 460 in my Mustang. It sounds good. So does the factory premium in my Explorer....

No, this is about the two OEM radios which all have a display board defect, the Mach and Premium HU's of 1998-01 Explorers. They also came in similar year F series trucks and most Fords with the same size radio.

These Mach and Premium HU's are Pioneer HU's, none of the other Mach radios are as good. They were not made by Pioneer, they have normal OEM stock type radio reception and sound quality. They may be the best Ford had by them at the time. These Mach and Premium HU's are the best sound producing radios Ford has sold, because Pioneer made them.

I'm not trying to bash all other OEM radios, but you are suggesting/hinting that these are not special enough to keep or repair or value as much as an aftermarket HU. In my mind they are better than an aftermarket HU, they have the great quality(not the display board), the features are many and great, plus thieves avoid stealing OEM radios.

 

[RockyMtnHigh]

No, this is about the two OEM radios which all have a display board defect, the Mach and Premium HU's of 1998-01 Explorers. They also came in similar year F series trucks and most Fords with the same size radio.

These Mach and Premium HU's are Pioneer HU's, none of the other Mach radios are as good. They were not made by Pioneer, they have normal OEM stock type radio reception and sound quality. They may be the best Ford had by them at the time. These Mach and Premium HU's are the best sound producing radios Ford has sold, because Pioneer made them.

I'm not trying to bash all other OEM radios, but you are suggesting/hinting that these are not special enough to keep or repair or value as much as an aftermarket HU. In my mind they are better than an aftermarket HU, they have the great quality(not the display board), the features are many and great, plus thieves avoid stealing OEM radios.

I have the Pioneer factory H/U in my 1998 Explorer. As I stated previously I think it provides great sound in the vehicle. Possibly you have me confused with the poster who suggested replacing the H/U with an aftermarket unit from a well known online seller. On a seperate note, I would challenge that the Pioneer premium system in my Explorer is better than the Mach 460 system in my Mustang. But that could just be personal preference. Besides, I have both vehicles for very different purposes. This just adds to the contrast that makes both a thrill to own and drive.

 

[CDW6212R]

Yes, and each vehicle has different quality of speakers and placement etc. Most trucks don't impress as stereo sound stages. But if the stereo is good enough at higher volumes, then it can be cranked up a little and it makes no difference where some of the speakers are etc. You can hear nothing but the music, all is good. I haven't had that good of a stereo in a long time. The amps will make the difference in mine. Regards,

 

[rc-guy]

Cause of problem in Mountaineer stereo

Hi guys,

I think I have narrowed this down to the exact problem with my unit.

After I cleaned it, a few weeks later it quit working again, so I removed it to look one last time. I found that only 2 of the leads soldered to the board had burnt residue.

They are each 1 end of two resistors (blue on my board) attached to the top of the board. I wondered if anyone has the specs on these resistors. If not, I'll take the unit back out, remove the cover, and get the specs off of them. I want to replace these two resistors with heavier ones.

The pictures may not work - if not I'll have them up in a few minutes.

Thanks guys!

 

[rc-guy]

For some reason I can't make the images show in the forum. I uploaded to two locations and for each I used the image button which created code like:

[IMMG]http://www.URL.com/folder/folder/file_name.jpg[/IMMG]

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks!

 

[section525]

Code looks good. Try inserting your pic and we'll look at it from there.

 

[rc-guy]

edit

 

[rc-guy]

edit.

 

[Toucan]

Help

Trying to buy using an International credit card can be a pain in the butt. Been trying all week to get a replacement radio for my 1998 Ford Explorer which keep in mint condition.

My radio number is F87F-18C868-CD. Can any one let me have:

1. the number of the replacement card
or
2. the number of replacement radios that will work as such

Regards

 

[CDW6212R]

I don't know that part number, do you have that radio in hand? Does the truck have the rear subwoofer, the stock OEM subwoofer? If so the radio should say "MACH" on a sticker on the bottom or top of it, unless it's been peeled off. Only the Mach radio came with the subwoofer, the Premium version looked identical except for the sticker on it.

The Mach radio has no low frequencies going out to the speakers. All low frequencies are sent to the subwoofer output. Thus the Premium has full range speaker outputs, and no subwoofer output. They cannot be changed, that's how they are. So pick the one that you want or need. They both have the display board defect, I gather that some new radios shops sell claim to have the updated display board in them. Those are what I found in my last search, but they were over $250.