Radio problem 96 Explorer

[tjrtmaster]

I was headed to the junk yard to get an ABS wheel sensor for my 96 Explorer, tried to turn the radio on and got nothing. I also noticed that the clock was not working. After successfully fixing the ABS issue I decided to look at the radio issue. The fuses are good. the green wire has a constant 12v, the yellow wire has 12v when I turn the key on. It seems to me that the radio is dead. Is this a correct assumption?
If I wanted to get a radio from the junk yard could I take a small 12v battery (to the junk yard) and connect the positive lead to the posts on the radio where the yellow wire and the green wire go, and connect the negative terminal to the post on the radio where the black wire would go. If I do this should the radio power on? I figure that if it powers on it is probably good.

 

[Mr. Alligator]

Salvage yards here sell the radios for about $20 USD. And the yard I go to gives a thirty day warranty. But either way, you are buying a twenty year old radio. I did this, and the salvage radio lasted about a year.

Why not get a new radio at a box store for about $70, maybe less. Then you can get Bluetooth, USB ports, and whatever modern technology you want. Be sure to get the aftermarket wiring harness so that you not cut up your wiring and make a disaster out of you trucks dash harness. I got the new radio after my stock radio, then one salvage radio failed. No worries since.

Good luck,

Mr. Alligator