Radio will not turn off

[95limited]

A search found others who have had this same problem but no solutions. The on-off switch on my radio does not turn off. If I push in and hold the switch, the radio turns off and the antenna goes down. As soon as I let go, it comes back on. I've been turning the volume all the way down when I'm not using the radio, but the antenna stays up.

Has anyone tried to fix this problem? I'm thinking about pulling the head apart and see if I can adjust the switch. Thanks for any help.

al

 

[Texplorer]

Subscribing, Im having the same problem.

 

[Mneofreek]

Doesnt your radio switch stay pressed in? Or can you only hold it in? Chances are that the on/off switch on the radio broke.

 

[edward]

radio

same problem here. i just turn the whole volume down. although always on.

was qouted 120.00 by local radio shop to do repair. i would have swapped a new head unit but the oem controls my disc changer . so what to do?

works well inspite of. i just live with it.

 

[95limited]

The switch stays in, just not far enough to make/break the micro switch or whatever it does. My guess is it would be an easy fix, just not sure how hard it would be to disassemble the head. I've found several treads about this but no one has had a fix. My only concern is I might break something else trying to fix this. I've been turning the volume down for the last two years and it does work okay. I just like it when things work right.

 

[FreeWheelin4x4]

Most likely it's in the switch itself. Unless you have a very good eye, a good electronics background, or a good magnifying lens, it's gonna be a pain in the butt to fix it. If it's in the switch itself (behind the knob) it'll require opening it up, checking the solder points, micro wires, etc etc to repair.

In my opinion, another head unit would be cheaper then paying 100+ bux to fix a faulty switch at a radio shop. Or hop on a EBay if you have a CD changer and buy a new radio with the controls for much cheaper then fixing a single switch.

Good luck

 

[95limited]

I have a good eye (w/reading glasses), 40 years electronics background, and can do mil spec soldering. My first 6 years repairing computers was to the component level and the computers were the size of a refrigerators. I even worked repairing tv's and radio's after leaving the Navy (reactor operator) and before working in the computer industry.

I'm just hoping to find someone who has opened and worked on the head. Buying another head is out of the question because I have seen way too many others having the same problem with the same radio. For now I will continue to turn down the volume and hope someone who has opened the head will reply to this thread.

Thanks for the help.
al

 

[edward]

radio

your'e right al, no use buying an oem replacement. went that route through ebay. when i got the unit it had the same problem, even though i asked the seller in advance about the switch.

here's what we can do, i can send the unit to you, you can play with it,
and hopefully fix it. if you do then you have the experience to fix both of ours.

let me know.

 

[zx6-guy29]

I had the same problem with mine, but I would suggest replacing the head unit with an aftermarket one. I got a nice JVC head unit and I found an excellent dash mounting kit and factory amp integration kit at crutchfield, and I haven't missed that Ford factory radio a bit. It only took me 2 hours to do the swap, and I am a novice at best when it comes to stereo installation.

 

[hostile413]

i have a factory head unit out of my 96 eb, it has the tape player, with the cd changer control, thats in the console, i would be willing to sell it cheap so you guys could experiment on it, but, it works fine, maybe you could take it apart, and compare it to the radios that are broke..just a suggestion

 

[mcsteven]

Reviving a 6 year old thread

i have a factory head unit out of my 96 eb, it has the tape player, with the cd changer control, thats in the console, i would be willing to sell it cheap so you guys could experiment on it, but, it works fine, maybe you could take it apart, and compare it to the radios that are broke..just a suggestion

Reviving a 6 year old thread. My radio doesn't always turn off, and I've noticed that I can usually get it turned off by pushing in the switch, then a small adjustment on the volume knob. A little more and it's back on.

Did anyone (if you're all still active members) find a fix for this or was it a fix the switch or replace the head unit?

Thanks in advance :exp:

 

[Vicky7]

Found a quick and easy solution!

For the last 6 years my 1996 Ford Explorer radio was stuck on most of the time. If you pushed the on/off button it would temporarily turn off only to come back on as soon as your finger left the button. I've been turning down the volume as a work around ever since.

But I have finally found a solution...

Remove the knob, then squeeze numerous puffs of dry graphite powder into the switch.

Not sure how long this solution will work for, or if graphite will hurt the switch in the long run, but as of right now, my on/off switch is working like new again.

 

[TheHorror]

Remove the knob, then squeeze numerous puffs of dry graphite powder into the switch.

Same problem here. I was surprised to see it's so common, and going back 10+ years, at which time these units were still fairly new.

Does the knob just pull off or is there a hidden release tab that you don't know about until breaking it?

 

[koda2000]

The volume/ON OFF knob just pulls off, but knowing that won't help you. The switch is bad. Just turn the volume all the way down or mute the radio if you want it off. Not really worth fixing as it will probably cost you $100 to get the switch replaced. Makes more since to just get a new radio with an AUX input.

 

[TheHorror]

Yeah, that didn't accomplish anything. The knob does indeed pull off, just like the older climate control knobs on the trucks. I hit it several times with electronics cleaner and thought it was locking into "off" position okay, but that still didn't do anything to power off when I put the key in the ignition. It's probably not worth troubleshooting any further. I'll just continue turning the volume down and consider aftermarket replacement options.

 

[koda2000]

If you really want to keep the OE radio I suppose you could identify the key-on power feed wire to the radio (not the constant power that keeps the clock running) cut it and add a switch to the dash to turn off the radio.

 

[TheHorror]

I hadn't thought of that, but it's a pretty straight forward option that ought to do what's needed, e.g., turn off the amp and lower the antenna. Worth the trouble? Who knows.

 

[koda2000]

I hadn't thought of that, but it's a pretty straight forward option that ought to do what's needed, e.g., turn off the amp and lower the antenna. Worth the trouble? Who knows.

Might be a fun little project and if you have the steering wheel mounted radio controls it would allow you to retain them. It would only cost you a few bucks for a switch, some wire and a little of your time.

 

[TheHorror]

I do have the steering wheel controls, as well as several switches I could play with. I'd have to think where I would mount it that wouldn't be permanent, since this would be more of a short-term fix.

I haven't looked into aftermarket setups yet. Do the steering wheel controls not play nice with non-factory stuff that has that input option?

 

[koda2000]

I do have the steering wheel controls, as well as several switches I could play with. I'd have to think where I would mount it that wouldn't be permanent, since this would be more of a short-term fix.

I haven't looked into aftermarket setups yet. Do the steering wheel controls not play nice with non-factory stuff that has that input option?

I don't believe you can hook up the steering wheel mounted controls to an aftermarket head unit (or the 6-disc player if so equipped). Metra makes harness adapters for the power/speaker hook ups to save you having to cut up your OE harness and you may be able to get the antenna (aftermarket head units usually have a wire for the power antenna) and the factory AMP/subwoofer to work with a little fiddling. I'm sure someone else here can help you with that part.