Signs of a bad radio

[88LTDCV351]

I think my radio might be going bad. It still plays tapes and CDs fine just seems to crackle and silence for awhile before crackling back to radio sound. The display looks fine. I turn the channel when the silence occurs and the silence is on all channels.

[RF Overlord]

Assuming you're talking about the FM band, yeah that's a common failure.

[stevengerard]

put the rear defogger on, that should really mess up reception if your radio is headed south.

[Svashtar]

Known frequency lock problem; mine went bad after just one year in 2005. I told the dealer it started crackling after being on for ten minutes, so to test it he took the car and drove it like hell for 50 miles, then told me it was the window tint, not the radio. I explained to him he could have sat with the engine off and the key on and accomplished the same thing.

I finally got him to replace it under warranty, and he assured me the new radio didn’t have the same problem. Six years later it dropped FM, and two years after the AM died.

Ford is the only auto company out there that considers radios an item that has to be regularly replaced.


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[fastblackmerc]

Replace it with an aftermarket unit or an Escape headunit.

[mrhimself]

I just ordered a replacement Escape unit for mine yesterday. $50 on Ebay for a 6l8t-18c815-fd (https://www.ebay.com/itm/132407015728), let's hope it works!

The unit I'm replacing is an original Marauder unit on a car with 130k miles. I also had a unit from a mara with only 30k miles, and it also couldn't tune FM. I'm hoping that both radios were bad and not that I have a problem with my antenna.

[RubberCtyRauder]

get the escape audiophile radio..looks stock, sounds better

[Svashtar]

I just ordered a replacement Escape unit for mine yesterday. $50 on Ebay for a 6l8t-18c815-fd (https://www.ebay.com/itm/132407015728), let's hope it works!



The unit I'm replacing is an original Marauder unit on a car with 130k miles. I also had a unit from a mara with only 30k miles, and it also couldn't tune FM. I'm hoping that both radios were bad and not that I have a problem with my antenna.



I’ve seen several of those myself, but the seller could never confirm for me that the 6 CD changer works. One of these days I have to score one like Spectragod was selling a few weeks ago, plug and play to the OEM unit. My dead 6 CD player will just be bypassed in the trunk.


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[badass mm]

what yr escape

[RubberCtyRauder]

05 -07, mercury mariner included. the part number listed above is it.

[TJCOX]

I think my radio might be going bad. It still plays tapes and CDs fine just seems to crackle and silence for awhile before crackling back to radio sound. The display looks fine. I turn the channel when the silence occurs and the silence is on all channels.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

Please refer to Interior Electrical/Electronics Dated 5-22-2016 Posts #39,45,46, and 48.

I was driving through Georgia a number of years ago and my unit and it started working again. and continued working for a number of years. Fords contractor for the unit wanted
to charge me $319.00 to repair it.

Try United Radio at 1-800-686-0349 E. Syracuse, N.Y. 13057.
Good Luck!
By the way, my brother use to own a 1985 LTD, a sleeper of a car.
Tom.

[mrhimself]

05 -07, mercury mariner included. the part number listed above is it.

From the research I did, there are at least 4 part numbers that should work. The main thing seems to be that the unit has 3 gray connectors(not 2 black).

I used this to help me crossreference PNs:

http://www.idmsvcs.com/2vmod/radio/issford_radio_guide.pdf

[88LTDCV351]

I sent my radio into a place to be repaired. Should have it back tomorrow.

[PonyGuy]

I sent my radio into a place to be repaired. Should have it back tomorrow.
Where did you send it, perchance? I'd appreciate a feedback from you... Good... Bad... Whatever...

I heard about an outfit in Minnesota (Twin Cities, I think) that offers a quick turnaround on Ford audio stuff... and a flat fee to repair the OEM radio. No idea if they're decent...

My GMQ's Marauder head unit (with the trunk sub-woofer) lost both the AM & FM radio portions a while back, but I usually just use CD's or play Pandora through the cassette adapter. Some day I'll get around to yanking it and either fixing it or sending it out...

Thanks!

[ByronRACE]

After you spend the 5 minutes labor required to install the new radio, enjoy your new found 1990's technology to its fullest by following my instructable for burning a lifetimes worth of MP3s on to those 6 CDs.

https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-a-Ford-Audiophile-Stereo-Radio-Play-Mp/

[ByronRACE]

If for some reason someone wants to actually fix the stocker, mine is boxed and ready to ship. You pay shipping plus $10 to cover my hassle, and it's yours. Same issue; the FM died. It's been sitting in my closed garage cabinet for over a year waiting for me to finish construction my Gallagher mallet.

[88LTDCV351]

It works so far. Got the radio back yesterday and put it in. I used United Radio

[88LTDCV351]

I can't remember exactly what the guy on the phone said that they did to it but he said it was a common problem with these radios and they knew just what to do. Anyway, quick turnaround. The invoice says they replaced the Tuner IC.

[Svashtar]

I’d get mine fixed if the 6 CD changer in the trunk hadn’t also died. Figured I would try to find a working Escape head unit with integral changer instead.

I didn’t know about this repair option, but might do it and just lose the changer if I can’t find a replacement.

Thanks for the reference!

[ByronRACE]

My changer has never been used since new. What's it worth to you? I'd want your dead one to put in the hole.

[Svashtar]

My changer has never been used since new. What's it worth to you? I'd want your dead one to put in the hole.


Thanks, I’d have to figure out how to get the thing out first.

The value is a portion of what a working Escape radio / head unit w/ changer is going for now, because I’d still have to have the radio repaired as well.

[Jtrip]

https://media.giphy.com/media/13B1WmJg7HwjGU/giphy.gif

[Svashtar]

https://media.giphy.com/media/13B1WmJg7HwjGU/giphy.gif



LOL! Yep, sounds right.

Well, replacing it and fixing the radio (which I didn’t know was an option till this thread) would be the easiest. I took a look in the trunk and it looks like there’s a housing that comes off the 6-cd changer to get fairly easy access to it.

I’ll have talk to Byron and see if he’s a Dr. Evil clone of not. [emoji6]

[88LTDCV351]

I noticed last night that a number of random buttons on the radio do not light up at night. Are they bulbs and if so, are they easy to replace?

[Invective]

I noticed last night that a number of random buttons on the radio do not light up at night. Are they bulbs and if so, are they easy to replace?

Going to keep United Radio in mind. My OEM system works and sounds fine at the moment. I want to keep it OEM due to its uniqueness and cassette player. I don't think my trunk changer had ever been used before I took possession of Marauder last year - took a couple of tries to get it to work correctly.

The MM radio actually stopped working earlier this year while I was down in FL. I turned it off, parked back at the hotel, restarted Marauder the next day and the radio worked. Same thing with Mustang's Shaker 500 system last year. Fingers crossed!

[88LTDCV351]

I noticed last night that a number of random buttons on the radio do not light up at night. Are they bulbs and if so, are they easy to replace?

Actually, I don't know if this is normal behavior or not, but some of the lights don't light up when I play CDs at night. Otherwise, they all light up. Is that the normal behavior that perhaps not needed buttons don't light up when the CD is playing during night driving?

[finster101]

I have an OE I would sell cheap. It was working fine when it was taken out. PM me if anyone is interested.