Radio problem

[Second Wind]

Yesterday while on a road trip, the radio station (FM) started acting like I was getting out of range. I pushed the scan button, and it scanned for about 15 minutes not finding anything. I finally figured out something was wrong with the FM part of the radio. AM worked, the CD worked, and the tape worked..just no FM.

At home I ran the diagnostic test, and it failed. No code was available.

This morning when I cranked the car up, the radio (FM) came on and played for about 15 minutes and then faded into static again. I pulled the radio out, checked the connections and slid it back in. Still no FM. Anyone else ever experiance this? Is it time to buy a new radio?

Thanks..

[Lowell]

Get the car to the dealer. Have the radio swapped under warranty. Replace the radio and the speakers. Do not buy a Sony. There is areason they call them explode. I recommend Pioneer equipment. You may want to wait, the new pioneer models come out in January. Your ears will be pleased with a differant head unit in the dash. I have prototype woofer enclosure being built that will allow the spare tire to stay in place whileusing the factory rear deck port into the passenger compartment. The Pioneer 6x8 speakers are a dirrect fit for the facory 5x7. 27+ years selling auto sound. Check out the pioneer 6500 dvd in the photo gallery. Save the oringinal head unit after warranty swap/repair for the next owner.

[SouLRioT]

Thats some sound advice.

[drgnrdr33]

Second Wind,

Any luck getting the radio replaced? I have almost the same problem, except my AM fades away to nothing after 10 minutes while FM, CD, & CD changer all still work fine. I don't even get static in AM when it goes.

About 50% of the time the AM will come back after I restart the car. If it is soon after the AM faded out then the AM will come on for less than a minute and fade again. If left sitting for a few hours then restarted the AM will stay on for 10 minutes or so.

Knowing my luck, the dealer would not hear it happen and charge me $$ to tell me there is no problem.

[teamrope]

I've had the same problem ever sence the dealer replaced my odometer. I took it in, and they tried to fix it and couldn't. They called it up higher, and the factory guys are saying it is because the windows are tinted. :bs:

It worked fine without the tint before they worked on it.:mad:

[mcb26]

I had a similar problem, lost both AM and FM. The dealer took it out checked the connections, everything looked ok. They drove it all over town and everything was ok. On the way home it did it again. The next day I drove my F150 and it did the same thing in the same area, that was about a month ago neither has done it since. Must have been some kind of atmospheric thing.

[Paul T. Casey]

IT"S ALIVEIT"S ALIVE :eek: Ohhh the radio thing.... Yes, I've been battling this thing since the car was about 3 months mine. At first, it was just a quick fade and come back. Then it progressed to longer periods, both AM and FM. It would work some times for weeks, then go for weeks. It always worked at the dealer (argghhh). The dealer replaced the antenna, the antenna wire, the booster, then all of these components at once. Nothing has seemed to work. Then, finally, I bought a radio for one of the members here. The day before it arrived, my radio came back on (after been out of service for 2 1/2 weeks) and hasn't quit yet. My conclussion: these things are alive. They are also evil little creatures. Don't fool with it. It will cause you all sorts of trouble. Just do as it instructs you to do. That little voice in your head, it's the radio!!

[drgnrdr33]

Teamrope,

I agree with your conclusion about the dealer's :bs:. My radio faded before and after tint.

I have thought it might be a location were the AM signal would fade. However, I can go near known problem reception areas and get all the static I want to hear.

I'm thinking loose connection somewhere because sometimes (1%) a bump in the road will get it going for a spilt second. This does not explain the original fade - like someone turned down the volume.

[teamrope]

It's really weird, because the first time I took in in for the radio, it worked fine at the dealer, and they took it out to check the antenna cable, and it was disconnected! We plugged it in, and about 10 miles down the road it faded. Brought it back again and the antenna was still plugged in.

My dealer has been awsome with me. The factory rep might be another story.
Now it has it's good days and its bad days. I think it's gremlins myself. :eek:

[drgnrdr33]

The AM part of my audio unit completely died. Dealer replaced it today. On the way home I noticed something different about it. Turns out they installed a different radio. This one does not have a DSP + RDS button. It only has the RDS. Going back tomorrow. Anyone have the original audio unit part number?

Edit:
The other thing I found out is that there is no drive for the subwoofer. Did the 3+6 speaker test and the subwoofers do not appear on the display.

The more I listened the more I found the DSP settings + subwoofer are definately worth getting the original P/N radio back. Without it the sound is more like my old Volkswagon bug with cheap Audiovox + Jensen. The DSP settings dramatically improve what many refer to as "staging".

Went back to the dealer this morning (following day). The tech who did the original radio change tested it and agreed it was the wrong radio. Turns out it's for a CV or Grand Marquis. The tech called the shop where the dealer gets radios from. They sent the wrong unit. Another one is on its way.

[drgnrdr33]

In other threads the "push 3 + 6 buttons at the same time" test for speakers is mentioned. There is more to it. I have found this a bit useful:

Speaker Walk-Around Test (the 3+6 test)

NOTE: To enter the speaker walk-around test, the ACM must be turned on and in radio tuner mode (AM/FM).

To enter the speaker walk-around test, simultaneously press the ACM Preset Buttons 3 and 6.
The speaker walk-around test stops at each speaker and applies sound to each speaker for about 1-2 seconds. Each speaker is tested and displayed on the ACM in the following sequence: RF, LF, LR, RR.

(More goodies):
ACM Self-Diagnostic Mode

NOTE: To enter the speaker walk-around test or ACM self-diagnostic mode, the ACM must be turned on and in radio tuner mode (AM/FM). The ACM self-diagnostic mode can only be entered while in the speaker walk-around test.

The ACM self-diagnostic mode has five tests available:
Preset button 1 = Audio internal/external SELF TEST. If SELF FAIL is displayed, press TUNE > to scroll view the diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) stored. Refer to ACM Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) Index. If system is OK, SELF PASS is displayed.
Preset button 2 = View/clear continuous DTCs. NO DTCS is displayed if no DTCs are retrieved. If DTCS FOUND is displayed, press TUNE > button to view the DTCs retrieved. Refer to ACM Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) Index. To clear all DTCs, press the EJECT button. DTCS CLEAR will be displayed.
Preset button 3 = SIGNAL TEST. This test measures the average strength at the current tuner setting.
Preset button 4 = Software configuration level. This test queries each radio system controller for their software configuration level. SOFT LEVELS will be displayed upon completion of the query. Press TUNE > to scroll view the software configuration version level.

Configurations and Software Levels Controller Description Radio Display Example
Main Main micro software version MAIN ######
CDSP CDSP micro software version CDSP ######
ADSP ADSP micro software version ADSP ######
CD/DJ CD/DJ software version DJ ######
CD changer CDR software version CD ######
RICP Rear seat controll RICP ######
RSWC Redundant steering wheel control software version RSWC ######
EQ EQ ID, model, EQ version EQ ######

Preset button 5 = DISPLAY TEST. This test will light all the ACM display segments for five seconds and then turn all segments off. When the test is complete, DISPLAY TEST is displayed on the bezel.
To enter these tests, press the preset button desired while in the speaker walk-around test. This will abort the speaker walk-around test and start the selected test.

To exit the ACM self-diagnostic mode, turn the ignition switch or ACM off.

[Ross]

Thanks for the good info. What's an ACM? :confused:

[MENINBLK]

Thanks for the good info. What's an ACM? :confused:

I'm guessing Audio Control Module ??? :help:
A fancy way of saying radio...

[frdwrnch]

If it is still under warranty I would have the dealer check it out. There is a component called the antenna isolator module that is located under the rear deck package tray. It requires removal of the rear seat and c-pillar trims to access. If swapping the radio does not help and it is not a normal reception issue this may be a suspect area. Since the antenna is in the rear window grid, this keeps the rear defroster from setting up interference to the radio. If this fails it will not leave a code when the radio is self-tested.Good luck.

[drgnrdr33]

I'm guessing Audio Control Module ??? :help:
A fancy way of saying radio...

Correct. ACM = Audio Control Module per the manual. Ford likes the abbreviations. Here's a few others:

PCM = Powertrain Control Module
DDM = Driver Door Module (controls locks, wireless remote, keyless entry pad)
ASM = Air Suspension Module (controls the air shocks/leveling)
LCM = Lighting Control Module (controls interior & exterior lighting, backlighting, battery save, etc.)

[Ross]

Correct. ACM = Audio Control Module per the manual. Ford likes the abbreviations. Here's a few others:

PCM = Powertrain Control Module
DDM = Driver Door Module (controls locks, wireless remote, keyless entry pad)
ASM = Air Suspension Module (controls the air shocks/leveling)
LCM = Lighting Control Module (controls interior & exterior lighting, backlighting, battery save, etc.)



BRM= Beer Restraint Module (cup holder) :beer:

[drgnrdr33]

Dealer installed the new radio. Correct one this time. Sounds much better than the Grand Marquis radio. :rock:

[teamrope]

BRM= Beer Restraint Module (cup holder) :beer:Being a soldier, I would have said Baisic Rifle marcksmanship, but that works too.