Radio Reborn
I drive a 1998 Ford Explorer. A common car with a number of common problems. One of the the great things about the internet is that you can find people with similar interests or problems with a few clicks of a mouse. Sometimes you even find the solutions to such problems.
That's what I did a few weeks back when I started investigating how to fix my radio. As it turns out, Ford Explorers have problems with their OEM radios. The main problem is the display goes blank, while the radio, CD, and tape player continue to function. So you can't tell what you're playing, what station you've got, or even what time it is.
An annoying nuisance of a problem. Nothing more.
After living with this nuisance for a few years, I'd had enough. I discovered through Explorer Forum that this blank display was a very common issue with Explorers. I also found a solution. I was able to fix my Explorer radio display problem using Duane Harrison's Save My Sanity Swap program.
Duane offers a couple of solutions. One for the person comfortable with soldering and with enough time and patience to get the job done himself. The other for the do-it-yourselfer that doesn't have the time or inclination to re-solder a circuit board. I fell into the latter camp and ordered a replacement board that Duane had already repaired.
I received a set of instructions online and a new part in the mail. After a little wrestling to get the radio out, it was fairly smooth sailing to take it apart, replace the broken power supply, and pop it back in. It worked immediately upon turning the key in the ignition. What a great feeling. My clock was back, along with the rest of the display. Thanks to Duane and the internet for providing a reasonably priced solution to a nuisance of a problem.
That's what I did a few weeks back when I started investigating how to fix my radio. As it turns out, Ford Explorers have problems with their OEM radios. The main problem is the display goes blank, while the radio, CD, and tape player continue to function. So you can't tell what you're playing, what station you've got, or even what time it is.
An annoying nuisance of a problem. Nothing more.
After living with this nuisance for a few years, I'd had enough. I discovered through Explorer Forum that this blank display was a very common issue with Explorers. I also found a solution. I was able to fix my Explorer radio display problem using Duane Harrison's Save My Sanity Swap program.
Duane offers a couple of solutions. One for the person comfortable with soldering and with enough time and patience to get the job done himself. The other for the do-it-yourselfer that doesn't have the time or inclination to re-solder a circuit board. I fell into the latter camp and ordered a replacement board that Duane had already repaired.
I received a set of instructions online and a new part in the mail. After a little wrestling to get the radio out, it was fairly smooth sailing to take it apart, replace the broken power supply, and pop it back in. It worked immediately upon turning the key in the ignition. What a great feeling. My clock was back, along with the rest of the display. Thanks to Duane and the internet for providing a reasonably priced solution to a nuisance of a problem.
