Fixing Dim Ford Radio

Time to fix this common issue with ford radios. With a couple tools we can easily fix the problem and have a good as new radio. Is your radio hard to read no matter if the lights are on or not? Well its probably a soldering problem with the factory radio. The solder that For uses degrades overtime and can leave a less than desirable radio experience. I will show you how to fix the majority of radios that have this problem with a quick and easy fix. This also works on other manufactures OEM radios as well. Chevys sometimes have these problems but not near as many as fords.
#ModdingAddiction #Ford #RadioFix

[@lauradadams15]

I would like to tell you how incredibly grateful I am for this video. Initially, I watched another one but was nervous as I have never soldered anything in my life. He just explained that you solder each little pin but didn’t describe, like you did, how you put just enough to make the pin move. I just purchased the truck yesterday and on the lot the display was very faint and by the time I got home there was nothing. So, I went to Harbor freight and bought a five dollar soldering iron, took the paneling off and watched your video over and over. My screen is probably brighter now than it was distribution lol

[@writtenpieceopaper1]

I've never soldered anything either. I'm happy I found this video for the same reason. Did you have to use flux or just the soldering iron?

[@grantmiller9878]

Well done!..both the job and the explanation! You’re very clear and the video moves along timely and to the needed points. Great teacher!

[@ModdingAddiction]

Thank you that means a lot. I’m glad you liked it and hopefully learned burnt importantly fixed it.

[@Rob-Mc]

Hey brother. Just wanted to say thank you. This is a very viewer friendly video. I'm in the work shop right now doing this while using your guide as a step by step. 🤜🏻🤛🏻

[@darenburt367]

Thank you for this video. I've been living w/ an intermittent display for ~ 2 years on my 2012 F350 - but you have give me the info to fix it finally!

[@ModdingAddiction]

Perfect. I was getting tired of tapping on my screen to get it to work. Good luck you got this

[@rhyoliteaquacade]

The screen is a Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD). The pins are a steel type material with a tin or silver plating. Not as durable as copper when soldering, but better for hermetic sealing of the glass tube. The same problem exists with VFD odometer in some Ford Trucks.

[@ModdingAddiction]

Good info

[@user-zh1fu1qx2q]

Great video! My 2010 F350 was intermittently showing dim numbers/letters off and on for awhile. Then the power would go on and off. I followed the steps in the video and the radio unit is working perfectly again. Thanks again!

[@Loudes012]

Yeah, looks soldered but yes tried and now it works. Put more solder on both sides of the resistors.

[@ModdingAddiction]

That’s awesome glad to hear it worked out for you

[@kerrykurschinsky2451]

Well,.... we went after it,... did the 2 rows... and the resistor's,... in the group of 4,.. the 1st one I did,... held the soldering tool on one end,... and the other end poped right out,... sure that's where it was... 2015 Super Duty,... had it back together in about 40 minute's,.... when I turned it on......YEEE HAAA,...nice and bright,... didn't even loose my preset's,...just set the clock,.... I'm 63,... haven't got the eyes and hands I use to have,... when I worked on generators in the Army....... we got it done,..... thank you very kindly,... take care.........

[@ModdingAddiction]

That is awesome way to go

[@anthonyvincent2067]

Great video, thanks. Helpful that you show how to remove the radio too. I just soldered every point that could be soldered. I never came across any noticeably loose connections, but there must have been something because this repair worked.

[@ModdingAddiction]

That’s what I love to hear. It was a simple fix. Might have been annoying to do but you did it

[@danielbrien1776]

Im planning this proceedure monday 8-12-2024 . So wish me luck on my 2006 ford escape! Thanksbro !

[@ModdingAddiction]

You got this. Make sure to check over everything and try it before putting the radio all back together and the trim on. You got this

[@reysgaragehobbies8798]

I watched this video after doing the resolder on the lcd screen pins, did a good job and after testing it the issue was still present, that's when I watched your video and just like you said, when attempted to solder what looks like resistor one came loose when first touched with the iron, resolder them all and guess what, now is working super good, thanks for posting this, it is great video and good help.

[@kerrykurschinsky2451]

It would probobly be a good thing to just keep another radio on the shelf,... in a plastic bag,... ready to go........ good video my friend,... my radio's been drivin' me crazy,... this is the road back to.. sanity,... thank's..... take care........

[@danielbrien1776]

Thanks bro! I really appreciate your video. I learned today

[@ModdingAddiction]

Thank you. Your awsome

[@chrismaze3441]

We have a 07 Ford escape during day can't see the display at all at night you can see it till turn headlights in then it goes dim can't see it

[@leslydauphin2501]

Thank you for this video. Mine was out for 3 years or more now I am going to work on my Truck

[@hillsidescapes4446]

I'm going copy the comment below verbatim! the last part showing the diode that "was the culprit" bingo and Thank You!

[@ModdingAddiction]

Cheap radios haha glad you were able to fix it

[@leslydauphin2501]

Great job

[@davezemba1352]

Thanks it's been a Fix Ya.

[@ModdingAddiction]

Your welcome

[@armandovzqz]

thanks bro, very easy to understand all u said¡ ill get that don and i let u know how it works¡ keep this way¡

[@ModdingAddiction]

Good Luck you can do it

[@writtenpieceopaper1]

If the orange antenna cable feels too tough to pull out, put a little bit of DW 40 on it, then spin and pull to work it in. You shouldn't be fighting the cable off like it's seized.

[@drlangattx3dotnet]

Hi Great video. I have a 2002 Explorer Ford radio. THe radio keeps jumping into Seek and only stays on my chosen station for a few minutes, then it Seeks. What can I do, please?

[@ModdingAddiction]

Probably sticky buttons

[@ALR619]

Hey, can u please cone do this on my 2008 Ford Fusion? Im in San Diego

[@ModdingAddiction]

I’m in Washington I don’t think you want to pay that plane ticket to fix it haha

[@Anonymous-it5jw]

Thanks for this video. A prior owner of my old F150 broke the plastic cover over the illuminated display board - know of,any simple way to replace just that plastic cover?

[@TomTyProd11]

I just did this to my 08’ F150 actually. You’ll still have to disassemble the unit as he did in the video, but at the part where he says the buttons will all fall out, that’s how you get to the plastic cover. A few buttons will remain inside, but the rest fall out when you remove that last internal plastic piece that holds the rubber membrane. Then you can transfer that new plastic cover to your radio. As far as finding the new cover, I was able to get one from my local pull-your-own-part junkyard. A lot of Fords 04-10 have these radios, not just the F150’s. I pulled mine out of an Edge. Also just a warning if you have an 04-08 F150, the initial radio bezel trim piece that you have to remove to get to the head unit screws is delicate. Almost all the plastic tabs on mine broke upon removal despite pulling gently on it (Thanks to the Arizona sun), so looks like I’ll be replacing that too! Hope this helps, just sharing because I went through this exact process, and everything works like new now. Good luck!

[@writtenpieceopaper1]

Thank you so much for posting this! I almost got it working. I soldered the row and the resistors. When I put it back together, the Menu button isn't working. It lights up but I can't access it to reset the time / treble / bass. Do you know why this happen?

[@writtenpieceopaper1]

If anyone else has this issue: I don't know exactly what worked but I went back and looked at my soldering. Make sure none of the connections touch. Take off excess if you can. Clean where the buttons actually touch the bronze looking wires on the back of the board with alcohol.

[@matthewkelley7420]

I have a problem where only a portion of the screen is lit. Do you think you'd be able to point me to the problem?

[@ModdingAddiction]

Yeah it could be I would focus on looking around the screen. There is a bunch of long pins going from the screen to the board and it’s where I would start. There is also resisters controlling sections of the screens that could be causing the issue as well

[@adrianflores1916]

One thing is forgotten said how much would it cost us to get it fixed by a radio shop without been ripped

[@ModdingAddiction]

Most radio shops are not going to fix it. They will want to replace it completely. A small electronic shop would likely do it but your charging shop rates to have the go through the whole unit

[@interstategar]

Want to fix my 2012 Ford van radio. Has the same problem. I don't have the sodering tool. If anyone knows how to do this and is in NJ let me know if your interested.

[@ModdingAddiction]

You can get a soldering iron really cheap online just make sure it has a little solder in a kit and you will be set

[@ModdingAddiction]

Cheap soldering iron kit. Going to be cheaper than hiring someone to do it. amzn.to/3oiFrU9

[@catmccoy13]

How I’m I gonna do it I don’t have the tools needed

[@ModdingAddiction]

Any soldering iron kit is really all you need. A cheep little kit will work just make sure it has a little solder with it. And torque bit kits can be fairly cheep as well. I know it’s not free but it way better than buying a new unit. Good luck keep me posted if you do it

[@ModdingAddiction]

Cheap soldering iron kit amzn.to/3oiFrU9 Torx wrench set amzn.to/3L0hZnQ

[@geoffparmenter7006]

That’s a bunch of shit!

[@matthewkelley7420]

why

[@ModdingAddiction]

Why?

[@drlangattx3dotnet]

Hi Great video. I have a 2002 Explorer Ford radio. THe radio keeps jumping into Seek and only stays on my chosen station for a few minutes, then it Seeks. What can I do, please?

[@ModdingAddiction]

I would try pulling it apart and cleaning the buttons. Sounds like something is causing the back rubber part of the button to stick and phantom push on you

[@drlangattx3dotnet]

@drlangattx3dotnet 1 second ago Latest effort. I alcohol cleaned but under a magnifying glass, I spotted some kind of flakes around the circuit near the Seek circuit. Scraped it away. We will see if it works. Thanks

[@drlangattx3dotnet]

Hi Great video. I have a 2002 Explorer Ford radio. THe radio keeps jumping into Seek and only stays on my chosen station for a few minutes, then it Seeks. What can I do, please?

[@ModdingAddiction]

Might have to clean it with isopropyl alcohol

[@drlangattx3dotnet]

Latest effort. I alcohol cleaned but under a magnifying glass, I spotted some kind of flakes around the circuit near the Seek circuit. Scraped it away. We will see if it works. Thanks@@ModdingAddiction