Expert: Cleggsan - 2/22/2009

Question
QUESTION: i recently got a '99 ford explorer xlt and the audio read out won't light up, i don't even know what radio station i'm listening to until a dj comes on.  is it a loose wire, bad fuse , or have i accidentally disconnected a wire to allow the read out to show up ?

ANSWER: From

http://installdr.com/InstallDocs/FLM/PDF/356007.pdf

wiring diagram near the bottom of these pages you can see there is a wire designated as M on the connector for the radio.  This is the dimming wire which feeds the display and moves the lighting of it up and down with the dash lights.  If that wire is not connected, for example, you would not  have any lighting of the display.

Maybe this will help you hunt down the problem.

Good Luck,
C



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I have been getting the display to show, however it is not constant.  Would that be an indicator of a bad connection or something?

Answer
Yes, could be a bad connection at the ignition or dimmer  control, at the radio cable interconnect or even inside the radio.  Play around with the dimmer control and ignition switch (wiggle it back and forth)  to see if that leads you to some indication as to where it might be.

C