Have a interesting problem with our 04 Escape's 6CD factory stereo on our recent trip from KC to Indy. As in it randomly turns itself up.. as in way up! It did the first time pulling out our driveway so it was cold but also repeated the same behavior about every couple hours. It was good for keeping us awake till we shut it off. We're thinking about just replacing it but I'm curious if anyone else had this issue and what was done to correct it? From what I've read the cd player typically gives up the ghost first but that still works perfectly.
Ford radio problem
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Sounds like a forgotten remote control is somewhere in the vehicle sending a signal, and the radio is just doing what it is being told to do.
Is there by chance a remote control for that radio, that is sitting somewhere in the vehicle so as to be able to send a signal to the radio when something presses against a button?
Is there by chance a remote control for that radio, that is sitting somewhere in the vehicle so as to be able to send a signal to the radio when something presses against a button?
If you can't find the remote, put some black tape (electricians or gorilla) over the IR sensor on the radio that receives the signal from the remote.
No factory Ford radio of the '00s I've seen has a remote...
Assuming it has the steering wheel controls, I'd disconnect the cable in the back of the radio to see if that fixes it... Larger plug in back will be power & speakers, the wheel controls will be a small plug...
Assuming it has the steering wheel controls, I'd disconnect the cable in the back of the radio to see if that fixes it... Larger plug in back will be power & speakers, the wheel controls will be a small plug...
My money is you got a cold solder joint from the volume switch to the printed circuit board. Over time, temp extremes like cold or hot cause the solder joints to expand and contract. In the case of cold, contract and the solder joint is not making the best contact.
Unlike times of old when the volume know was a linear rheostat, the are now a digital switch just providing a signal break to electronic circuitry. So as you rotate it, it just pulses the signal up and down with volume adjusted accordingly. If your volume knob has no stops when turned, it is a digital switch.
Back to the cold solder, many if not most of the OEM radios of vehicles assembled in North America regardless of brand, have radios made in Mexico. These Mexican factories while owned by known electronic names like Denso and Panasonic, are not up to the same quality standards as a Asian source radio would be. Also, what little hand assembly is done, is usually the volume and other rotary knob controls of the radio and this is were the cold solder joints come into play many times.
Unlike times of old when the volume know was a linear rheostat, the are now a digital switch just providing a signal break to electronic circuitry. So as you rotate it, it just pulses the signal up and down with volume adjusted accordingly. If your volume knob has no stops when turned, it is a digital switch.
Back to the cold solder, many if not most of the OEM radios of vehicles assembled in North America regardless of brand, have radios made in Mexico. These Mexican factories while owned by known electronic names like Denso and Panasonic, are not up to the same quality standards as a Asian source radio would be. Also, what little hand assembly is done, is usually the volume and other rotary knob controls of the radio and this is were the cold solder joints come into play many times.
Originally Posted By: TFB1
No factory Ford radio of the '00s I've seen has a remote...
Assuming it has the steering wheel controls, I'd disconnect the cable in the back of the radio to see if that fixes it... Larger plug in back will be power & speakers, the wheel controls will be a small plug...
I agree the steering wheel controls might be suspect.
No factory Ford radio of the '00s I've seen has a remote...
Assuming it has the steering wheel controls, I'd disconnect the cable in the back of the radio to see if that fixes it... Larger plug in back will be power & speakers, the wheel controls will be a small plug...
I agree the steering wheel controls might be suspect.
Maybe a loose or faulty tube?
JK!
Cold /Hot can make stuff like this happen, as electrical connections and joints expand/contract [includes circuit board stuff]..
If you have 'remote' controls on the steering wheel, they are also a good place to look.
JK!
Cold /Hot can make stuff like this happen, as electrical connections and joints expand/contract [includes circuit board stuff]..
If you have 'remote' controls on the steering wheel, they are also a good place to look.
Should of specified it has no remote or steering wheel controls.
Originally Posted By: Hootbro
My money is you got a cold solder joint from the volume switch to the printed circuit board. Over time, temp extremes like cold or hot cause the solder joints to expand and contract. In the case of cold, contract and the solder joint is not making the best contact.
Unlike times of old when the volume know was a linear rheostat, the are now a digital switch just providing a signal break to electronic circuitry. So as you rotate it, it just pulses the signal up and down with volume adjusted accordingly. If your volume knob has no stops when turned, it is a digital switch.
Back to the cold solder, many if not most of the OEM radios of vehicles assembled in North America regardless of brand, have radios made in Mexico. These Mexican factories while owned by known electronic names like Denso and Panasonic, are not up to the same quality standards as a Asian source radio would be. Also, what little hand assembly is done, is usually the volume and other rotary knob controls of the radio and this is were the cold solder joints come into play many times.
I'm betting on this. This is the first radio I've ever had or seen have this problem which is odd due to living on rough gravel roads the first half of my life. Reception has always been a problem also. I guess the robot was having a "off" day!
Originally Posted By: Hootbro
My money is you got a cold solder joint from the volume switch to the printed circuit board. Over time, temp extremes like cold or hot cause the solder joints to expand and contract. In the case of cold, contract and the solder joint is not making the best contact.
Unlike times of old when the volume know was a linear rheostat, the are now a digital switch just providing a signal break to electronic circuitry. So as you rotate it, it just pulses the signal up and down with volume adjusted accordingly. If your volume knob has no stops when turned, it is a digital switch.
Back to the cold solder, many if not most of the OEM radios of vehicles assembled in North America regardless of brand, have radios made in Mexico. These Mexican factories while owned by known electronic names like Denso and Panasonic, are not up to the same quality standards as a Asian source radio would be. Also, what little hand assembly is done, is usually the volume and other rotary knob controls of the radio and this is were the cold solder joints come into play many times.
I'm betting on this. This is the first radio I've ever had or seen have this problem which is odd due to living on rough gravel roads the first half of my life. Reception has always been a problem also. I guess the robot was having a "off" day!
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Originally Posted By: Eric Smith
Should of specified it has no remote or steering wheel controls.
I'm betting on this. This is the first radio I've ever had or seen have this problem which is odd due to living on rough gravel roads the first half of my life. Reception has always been a problem also. I guess the robot was having a "off" day!
I have worked quite a bit on late model OEM radios, most of the rotating switches like the volume are hand soldered in rather than robotic. Hence the higher instances of cold solder joints.
Most time though, if yourself or someone you know is electronically inclined and have decent electrical solder skills, you can re-solder this contacts and get back to working shape on the radio.
Cold solder joints are easy to spot as they will have either a gray finish on the joint instead of a nice silver look, and/or will look like a ball blob instead of a nice pool flow between the switch contact and the PCB contact.
Should of specified it has no remote or steering wheel controls.
I'm betting on this. This is the first radio I've ever had or seen have this problem which is odd due to living on rough gravel roads the first half of my life. Reception has always been a problem also. I guess the robot was having a "off" day!
I have worked quite a bit on late model OEM radios, most of the rotating switches like the volume are hand soldered in rather than robotic. Hence the higher instances of cold solder joints.
Most time though, if yourself or someone you know is electronically inclined and have decent electrical solder skills, you can re-solder this contacts and get back to working shape on the radio.
Cold solder joints are easy to spot as they will have either a gray finish on the joint instead of a nice silver look, and/or will look like a ball blob instead of a nice pool flow between the switch contact and the PCB contact.
Kestas
Staff member
Originally Posted By: Hootbro
Unlike times of old when the volume know was a linear rheostat, the are now a digital switch just providing a signal break to electronic circuitry. So as you rotate it, it just pulses the signal up and down with volume adjusted accordingly. If your volume knob has no stops when turned, it is a digital switch.
Mercedes has this design in my car. It failed, and it is a known systematic problem for cars like mine. LaJolla Audio fixed my radio.
Unlike times of old when the volume know was a linear rheostat, the are now a digital switch just providing a signal break to electronic circuitry. So as you rotate it, it just pulses the signal up and down with volume adjusted accordingly. If your volume knob has no stops when turned, it is a digital switch.
Mercedes has this design in my car. It failed, and it is a known systematic problem for cars like mine. LaJolla Audio fixed my radio.
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