How to Troubleshoot a Ford Radio

by Alibaster Smith

autoradio 2 image by Nathalie P from Fotolia.com

The radio in your Ford should give you years of trouble-free performance. However, the factory radio unit may eventually fail from regular use. If it does fail, you can replace it with a factory re-manufactured unit or you can buy an aftermarket radio unit from a variety of aftermarket suppliers. Ford radios are typically self-locking, so you'll need to make sure that you are purchasing a radio that is made specifically for your vehicle, and not a "universal mounted" radio that uses retaining screws. Before you replace anything, however, you need to troubleshoot the radio in your Ford.

Step 1

Open the fuse panel under the steering column. Turn the two knobs on the fuse panel cover counterclockwise and pull down on the fuse cover.

Step 2

Pull the fuse for the Ford radio using the fuse puller in the fuse panel. Use the fuse diagram on the underside of the fuse panel cover to locate the fuse for the radio if you are having trouble finding it.

Step 3

Check the metal strip on the inside of the fuse. If the metal strip is burned or broken, then you need to replace that fuse with a new fuse of the same amperage.

Step 4

Turn the power to the radio on by pressing the power button. If the radio won't turn on at all, the unit is defective and will need to be replaced. If the words "CODE" start flashing on the screen, you will need to enter the radio code given to you by your Ford dealership. If you do not have the code, you'll need to contact a Ford dealership and prove ownership of your vehicle to reset your factory radio code.

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