Replacement radio for '98 Eddie Bauer

Try Crutchfield. http://www.crutchfield.com.

The best for the do it yourselfer. They have install kits that fit
just about any year and model.

I'd avoid any Ford brand radio. You'll get a much better radio for
less elsewhere.The display on my 98 went out. The radio works. Seems
to be a common problem. Ford ignores it. They tell you they have never
heard of one going out. Typical Ford smuckery. Guess they'll deny it
until someone sues them. Great time to be a lawyer for Ford.

Mr. Harrison posted a fix on the display on his 2000 Explorer. You
could fix the radio or have him do it for you.



I've seen where a lot of people have had problems with their Mach
radio
system display going blank. I, too, had this problem and after
numerous
attempts to corner either Ford or my dealer to fix the problem at
their
expense (I'm was out of warranty at 54,XXX miles), I gave up and dug
in
to fix the problem myself. My Ford dealer gladly offered to send in
my
radio for repairs at an estimated cost of $455...so much for the
loyalty
I've shown Ford in the last 20 years.

I saw a posting on this newsgroup that helped my out. I'll repost the
message for anyone's benefit who may be having the same problem.
Seems
like the problem spans over Ford Explorers including model years 98,
99,
and 2000. The problem I had was just plain and simple...the radio
display just went blank...everything else worked...though, it is
frustrating not knowing what station is playing or if you depend on
the
time of the display. I consider my Explorer "pampered"...it's always
in
a garage when not in use...not exposed to much extremes in
temperature,
for the most part (though we put a lot of miles on it when it was used
in my former sales position), so I anticipate this is an even more
common problem with others who may leave their Explorer outside. If
you
do not feel comfortable doing this yourself, contact me at the email
listed - , just remove the
"STOP.SPAM.NOW." To supplement my unemployment benefits while I hunt
for permanent employment, I'm looking to repair radios for those who
don't feel comfortable doing it themselves (there will be a cost...I'm
looking at a cost of $89.99 plus shipping...price subject to change if
the demand gets too high...it's less than the $455 that I was quoted)
.
Please, I'm limiting the repairs to those radios that are displaying
the
same problem that I had...a blank (or dim) display...don't send me a
radio that has other problems. If I can't fix it, I won't charge
except
for the shipping. I am an Electrical Engineer, so I have some
background in dealing with these issues...though I haven't made a
career
of the electronics repair side of the business. If Ford doesn't come
to
their senses and repair this problem for the owners, well, I guess I
ought to thank them for a new career.

If you'd like to do it yourself, I'll be happy to guide you through
what
worked for me. If there's enough interest, I'll even do a web site to
show how to remove the radio using a clothes hanger...you'll save
yourself the hassle of trying to find a removal tool...my local
AutoZone
told me to just use a clothes hanger instead of buying the tool.

Here's the directions that helped me...Good Luck:

By opening up the radio you will find a narrow display power board
within the left side of the radio (faceplate toward you). This board
has a metal cover soldered to it, with a toroid (wire wound doughnut)
inside on one side, and a bank of surface mount resistors and
capacitors
on the bottom side. One end of the board (SCR heat sink) is screwed
to
the heat sink at the back of the radio, the board is secured with 2
metal bend-tabs, and it has a white mini connector on the other end
which connects to the faceplate. Remove the board from the radio.

On the bottom of the board look for surface mount components
R1057/C1071/R1058/C1083/R1064. The colder these resistor/capacitor
chipsets get, the brighter the display. I left the car out in the +5
f
degree weather and the display worked until it warmed up a little.
That
is how I was able to track it down to these temperature sensitive
parts. Freeze-it also helped after I narrowed it down to a few
components.

The fix that worked for me was to re-molten the solder for each end of
these surface mount components. Be very careful if you try this, as a
big soldering iron, or a lot of heat will destroy the components and
board. And don't do this with the radio plugged in. If you're not
comfortable doing this take it to a friend who is. So far this fix
has
kept working for a week, I hope it is permanent.

Disclaimers - don't try this without proper training. It may not be
the
same problem that mine had. Don't hold me financially liable to any
damage or expenses you may incur. Fix suggestion is not meant to put
anyone's audio repair business out of business, etc,...
~Thanks to Everett Cotton for the posting these directions (which in
posted from someone else).

Again, I will re-emphasize Everett's disclaimer: I will not accept
liablility for anyone's repair attempts. This information is posted
for
informational purposes only. Don't try this without proper training.
Any repair attempts are at your own risk. It may not be the same
problem that mine had. Don't hold me financially liable to any damage
or expenses you may incur. This fix suggestion is not meant to put
anyone's audio repair business out of business, etc,...

Regards and Good Luck,
D Harrison

Kudos to Mr. Harrison. This web site needs a ranking of BLEEPING GENIUS. I tried his fix for the explorer display problem, and it worked! Many Thanks.

These two sites also had some good information on this problem -

http://www.f150online.com/forums/showthread.php?t=304911

and

http://www.videoservicestop.com/fordradiorepairs/index.htm

Autotoys.com has some adapters to let you use the rear/steering wheel controls
with aftermarket radios.

Check out http://www.visteon.com, but get ready for sticker shock.

Replaced a $985 Bose headunit for $125 from an internet junkyard that
specialized in the make of my other car.

I suggest you either call around your local salvage sources, or check the
web for Ford specialty junkyards for a quote.

This way you retain all the functions and stock look you mentioned.

...

The display panel in the radio in my '98 Eddie Bauer quite working some time
ago. Actually is sometimes comes on but mostly not. The radio works fine
but you can't tell what channel you are on. Any ideas on replacements? The
dealer wants $500 for a new unit which seems excessive. Circuit City tells
me if I put another unit in I would lose the subwoofer, steering wheel
controls, and changer controls not a very attractive alternative either

Any ideas?