Factory radio problem

[DS650]

The Ford radio,CD and cassette radio started to act up today. While playing the radio on an FM stereo channel the signal is cutting in and out. The CD and cassette works fine. I checked the antenna connection in the rear window and it appears fine. Anyone have any ideas whats causing this?

[BAD MERC]

Common issue; bad tuner. Not even worth fixing.

[JBFTech]

^^^^^^^^^^ +1, time for an upgrade!

[capt512]

Mine did this for 1 day about a month ago...hasn't happened again...hoping it stays working for a while.

[rocky]

Mine did this for 1 day about a month ago...hasn't happened again...hoping it stays working for a while.

It will die...they all die.


Sent from my iPhone 5

[capt512]

Yeah I figure it will...hopefully not too soon. :(

[DS650]

Thanks, will have to think about how I am going to go about this. Replace it with another OEM or upgrade to a Escape radio.

[Roadwarrior]

Trust me when I say this, go ahead with the Escape audiophile upgrade if you want that "factory installed" look & better reliability than the Marauder OEM radio. There's always the aftermarket stereo route as well.

[dbrown4bbl]

Same experience here - AM (ball games) and fm (NPR) now gone. Seems to be common to the thread. 300A, 2003, #836 of 11052 built.

[fastblackmerc]

Common problem. If it hasn't failed yet... it will!

[BLACKMARAUDER04]

I upgraded to the Escape's a while ago.

[Mercurykidd]

My radio head is on it's last leg; It always cuts out on some Great music playing; started looking around for a replacement already, I like the factory look, but I wonder what aftermarket would be a great choice?

[fastblackmerc]

Can't go wrong with a Pioneer AVIC-X949BT. I bunch of us have them.

[TJCOX]

Check Fman's post #19

[Svashtar]

I have an '03 bought in '04, and the radio failed in '05 under warranty with just these symptoms. I found posts here indicating it was a known freq lock problem, and took it to two dealers. They both insisted it was my aftermarket 3M window tint. I escalated it and one of the mechanics took my car out on a 30-mile high-speed "Ferris Bueler" joy ride, and then confirmed the problem.

They replaced the radio, and swore to me that this was a "new model" that fixed the known issue. Last year it started up exactly again in the same way. Guess I was lucky to get 7 years out of the new POS radio.

I need to look at one of these alternate radios with the same basics I guess.

So far: lighting control module (fixed), driver window control, blower motor speed control (which is an absolute beyotch to replace as I have DR's rear-engine cooling mod), compass no longer working, and now this.

Remember, "Quality is Job #1". Right... :confused:

[Mercurykidd]

Saturday I am headed out to the local wrecking yards; see if I can locate a ford escape radio, if not I am going shopping. The Pioneer AVIC-x949BT system, I've heard good things, I'll check that one out.

[sam]

What year Escape radio will bolt in? Any one have the Escspe radio
part number?

[fastblackmerc]

What year Escape radio will bolt in? Any one have the Escspe radio
part number?

Google search " marauder ford escape radio" you'll find the part number.

[sam]

Hey guys I found one 6L8T-18C815-DD. Will that work on my 300A?

[Fman]

Sam, you have to get the one that has the sub plug also. I'm not sure about the DD, but I got 6L8T-18C815-FD and it worked perfectly. Those that end in FC are also OK for our MM. Mine came from a 2007 Escape, but those two models came on 05-07 Escapes and Mariners.

[RoyLPita]

I had this in my MM. I also had the Sirius satellite radio kit.

They are available for sale.

[sam]

Ok guys I just found one that's an FD paid $95 for it. So that should
Work correctly?

[RoyLPita]

Ok guys I just found one that's an FD paid $95 for it. So that should
Work correctly?

It is "plug and play". If you have the trunk mounted cd changer, it will no longer work.

[sam]

Thanks you guys I appreciate it. But my sub will work I hope

[vkirkend]

The radio in my black is starting to do this, anyone have one of the Escape radios for sale?

[vkirkend]

Can't go wrong with a Pioneer AVIC-X949BT. I bunch of us have them.

Is this a plug and Play?

[RubberCtyRauder]

Thanks you guys I appreciate it. But my sub will work I hope

Yes, the factory sub works with the escape radio and also the steering wheels controls for radio work too. as mentioned, a trunk mounted 6 disc cd player will not work, however the escape unit is a 6 disc in-dash unit so it's actually better since it at your finger tips.

[fastblackmerc]

Is this a plug and Play?

No it is not.

[vkirkend]

No it is not.

Thanks Jim, I found an Escape radio on Ebay for $150.00.

[jsignorelli]

I had this same problem two years ago. First I lost all FM. Then, the AM went. Then I went and purchased the Pioneer AVIC Z130BT unit. problem solved.

It is not worth fixing the Ford radio...it will do it again. Buy yourself a nice new unit with all of the features that either Ford didn't think of, or Ford would have screwed you over with their price..

[Mercurykidd]

I have been looking for a replacement factory radio through some of the local yards with no luck; I’ve seen the ones on EBay, but I always had bad luck buying electronics on the web site; defective or some other issue. I have seriously thought about buying an aftermarket such as a Pioneer or Kenwood, but the cost alone for the radio plus any special connectors, plus installation would make it hard; I may still do it if I am not able to locate a factory one. I like the idea of the Escape unit, it’s a plug and play, plus I can keep my SWC intact, so no extra cost in buying an aftermarket gismo box with a Pioneer or Kenwood. I don’t have a CD changer in the trunk so no worries about it playing; anyway who plays CD’s anymore, let alone six more in the changer; I am mostly IPod or sat, and those adapter are pretty reasonable. From all of the posts I’ve read and researching; the correct Ford Escape P/N is 6L8T-18C815-FD, and I would stay with this number due to all the different variations. The quality of sound is much better than the original that the MM came with. I located one about 45 minutes from me, so I am headed out that way this morning, wish me luck. I still may get a Pioneer or Kenwood because I know their sound quality is superior to ford, but it’s hard for me to justify the cost, especially I don’t sit in my car all day listening to music, watching videos, GPS, and Bluetooth.

[mrjones]

I don't understand why you're saying that the cost is too high for an aftermarket unit. You can buy a lower end aftermarket radio that has far more features than the factory, plus the installation kit and steering wheel control adapter for about what you'd pay for the Escape radio. I put an Escape radio in my 2nd Marauder and was not really that impressed with the sound quality. In my original Marauder I still have the factory radio and use the casette adapter to listen to my phone and ipod.

[93flareside]

Can't go wrong with a Pioneer AVIC-X949BT. I bunch of us have them.

I tried googling that model number, I couldn't find anything...

[fastblackmerc]

I tried googling that model number, I couldn't find anything...

Its actually X940BT

[Mercurykidd]

>>Mrjones; my reasoning is the stereo I would like to have, the Pioneer AVICX940BT or Kenwood unit; I cannot afford at the moment, and obviously anything other than a Ford oem radio is far superior. Plus, the radio I would like to have is in the price range of 300 to 600 hundred with everything. I spent only hundred dollars on the escape radio, and I am happy to just have a radio again. I agree, OEM sound quality is nothing to write home about, but it’s plug & play, and better than hearing static.