stuck button on stock radio

[John G]

As it got older and used a lot, the AM/FM button near the upper-left corner of the stock radio shown below was requiring more and more force to push to make it change from AM to FM1 to FM2, but at least it worked. Today, though, I had to push it so hard that it is mechanically stuck in the depressed position. So I can't use it any more.



Any ideas for how to fix it?

 

[Craig Childs]

I have the perfect solution: look in the swap and sell for a replacement

 

[John G]

The stock radio you're selling would be good if I had the same year as you, but I've got a 2001 and the one you're selling is from a 2005, so maybe it's different even if the front panel looks the same? The reason I wonder this is that http://replacementradios.com shows two different Explorer stock radios that look the same as this on the front panel, but with different connectors on the back. They were made for different vintages of Explorers.



I'm thinking of pulling it out. After I do that, I can check out the rear connectors (if I want to do a replacement), or try to get access to the button (if I want to repair).



How do I extract this radio?

 

[Craig Childs]

Do you see those two holes on either side of the radio? You need a special tool to stick in there. Once you stick them all the way in, pull the tools away from each other and you should hear a clicking type noise, then pull the tools toward you and it should pop right out.



The tool looks like this

[Broken External Image]:

 

[A K]

but I've got a 2001 and the one you're selling is from a 2005

The 2005 is not compatible with the 2001. The '05 uses the CANBUS protocol; the '01 doesn't. In addition, the rear connections are different. Your best bet is to stick to a unit from an 01-03, but even then, you should check the rear connectors vis-a-vis your harness.

 

[EddieS'04]

Have you tried sraying contact cleaner With the nozzle around the button. It might just be years of grime in the cracks..

 

[Yardsale]

I had this with my '01, but it somehow went away. It felt like the button had some flash on it and was catching on another button or the body.



Try to sand down the edges of the button with some fine sandpaper. It's tight, but if you back the sandpaper with a 6" scale, it might fit. Then clean it good.

 

[John G]

Thanks Craig, Eddie and Yardsale.



I've ordered the tool (just a few dollars on eBay). I'll pull that radio out and figure out whether to repair or replace with a stock radio.



I'm guessing that an aftermarket radio won't help in reselling the truck when the time comes, so that's not my first choice.

 

[Craig Childs]

True, an aftermarket radio doesn't help in the resale department, but it does give you a big advantage in the way you hear your music. You can control a lot more aspects of the tone and all that on an aftermarket than you can on the stock radio. Plus you can get an Alpine (my brand of choice) for $100, and installation can be done yourself for no more than $40 or so, and you can add an auxiliary input into the back and hook up an iPod for even more versatility.



Just something to think about.

 

[Nick Barber]

I agree with Fast Eddie, try the easiest fix first and spray some electrical cleaner in there.

 

[John G]

Following up on my original post, I successfully repaired the radio.



All that was required was to remove the radio (I used a Scosche DT-1 tool, cost about $10), and then I removed the faceplate (required a T-8 Torx wrench, an uncommon size I found at Autozone).



Nothing was broken. Nothing was dirty.



The outer buttons that you push with your finger have a little side-to-side free play in them, so that one of mine had become slightly misaligned with the switch on the circuit board that it was supposed to push. By disassembling with the T-8 wrench and then reassembling, I fixed the problem, easily.



Total cost was $20 for the two tools.