It’s hard to deny that driving and music go together. In fact, a study by Ben Gurion University researchers suggests that driving is absolutely impossible without listening to music. However, if the radio is not working and you drive long trips, well you’ll have to endure boredom.
Lucky for you, there are ways to identify issues with your Ford F150 radio and solve them. Want to know the causes and fixes for your faulty car radio?
Read on.
Causes and Fixes For Your Faulty Ford F150 Radio
There are several reasons why your Ford F150 radio is suddenly not working. But don’t despair, there are solutions to these problems.
Damaged or Defective Fuse
One of the most common causes of a faulty Ford F150 radio is a damaged or defective fuse. Every car radio has at least one fuse. Made of an alloy, the fuse protects the electrical components of a car radio from power surges coming from somewhere in the vehicle. When the fuse blows, the circuit becomes incomplete. As such, the current will not flow, and your radio will not work.
Solution
If the problem is a blown fuse, you can test the circuit with a voltmeter. This will tell you if there is power passing through the circuit. The only option available for a blown fuse is to replace it. The first thing you need to do is locate the fuse panel in your Ford F150 radio. To do so, consult the owner’s manual.
Once you locate the fuse box, open it and carry out a visual inspection. Check for fuses that are visibly burned. Remember, when doing all this, make sure your truck is completely off. When you locate the fuse, take note of the rating, purchase the recommended fuse, and replace it. Be prepared to replace more than one fuse.
Radio’s Completely Dead
At times, your Ford F150 radio is not working because it’s completely dead. This is uncommon, but it does happen especially if you still drive older Ford F150 trucks such as the 2009 model. This does not mean that it cannot occur among new models.
You may not realize that your car radio is defective or dead until the issue keeps recurring. For example, you may carry out an inspection of the radio and circuits and not notice something is wrong until the car radio dies.
Solution
The best solution is to contact your local Ford dealer or mechanic. They will recommend the right model to purchase and install for your Ford F150 truck. Before installation, check the warranty of the dead radio to find out if it’s still active. If the warranty is still valid, it might help you with the cost of the new car radio.
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If you prefer the DIY method, then here is how to install the new car radio in your Ford F150 truck.
- Open the hood and disconnect the negative terminal of the car battery
- Remove the screws holding the radio in place using a screwdriver
- Remove the car radio and disconnect all the wires
- Install the new radio and recommend the wires
- Screw the new radio in place
- Connect the negative terminal to your battery and test your new car radio
If you followed the steps above keenly, your new radio should be working.
Loose or Damaged Wires
Loose and damaged wires can also cause your radio from working. Over time, the wires that connect your radio to the battery may become loose. This may be due to vibrations while driving or normal wear and tear.
If you suspect loose or damaged wires as the problem, check to ensure that they’re all firmly connected. If any wires are loose, tighten them and if damaged, replace them. To check for damage, look for signs of corrosion and fraying. If there are no signs of fraying or corrosion, the wire is likely damaged.
Solution
As aforementioned, if you discover loose wires, tighten them and if the wire is damaged, replace them. We recommend seeking the help of a professional at your local Ford dealer or an experienced mechanic.
Speaker Problems
Your car radio may not be working because the speakers have wiring problems or they could be loose. Each speaker in your car is usually wired back to your Ford F150 radio. This is true even when you have aftermarket speakers installed in your truck for an immersive surround experience.
There is a good chance that the wires connecting your radio to your speakers could be loose, or damaged. This does not mean that if a single wire is loose or damaged, it affects all the speakers. In some cases, it does not but in some, it could potentially have more speakers.
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Solution
The surest way of knowing if your car speakers are working or not is to disconnect them and check for continuity. If there is no continuity between the terminals of the speaker, then it’s blown. The only solution is to buy new speakers and have a professional install them.
Frozen Radio
It’s common for the radio screen to go black and become unresponsive. This is common with 2009 Ford F150 car radios. However, it can happen to newer models too. If this happens to your PC, your IT guy will probably tell you to check the connections. Then turn your PC off and on again after a couple of minutes. Well, in this case, you’ve to reset the car radio.
Solution
To reset the car radio, press and hold power and forward buttons. Hold them down for ten seconds, and the display should turn on and display the Ford logo. If this does not happen, remove the negative terminal of your car battery and count to ten. Then reconnect the terminal and this should reset the car’s lock. Also, it will reset your car radio.
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Frequently Asked Question
1. Why is my Ford radio display not working?
A defective or damaged fuse might cause your car radio display not to work. This fuse is usually located between the power line and the display unit.
2. What do you do when Ford Sync isn’t working?
If your Ford Sync is not working, you can choose to reset it. Simply press Settings on the SYNC screen then choose General. Scroll down, and press Master Reset. The screen will display a message that system settings are all erased.
3. Why does my radio turn on but no sound?
If your Ford F150 radio turns on but no sound, the issue could be a blown fuse, faulty input, wiring short, or damaged speakers. However, before assuming it’s the issues above, check if your audio output volume is fully turned up. Also, try to check if these sources are working – CDs, or radio channels.
4. Where is the radio fuse on a 2011 Ford F150?
The fuse panel is usually located under the right-hand side of the instrument panel. To access the fuse box, you’ve to remove the trim panel then pull toward you and swing it away.
Final Words
Driving your Ford F150 and not listening to your favorite radio station or music is exceptionally annoying. However, with the information above, you can isolate the cause and fix the issue. Remember, only attempt repairs if you know you’ve the skills and experience to do so.