Strange Electical Issue
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Wayne, NJ
Strange Electrical Issue
I've had my KR only for about 10 days. On delivery I found that the radio station display and clock were not visible during the day. I found the temporary fix, when I turn on the parking lights, adjust the dimmer switch low, then high and turn off the lights, the radio and clock stay bright. In the first 3 days I had the dealer break open the parts dept on a Saturday to replace the battery, it was dead. A few days ago I noticed that the radio lights stay ON even after the key is removed and all the lights are out. (I was walking by the truck at 3am in my driveway and noticed that one) I pulled the #1 fuse (radio) and reinstalled it and it was fine for about a minute. (I did notice a quiet pop from the driver front speaker when I removed the fuse, even when the key was out of the ignition) I figure I am doomed if I have to see the dealer....I really want to save the hassle of them taking everything apart to "diagnosis" it. I'd rather come in with "a fix" The dash would never be the same, I can only imagine. Any thoughts? Alot of the people posting seem to really know the ins and outs of the Ford's electrical system.
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
Last edited by KingRanch1; Jul 8, 2001 at 11:21 PM.
Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Buffalo, NY, USA
Hey KingRanch....
Sounds exactly like a lightswitch problem bud.... Only thing, I am not sure if it is the dimmer switch, or the headlight switch.
Let me tell you why I think this:
First of all, when you turn on the exterior lights on your truck, the radio backlighting is now connected to the dimmer control. I am thinking that your radio is always connected through this, and that is why your backlighting on the radio isn't working.
As for the quiet pop, even without a key in the ignition...
There are two power wires feeding your stereo... The first one connects to an uninterrupted battery line (To keep preset memory, and clock time...some of them actually provide the majority of the power for the HU too...) and the second one is the ignition or acc line to let the radio turn on and off.... if you pulled that fuse, you probably dropped the constant power line to your radio, and that was the pop you heard.
You wrote:
>I found the temporary fix, when I turn on the parking lights, >adjust the dimmer switch low, then high and turn off the lights, >the radio and clock stay bright.
I would put money on it being one of those two light controls. Please let us know what you find out!
Sounds exactly like a lightswitch problem bud.... Only thing, I am not sure if it is the dimmer switch, or the headlight switch.
Let me tell you why I think this:
First of all, when you turn on the exterior lights on your truck, the radio backlighting is now connected to the dimmer control. I am thinking that your radio is always connected through this, and that is why your backlighting on the radio isn't working.
As for the quiet pop, even without a key in the ignition...
There are two power wires feeding your stereo... The first one connects to an uninterrupted battery line (To keep preset memory, and clock time...some of them actually provide the majority of the power for the HU too...) and the second one is the ignition or acc line to let the radio turn on and off.... if you pulled that fuse, you probably dropped the constant power line to your radio, and that was the pop you heard.
You wrote:
>I found the temporary fix, when I turn on the parking lights, >adjust the dimmer switch low, then high and turn off the lights, >the radio and clock stay bright.
I would put money on it being one of those two light controls. Please let us know what you find out!