I am new to this forum and would like to find out how to remove the AM/FM cassete radio in my 96 F150 XLT. I am putting in a Sirius radio and have a direct connection that plugs into the antennia socket for clearer reception. I trust there is a link that I can be directed to that explains how to remove the radio.

 

You will need Ford radio removal tools. If i am not mistaken, on a 1996 there are 2 holes on each side of the radio faceplate, you stick the u shaped tools in the holes and push away from the radio and pull out at the same time. Your local parts store may be able to get them for you, i can't imagine them costing more than 5 bucks.

-Jon

 

Thanks for the tip. The radio does have the two holes on each side that you mention. I will see if I cn find them.

 

Use 2 loops cut from a wire coat hanger. They work every bit as well and cost nothing

 

I have a Sirius Sportster 3 running direct line in to the rear Aux jack in the back of my Pioneer (DEH4900IB) and ran the Sirius antenna wire coming out of my 3rd brake light.

 

You could save yourself a bit of hassle and go to wal-mart and buy one of those cassette adapter things that were popular when portable CD players came out. It looks like a tape with a wire coming out of one end, and a regular headphone plug on it. Stick that in the "aux out" of the receiver, and then just pop the tape into the factory radio. It will be better quality than going through the antenna(since it forms a direct connection to the tape head, no quality is lost at all). Even a hardwire connection to the antenna slot still requires the signal be "tuned in". No car radio is a precise enough tuner(most go in .2mHz intervals) to get a perfect reception. Just saying, if you're going to pay for CD quality radio, you might as well get it and not settle for radio-quality-radio.

Sirius came in the new Explorer factory installed, really enjoy it. The crap you hear on FM radio about it "breaking up" and "constant profanity" isn't true at all. The only time it goes out is if you go through a tunnel that takes more than 5 or so seconds to go through, or if you are in a really heavily wooded area where trees cover most of the sky view. Sure, if you turn on the "uncensored comedy"- RawDog, channel 104 I believe or Howard Stern, there will be swearing but what do you expect. The music played on all other stations is straight off the album.

Those U-shaped tools cost $4 at wal-mart, saw them there a few days ago. You can make one out of the two corners of a coat hanger, but it will take a little time to get it bent to exactly the right shape.

 

Dont know about your areas, but the radio stations around here play more non-stop commericals vs actual music which gets annoying.

 

There's actually one around here- Pyx106, a classic rock station- that has so many commercials it's more of a joke than a station. The station yet doesn't seem to realize this and still touts it's "extra long music marathons". That's totally true, if an "extra long marathon" is 3 songs or 10 minutes, whichever is shorter, and only after you listen to a super-ultra-mega-extra long commercial marathon. No kidding, commercial blocks often run for 20min or more of straight ads, and always at least one anti-Satellite radio ad. I remember once somebody called in during a request hour, and the DJ asked "So what do you want to hear?" and the caller responded "How about another extra-long commercial marathon?" I almost went off the road laughing so much, and then just popped in a CD.

Once the 6 month trial subscription is up and we renew it for the Explorer, I'll probably buy another receiver that can go in my truck. Though I don't really know how I would hook it up. The old stereo was a radio/cassette, but I got rid of that in favor of a cheapo(like $30 from the bargain bin at Advance Auto) radio/CD player. Works well enough and plays burned CD's and doesn't beep constantly like the old Sony one did. Doesn't have a line in jack, so I guess I'd have to use one of the antenna plug adapter things. I didn't bother to secure the radio into the dash, so I could just yoink it out and put the adapter in within about 10 seconds.