I have a 2002 Explorer it is the third explorer I have owned,on all three after about 50,000 miles the am reception on the lower bands becomes impossible to listen to.Any suggestions.

try running a wire from the hood to the body - many of the fords have a problem with the hood ground going bad and causing engine static to escape the engine compatment

start listening to FM

The problem is the power supply sheilding inside the radio. This usually preseeds the display going out on the radio. You have to remove the radio and resloder the shield if the groud wire doesn't work.