99 Taurus Radio Dead

[LeeRang]

After intemittenly cutting out for about a month, radio is now dead. How can I access the rear to check the connections?
I was also considering wiring up a Kenwood CD from my old F150, is there a way to wire into the fuse box for the RADIO and RADIO MEMORY fuse locations?

Getting tired of riding around in silence, any help would be appeciated.

[shorod]

In what way or ways is the radio dead? Is there no sound and no display? Does the display seem to work fine, but there is just no sound?

If the display works but there is no sound, the problem is likely in the Rear Control Unit (RCU) mounted in the trunk. If this is the case, then even installing your Kenwood will not fix the issue. The unit in the dash is basically just a control and display unit. The tuner and amplifiers are in the RCU.

If there is no sound and no display, then you could have a fuse/power issue or the dash unit could be bad. To properly test this, you'll need to remove the dash unit and check for power if you verify the fuses are good at both fuse panels, under the hood and inside the car. You can buy special Ford radio removal tools from the local auto parts store that will allow you to remove the control unit from the dash without damaging the retaining clips.

If you opt to replace the unit with your Kenwood after verifying that the problem is not the RCU, pick up a radio mounting kit for your '99 Taurus (assuming you don't have the Electronic Automatic Temperature Control - EATC - as I don't believe anyone makes a kit for this yet) and get the wiring harness too. The wiring harness will get soldered to the Kenwood and will have the proper mating connector for the factory Ford wiring so all you need to do is plug the connector in and all your power, illumination, and audio connections will be there.

-Rod

[LeeRang]

Rod, the problem is no display and no sound, I checked all fuses under the dash and under the hood. All OK. I have the EATC system, will radio removal tool work for this panel configuration? Also, if the in dash unit is bad, are these available from Ford, or am I better off searching junk yards.

Thanks, Lee

[shorod]

The radio removal tool will work for the system with the EATC, the problems would be putting the Kenwood in. As far as I am aware, no one makes an adapter panel for single DIN radios with the EATC, only with the manual HVAC controls.

If the dash unit is bad, you'd be much better off searching junk yards are getting a known working one off of eBay.

-Rod

[seasonalskier2006]

Originally Posted by shorod

In what way or ways is the radio dead? Is there no sound and no display? Does the display seem to work fine, but there is just no sound?

If the display works but there is no sound, the problem is likely in the Rear Control Unit (RCU) mounted in the trunk. If this is the case, then even installing your Kenwood will not fix the issue. The unit in the dash is basically just a control and display unit. The tuner and amplifiers are in the RCU.

If there is no sound and no display, then you could have a fuse/power issue or the dash unit could be bad. To properly test this, you'll need to remove the dash unit and check for power if you verify the fuses are good at both fuse panels, under the hood and inside the car. You can buy special Ford radio removal tools from the local auto parts store that will allow you to remove the control unit from the dash without damaging the retaining clips.

If you opt to replace the unit with your Kenwood after verifying that the problem is not the RCU, pick up a radio mounting kit for your '99 Taurus (assuming you don't have the Electronic Automatic Temperature Control - EATC - as I don't believe anyone makes a kit for this yet) and get the wiring harness too. The wiring harness will get soldered to the Kenwood and will have the proper mating connector for the factory Ford wiring so all you need to do is plug the connector in and all your power, illumination, and audio connections will be there.

-Rod

if you want to save some money a couple of coat hangers in the factory holes will do the job just the same but it is kinda a bitch to get it out i suggest prying it out with a SMALL screwdriver once you put in the coat hangers. And if you need to connect wires i suggest wire crimps, but if you want to solder make shure that you use as little heat as possable and the quickest solder job to keep the wire covers unmelted (i have done it before) and make sure that you take all of the fuses out on that circut before or you might do some damage!!!

[LeeRang]

I was able to remove the Dash unit, and visually checked and reseated the connectors. Still no dipslay or sound. I am looking for the connector and pin-out for the power to the dash unit to check that.

Thanks Lee

[shorod]

Originally Posted by LeeRang

I was able to remove the Dash unit, and visually checked and reseated the connectors. Still no dipslay or sound. I am looking for the connector and pin-out for the power to the dash unit to check that.

Thanks Lee

If you want to private message me with an e-mail address that can accept PDF attachments, I can send you the wiring diagram and connector pinout for the '98 Taurus dash unit. I would expect that the diagram is very similar for 1999.

-Rod