Working on a new to us 2002 Ranger for my soon to be driving son. I've researched all the forums and managed to get the CD mechanism unjammed and glued the worm gear back on. No more errors and it will take and eject CDs perfectly (for now). It just won't play. I took it apart again and found that the arm and spindle rotates in and grabs each disk. However, it just sits there and does nothing for a minute or two. Then draws back and tries again. The spindle isn't spinning and as far as I can tell, it doesn't look (or sound) like the lens is trying to focus. I've traced the tiny ribbon that look like it goes to the lens and motor mechanism and reseated all the other ribbons with no luck. Any ideas? I'm leaning to possibly a dirty or bad switch somewhere... something unplugged... or it just died...

I found a great cheap bluetooth cig lighter FM transmitter, but I figured I'm really close to getting the CDs going.

 

Wow, you have more determination than I do. I would have scrapped it and spent the bucks to just buy a new stereo with more features. Good luck.

 

 

I can understand the OCD part, but trust me, those 6 disc CD players were all garbage. Mine wouldn't eject CD's, so I disassembled it and fixed that issue, only for it to stop powering on without warning a few days later. Replaced it with a single din and never looked back. Nobody really uses CD's anymore so make sure the new radio you get has at the very least an aux input or USB port.

 

+1 ^^^ with Fordzilla ^^^

I know I'm late to the party, but yeah. I would suggest replacing the stock unit with a single din (or double din with trimming bezel) "media unit" which has no CD, but Bluetooth, aux and USB connectivity.

After 2 years in my rig (2003), the 6CD head unit stopped playing, I used only the radio for 2 more years. I finally broke down and installed an aftermarket CD deck with BT and USB. If and when that unit finally stops working (been 11 years with a good 5-7 years of CD use...wow!), I will do the media deck because all my music is on my phone or I can load it onto a thumb drive and go. CDs now are stored away from everything in a dark corner of the closet. You can get a really good, cheap unit for less than a 100 (even 20 bux at Walmart...questionable quality though), and a few more for the harness to make it sooooo easy to do it yourself. YouTube it to witness the simpleness of said procedure

All you need is a single din mounting kit, Phillips (for two screws) and a flat screwdriver (to possibly pry the face and/or harnesses...careful about marring dashboard.) to do this.

My unit connects as I turn the key and powers on and controls the music so I don't have to keep searching for my phone to change tracks.

If you reeeeeally like your CDs, get the CD unit with all that stuff. Anything is better than that stock unit...even a boombox