I have a 2007 ranger, previous owner hacked the factory radio harness instead of buying the adapter. Luckily he kept the factory plug. I have re connected the factory plug and installed my radio with the correct adapter harness. I had audio for about 30 seconds and goes back out. There are two plugs behind the radio both square. One with all the speaker wires and radio power. The other has about 5 wires and currently not connected to anything. I am thinking that ones for a factory amp? Is there a way to buypass that? Think that may be my issue for lack of audio. Any ideas?

 

The extra wires might be for a factory external input jack.

 

Ah didn't think of that. It does have an external aux jack. I'm not sure why I am not getting any audio. The head unit the previous owner had installed would work for a few minutes and than say wiring mismatch and stop working. The unit I installed I have used in several other vehicles and worked great. I was only able to get audio out of it for 30 seconds and stopped. Do these have a factory amp? Does it need to be bypassed? I've never had an issue with installing aftermarket radios until now.

 

No idea what if it does or doesn't have a factory amp. Nor any idea why you aren't getting audio. Your questions are akin to, "Why won't my truck run?"

 

Thanks for the help.

 

Ranger Radio wiring diagrams seen here, goes up to 2006: https://www.therangerstation.com/tec...ring-diagrams/

2007 should be similar to 2006, and you will see there were 3 Radio options, basic, premium and Tremor

12volt power can be a bit confusing on Radios
There will be a FULL TIME 12v wire, this is just to hold pre-set station memory and Clock time
Then a 12v in START, this will MUTE Ford Radios when starting the engine, a safety thing
Then the actual Radio power, 12volts key on, in RUN or ACC

And there can be a REVERSE 12v wire, either mutes radio or activates backup camera when in Reverse

The Tremor option was the only one with external amplifier for all speakers
Premium just had external amp for subwoofer

The fact you get un-distorted sound for 30sec means no external amp on the 4 main speakers

Does the audio MUTE or does the Radio shut off after 30sec?

 

I called Crutchfield and they were able to point me in the correct direction. Turns out left rear speaker is shorted out somewhere. I was unaware but I guess when one speaker shorts all audio is turned off. What was throwing me off was that one radio would play audio for a few minutes after start up where the other would only play for 30 seconds after reseting by disconnecting the battery.