'97 Cassette Player Distortion
 

Hi! I'm having a weird issue with my '97 Ranger's original Cassette player. It works fine for about five minutes after I turn the car on, but then it starts to play some metallic distortion that just keeps getting worse until it's un-listenable. Turning the tape player off/on doesn't help, still has the distortion. The radio works fine the whole time though, so it doesn't seem to be a problem with the speakers. Any advice?

Thanks!

Welcome to the forum

No, it means there is a problem with cassette player, most likely the head, you can try cleaning it but at the probable age of its electronics it may need to be replaced, if thats even possible, cassette players were not that great when new, i.e. play back range, so not alot of repair places any more

Thanks Ron, I appreciate the welcome!

Alas, not surprising. Fingers crossed that cleaning will fix it.

An update: cleaning the tape heads worked and eliminated the distortion!

Hey man, i'm glad i found you, i just bought a original cassette player(f57f-19b165-cg), it has been removed from a 97 stx, i have a 95 XL, i got the plugs but i need the diagram do you have it?
and is you player signed by JBL? mine is not, but i don't know if both of them must have the amplifier to work.
Thanks a lot.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/3b/3a...22e0643bc0.jpg

You can check here for wiring diagrams: https://www.therangerstation.com/tec...diagrams.shtml

See if any match 1995 and 1997

that's the thing, there is one that works properly, but i can't tell if this is a premium sound or not, and at the diagram for a 97 premium radio, it says "CD" at some plugs, but mine is tape, i don't know if it works the same, i am really lost right now, thank you