Just recently, my CD player started messin up on me. I put in a CD, it will play about 2 tracks then shut off and spit out the CD. The radio and everything still work, but it's just the CD player. Anybody know whats goin on?

 

Stock CD or aftermarket one?

 

If it's stock... Wowak could be some help to you. He works with them.

 

Its the stock single disc.

 

If it does this with all of your CD's, try cleaning the laser. Just get a cleaning CD and let it run for a bit. You can also take the faceplate off, and use compressed air to blow out any dust. If the problem still persists, let us know.

 

Cleaning is a good possibility.

Also, try pushing the 3 and 6 buttons together. That will put some of the factory head units into self-diagnostic mode.

 

Never heard of the 3+6 combo, thanks Bob! My MP3 unit is still hosed up, so I'll try that.

 

The 3+6 combo worked in my MACH radio. It ran a speaker test, but errored out in the CD test. I guess that means something mechanical went bad. Oh well, the Alpine arrives next week.

 

I tried the cleaner disc and i took off the face plate and cleaned everything out, but it still wont work. I really want to get this to work again, because I dont have any money to buy a new cd player. Any other suggestions?

 

My stock Mach mp3 single cd player hasn't been playing any cd's lately...it just says cd err i think and spits them out.

I just tried that 3+6 and it goes through the speakers and then says NO DJ...well shoot, i already knew i was no dj.

But seriously, is this fixable? I tried a CD cleaner and it doesnt do the trick.

I went to best buy looking at new head units and once i said it was a mach mp3 player he was like oh that's extra b/c of the wiring, etc. So it was like $150 for install instead of maybe $50 or whatever it normally would be. Is there any truth to the mach being a complicated wiring setup?

Can i swap in another ford stock headunit, like a cd-6 from another ranger?

Thanks

 

They have it confused with the Tremor system, since that has a seperate amp and sub. I replaced my old stock single CD with the Mach MP3 single CD, and the plug is IDENTICAL. Also the same for the CD6. Anyone that tells you there are different is an idiot, and should not be allowed near your truck.

I'd wait to see if Brian Wowack has any suggestions, but I'd say the old thing is shot. They just seem to wear out after about 3-4 years. Mine jammed with a CD in it. Once I got it out, it wouldn't load another one.

Best advice is to order a nice Alpine from Crutchfield. Mine was $199 including shipping, adapter plate, and wiring harness. Took all of 30 minutes to install, and it sounds great.
http://silvertank.batcave.net/Alpine.htm

 

The Mach MP3 uses the exact same wiring as any other Ranger radio from 98-04, and is interchangable with any Ranger radio from 98-04, with the exception of the Tremor HU.

If any of you guys were closer to me I could exchange your radio for a reman with a 12mo/12K mile warranty for around $195 ($195 for a single CD/Mach MP3, the CD6 is about $100 more,) but if you go to a dealership in your area they're likely to charge you around $300 ($400-450 for a CD6.)

 

Are the Pioneer 6cd players (with DSP) out of sport tracs (have silver face) a direct swap or are those the units similar to the Tremor units? I dont know what units are in the Tremors.

 

CD6's out of sportracs are just Ranager CD6's with a different faceplate.
You can also change the faceplates on the MACH MP3's
Same wiring and connecter. According to Visteon, they are made by them but branded by Pioneer. At least that's what they say.

I believe the Tremors use a true Pioneer box.

 

How do you change the face plates? The silver looks good, just not in my truck which is mostly red and black.

 

Um, I'll see if I can find one in our warehouse to try.. I think theres something about those Pioneer ones.. they might have an external amp somewhere like the Tremor. MRC would know for sure, maybe I'll just call him.

As for swapping the faceplates, if you can get your hands on a complete one, its only 4 T10 screws and some tabs and one small 2 wire connector on the older ones, or a connector like an old nintendo cartridge on the newer ones (thats right, not all CD6 plates are interchangable.) My face is out of an Aviator, and the DSP button doesn't work on it, but I can still access the DSP function through the "menu" button. The DSP button is something else on a Ranger radio, but I can't remember without having one in front of me. Durr!

Now if you want to get real serious and not change any of the working parts, you can take the circuit board out of the faceplate (about 8 more torx screws) and just swap the working parts between the two to use your factory black face. To get the buttons out (if there are any differences in the buttons) you have to heat up two tabs with a soldering iron to get the rest of it apart. I completely disassembled mine and painted it bright silver (the Explorer ones are really more of a gunmetal color.)