I just inherited my dad's 98 Ranger. It has the factory am/fm/cd/tape casset player. The display is dead. As I understand it, the display will occasionally work, but has not since I got the truck. Anyone know how to trouble shoot the obvious short in the display?

Thanks
Peter

 

fairly common on these stock units. I beleive there might be a how-to to fix it, but am not too sure. imo....it'll be way more beneficial to put in an aftermarket headunit than to try and fix it. Or find a replacement for cheap(hopefully).

 

Peter, i have a factory Head unit in perfect condition.

would you be interested in buying it?

 

The radio problem is on the FM/Cassette/CD models. The DC to DC power supply board for the display is the problem.
The PCB doesn't have an internal ground plane, and relies on the RF shield to provide ground from one end of the board
to the other. ALL 4 solder tabs for the RF shield were broken on the radio I repaired (and some other fatigued solder joints)
as you can see from the pictures below:


BEFORE:







AFTER: