I just the last few time I drove my 2006 Ranger noticed a problem with the display on my radio/CD player.
This is the original equipment radio.

The problem is at times the display either goes blank or is full of what I would call "Hieroglyphics" like symbols.

This does not seem to affect the playing of the CD. I tried shutting it off and turning back on but does not seem to change anything. Then out of the blue it goes back to showing things like time and track number. It does not seem to loose the time setting when this happens.

The first time it did this was a cold day down in the teens but did it again on a warmer day. I could try to get a picture if this would be of any help, but with my luck as soon as I find a safe place to stop it will go back to normal. Just guessing it might be a poor connection for the display, is this something anyone has seen or knows how to fix?

 

Sounds like an issue with the display itself. Not economic to attempt a repair at the component level. Even if you had the skill to make a repair, you may not have the required tools to do so... plus the time invested can really pile up. Try finding a used replacement.

 

By a replacement I'm assuming you mean a "new" radio/CD player?

Do you or anyone else know what year Rangers use the same radio mounting, or any other Ford products that would be a slip in replacement.

PS I do have the special release tools to release the radio from back when I worked at a place that had lots of F150's.

 

New or used.

If you can remove the existing radio and post some photos of it, it may match one I have available.

 

I'll see if I can sometime in the next day or so.

 

The radios in these trucks were known for this. My truck wasn't even 8 years old when this started happening to it, and there was nothing internal that could fix it as the part that was failing was part of the display. I replaced it with an aftermarket head unit (Single Din) from 2011-2013 and then have been running the same double din head unit since 2013 with no issues from it. Leave the stock radios in the dust if you're willing and just put in an aftermarket radio. It's likely going to be cheaper than sourcing a stock radio which often go for over $100 on Ebay.

 

Thanks for the reply!
Now could you educate me on what a "Single Din" is? Keep in mind I'm from the era when cassettes just taking over from 8-Tracks! Plus I still have a 7-inch Reel to Reel I use at home from time to time !

 

Single-DIN refers to stereos that are two inches tall (and seven inches wide)
Double-DIN refers to stereos that are four inches tall (and seven inches wide)

 

I still have the stock radio i pulled out of my '06 Sport for a 7" touch screen radio. Was working with no issues when pulled.

 

What would you need for it? Also does it have input for Flash drive, I'm thinking not back in 2006.

Just a quick look on Amazon it's looking like I can get something that does have FlashDrive input for $50. or maybe less?
Nice thing about the slash drive input is I could probably store 2,000 or more MP3's on one and with CD's that might be 100 Discs!

Anyone have suggestions on good or bad points of the low cost radio/MP3 players? I'm assuming I would need at the least an cable adapter and some kind of block off plate for the dash to cover up the lower part of the hole the original radio fits in.

 

2000 MP3s are about 6gb, depending on the recording quality. So less than 10 CDs.

 

You'll need the radio, an adapter harness, and the mounting kit (these are vehicle specific so look for one for a 1995-2011 Ford Ranger). The mounting kits for single-dins have a little cubby that fills the gap above or below the radio depending on how you mount it.

 

Well just check my music files and computer says 14.5GB and 2498 files! And I just happen to have a spare 16GB flash drive so I'm good to go on that one!
Now just need to decide on a Radio/player.

 

While I'm bothering you people might as well ask one more question:
Anyone have experience with and or opinions on the Metra installation kits or wiring harness adapters?

 

I've used Metra and Scoshe with no issues.

 

Well I just committed to a Jensen Radio and MP3 player and Scoshe Harness adapter and mount from Amazon for a total of about $61.00.
With any luck should be here the end of the week and I can see about installing a few days after. I'll try to remember to let you people know how it goes!
Ken in NY

 

Well the new radio and adapters came in a couple days early.
I got the Jensen MRP210 with the Scosche mount and wiring adapter.

I probably got the wrong wiring adapter for my 2006 Ranger as it had three extra connectors than my original CD/radio used but once those were trimmed off the harness I had what I really needed, snip snip crimp crimp! Next I plugged it into radio and the truck harness and looked like everything was good to go.

Next attached and adjusted rear support to the mount. Kit was missing the screw but I have plenty of those! Once satisfied with the position I added a little JB Weld to hep support it and after that set trimmed off some of the excess part of bracket. Once satisfied with everything snapped mount into dash then radio into mount. One note the online info at Amazon seemed to indicate I might need an adapter or extension for antenna wire but on my truck there was no problems in that area.

Radio plays good and works fine with music I have on a Flash drive, even scrolls the info for the song on display.

One problem with this radio MP3 player it is with the instruction sheet. Seems like it was written by someone very familiar with these radios so some things are I guess "assumed". Just setting the clock took about 15 minutes, setting hour was easy but getting to the point I could change minute was a problem and not sure how I did it!

One other thing is when I paired it with my cell phone I was able to call my wife and her voice came in great through the trucks speakers but she said she could barley make out what I was saying, will look into that latter. For me this is not a priority as my use of cell phone is way limited compared to those who seem to need one imbedded in their brain 24/7.

Best thing I can say right now is not having to have a stack of CD's to deal with is great.

 

Glad you're satisfied with the upgrade save for a few small issues.

 

Thanks!

Just one thing I thought might help someone in future doing a replacement of an old CD player.

First step should be to make sure you have removed any CD's from old player before starting job!

YEP! you guessed it the next day I remembered that I had been playing a CD early in the day I did the swap!

I was not about to pull new Radio/MP3 player out of truck so I started stripping the old Radio/CD player
until I got to where I could gently slide it out of old player. So Willie Nelson is free again!

I did reassemble the old unit just on the chance I want to reinstall it in the truck if I sell truck someday!

 

My truck had a factory 6-disc radio. One day the 6-disc unit stopped spinning, so I couldn't get the CDs out. I did the same thing as you and pulled it apart, retrieved my CDs, and then put it back together without the CD changer. I was planning on using just the radio, and that worked for a few weeks until the whole head unit just started randomly powering off and that's when it was replaced by a single din.