Hi, I have recently encountered and issue where the speakers in my 2008 Ford Ranger FX4 shut down when I put the truck in gear,while in neutral or park they come back on. If anyone has any ideas on what the problem could be the help would be appreciated, I have already contacted Ford and they were lost. Thanks.

 

the radio is on, and when you slide the selector in drive the sound from the speakers just quits?
Dont mean to sound stupid by spelling it out like that but thats really strange

 

Yes, in park and neutral everything works fine but once its in gear all power to the speakers shuts down, it has me running in circles right now trying to figure it out.

 

yea its a common issue but i have yet to find a solution. i had the same problem. there is a wire that goes to the radio, and in certain circumstances, the voltage spikes and causes the radio to cut out.

Pink wire with tiny black stripe. cut this wire and your issue will go away (if it doesn't you can soldier it back together, so cut it mid length). I did it and have had no ill effects from it.

The wire doesn't show up on any wiring schematic, or shop manual. so i have no idea what it does.

also, check if it only does it with your high beams on. i could drive with my high beams on and it would work, but in drive on low beam no dice.

 

Got no pink wires with black or vice versa, also high beams or low beams doesn't make a difference, do you recall where the wire ran exactly?

 

Which sound system option do you have (base, Audiophile, or satellite) and does the radio display still show it’s powered up when the speakers cut out or does the display cut out as well?

 

i never bothered to follow it

good question^




only thing id suggest is get back there with the radio on and cycle through N and D while check each wire going to the back of the radio. wait for the one that changes voltage

 

Using the stock ranger stereo, it has satellite radio hooked up and yes the display still shows everything as running when the speakers cut out.

 

Ive seen this caused by the transmission range sensor many times. start the engine, disconnect the range sensor, and put it in drive and see if the radio remains on

 

OK i unplugged the range sensor and the first time i unplugged it, it took about 10sec and then all the speakers shut down again this time even while in park or neutral, I shut the truck down and tried again and had no delay in the shut down just immediately all sound shut off.

 

Bryan, unfortunately I'm not familiar with these new fangled Sat systems. It's making reference to computer data lines, not sure what they go to.. If you want to PM me your email, I can send you the wiring diagrams.

 

i own a shop and we have your speaker problem in our service bay, we have found the problem ! go to the fuse box on the right kick panel ,you will be looking for water. remove a pillar trim and kick panel . disconnect the battery,remove what ford calls the smart junction box, make sure all moisture is removed. we took the fuse box out and dried with shop air ,a fan under the dash over knight) plug everything back in ,connect battery and all is as it should be. the water on ours was leaking into the truck through the upper right corner of the windshield .with all the trim out of the way i sat inside my son flooded that side with a garden hose to locate leak