Ford Repair: Ford Explorer Radio, radio cd cassette, factory radios

Question
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Followup To
Question -
I have a 1996 Ford Explorer with an am fm cassette radio with the rear console controls.  The cassette does not work any longer and I want to replace the radio with a factory unit, preferably with a CD player.  In 1996 they tell me that the CD player was mounted separatly in the console.  I see many radios on ebay with the CD in the radio itself fitting 1998 and up models.  They look similiar but will they fit my vehicle and be a simple plug in?
Answer -
Hi, Your year of explorer came with the CD player in two configurations - 1. as part of the radio with the tuner and sometimes with the cassette and CD both - but it is and was one unit. Explorers never had a separate CD player except for the next option I'll tell you about.
2. Inside the console between the seats, there is room for a vertical multidisc CD player - it looks like the aftermarket CD changers that were popular in car trunks in those days. That is the only seperate one that fit that truck.  There are aftermarket versions that will fit it. I can't recall right now what the name of the company is that makes them but I think crutchfield sells them as an add-on kit.  You can find crutchfield on line at
www.crutchfield.com. Enter the information about your truck and ask it to show you the available accessories. A CD changer should be one of those options.

Take care  good luck with your project.  Beware of ebay radios - you just never know what you're getting. Many are rusted from being in junk yards and being in the weather. To be sure if you do buy on ebay - make sure the seller has a very good history of feedback and make sure you see views of the radio - front - top - sides - and back. Look for any rust and if you see it - bad news.

Dennis

So will factory radios from newer years fit my 1996? I want to stay with the factory radio cd/cassette combo units.

Thanks for your help

Answer
Hi - the best I can tell you is that some will - some won't The Ford radios got more and more complicated with more varied plugs as the years moved up to the current year. Last year there were 40 different possible radio combinations for the explorer and there were 6 different plug arrangements. If you find a radio that physically fits the opening and has the right latching setup - and most importantly that it has the exact same plug sizes and number of pins that you have - then it will work. Ford has always been careful to prevent you from miswiring a radio by changing connectors if necessary.

Any more detail than this would need to come from a radio shop or from a dealer. Some times you get luckly and find a parts guy at a dealer that will take the time to look up what years a radio can be used in. Most won't bother though.