Audio Systems: radio in 1997 ford explorer Ltd, ford place, radio models

Question
the radio displays the word phone and the icon of a head set and I can't get it to do anything. I think the button for the head phones has been jammed in. they want $85.00 an hour at the ford place to look at it and will charge me for the new one also if it needs to be changed. and the cor toys wants to charge $139 (radio), $99 for the thing in back to jive with it, and $20 for the spacer. Can I just take something and pull out the button or will that make it worse. I just bought the car for $3295, miss having music when I drive, and am on low income and really can't afford to pay the large prices they want at ether place. The fact that it is an Ltd has something to do with the cost they say. What do you think, desperately wanting my music.

Answer
Yes, it could be a stuck button.  Gently, with the point of a sharp pocket knife see if you can pry out the button.

If it looks like this repair is not going to solve the problem there are other options to consider.

A.  Stop in at a car install shop and just ask if they know how to fix it easily.  A car dealership is the wrong place, usually, as they have do not have radio experts in the shop (maybe 1 out of 100 car dealer places will have a radio expert on hand).  Small independent shops are crafty because they do these kinds of repairs often.

B.  Look at this site

http://www.oemautosound.com/c-150-ford-products.aspx

and see if they have a replacement radio that will fit your car.  They are mostly around $200 and the right one would merely plug into your vehicle where the old one comes out.

C.  Go to

http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/autoinfo/autoinfo.asp?lp=%2fapp%2fCar%2fMyCar...

and work through the "outfit my car" and it will guide you to other radios that will fit your vehicle. You will find many radio models that can work in your 97 explorer from $39 and up.  If you decide to purchase from Crutchfield - and you don't have to if you can find the same radio locally - they will supply the wiring harness and installation instructions with the radio.  You can either install it yourself or have a local installer shop do it.

Hope this helps.

c