2004 radio controls ~ radio blasts loudly when turned on, controls don't work right

[rorycrowder]

The radio unit controls don't work right, when turning the radio on it is SUPER loud, trying to turn it down causes it to get louder, controls don't work right. This seems like a radio control board issue, [not sure, don't know the systems involved]. Anyone know the issue and solution? Not sure what the logical repair is, parts involved, or if an suitable repair / replacement is available.

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[Debs tbird]

Its a Ford thing. My car does it too as well as my husband's Expedition. I use the volume control on the steering wheel. I saw an old post that said turn the knob back and forth for 4-5 times as a fix. It worked but not sustained.

 

[Digs]

I had the same problem. Using the extension nozzle, I simply sprayed electrical contact cleaner along the volume knob shaft. Did not remove the radio. It's been several months now and it still works just fine.

 

[Hollywood]

2004 radio issue, the radio will intermittently stop working. It comes on when starting car, then sometimes it will turn off & won't come back on until I park the car for a lengthy period of time & will come back on.

 

[PeepPeep!]

Not sure how much you've researched this, but the radio acting funky is a symptom of the Front End Module (FEM) malfunctioning. The Front End Module could be to blame, as it handles most, if not ALL, of the electronics in the front end of the car. The list is exhaustive of symptoms to diagnose a bad Front End Module since electronics can bug out in many different ways, but a few major examples are:

• Instrument Cluster illumination not working.
• Power steering stiff even when fluid levels normal.
• Headlights flickering or not working.
• Some electral systems not fully turning off even when car is turned off, causing a parasitic battery drain which can lead to a constant dead battery.
• Driver side windows not windshield wipers not working.
• Convertible top controls not working.
• Radio system glitches.
• Car horn not honking.
• Steering wheel not rising or lowering.
• Shift interlock malfunctioning.

Instrument Cluster not illuminating and stiff Power Steering are major tell-tale signs since they are the most easy to notice, and frusterating issues to have -- but you can still have FEM issues, even without those two major ones.

Note: You do NOT need to have all of these issues to have a malfunctioning FEM, some may work perfectly fine and only one or a handful may be malfunctioning -- but if you are noticing a few of these symptoms, it may be worth sending off your FEM to a reprogramming service that can ensure ALL of these work as intended and see if that fixes your issues.

Best of luck!

 

[doug7740]

The radio volume is not controlled by the FEM.

When the audio unit is powered up a wake-up signal is sent to the subwoofer amplifier. Audio output signals are then sent continuously to the subwoofer amplifier and center imaging amplifier. These signals are then amplified and sent to the speakers as a fluctuating AC voltage, thus producing sound from the speakers. A fluctuating AC voltage audio signal is also sent to the remaining speakers, directly from the audio unit, to produce sound.

The steering wheel controls are a multiplexed system that use different resistor values to produce different voltage levels on a single circuit. Each button that is pressed results in a unique voltage signal at the audio unit. This voltage signal is then interpreted by the audio unit as a distinct command.

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue

 

[PeepPeep!]

Ignore me! My limited research would fail me in this instance, Doug has the answer that the radio seems to be its own thing! Thanks Doug! 😊