More radio diagnostics
You already know while in AM or FM mode and pressing 3 & 6 at the same time will put the sound system into speaker test mode. If you interrupt this test by pressing buttons 1 through 6 there’s more info available to trouble shoot
radio problems – only # 3 & #5 have much value to non-technicians.
First press 3 & 6 to enter speaker test mode, then press # 1 thru 6:
1. Enters Self Test mode – the Thunderbird
radio will normally FAIL this test with error codes not applicable to the
radio. Press TUNE to see these codes anyway. It appears only error code B1342, B2404 and B2477 apply to this specific
radio. This also is for the 2002
radio - I don't know if its the same for '03 & '04s.
2. Displays DTCs (Diagnostic Trouble Codes) Press TUNE to advance to next trouble code number. As mentioned most of these error codes are N/A.
3. Signal Strength for the
radio station selected.
4. Pressing #4 while in diagnostic mode will retrieve the software configuration level of the audio components (
CD changer, amps, etc).
5. Pressing 5 will illuminate all
radio segments to test for “dead” segments.
6. Pressing 6 displays the software configuration level of the audio unit.
To exit test mode turn the
radio off.