Radio button lights dont turn on. Other wonky problems.

[Ford01LS]

Hi everyone, im new here, just bought an LS V8. I love this car! Just a few issues...

When I turn the dash lights/head lights on the radio backlights for the buttons do not come on. I have the Alpine 6 disc in dash changer head unit. The information display also stays on pretty bright (as if the radio has no idea that its dark out). Is this a known issue with the radio not sensing any input from the dash light switch?

The other weird issue is with the buttons on the back of the steering wheel. The "bottom" direction changes track up one and the "up" button changes volume. Wtf?

Also when the key is turned off the radio turns off, even before the door is opened. Is this normal?
The passenger door is impossible to lock, the lever on the inside will not move..it seems jammed. When I arm the alarm the passenger door still opens and the alarm goes off.

The car is a 2001 LS V8 with 97k miles.

Thank you for any help!
Dan

 

[joegr]

...When I turn the dash lights/head lights on the radio backlights for the buttons do not come on. I have the Alpine 6 disc in dash changer head unit. The information display also stays on pretty bright (as if the radio has no idea that its dark out). ...Also when the key is turned off the radio turns off, even before the door is opened. Is this normal?...

The data bus connection to the radio is not working. Either its the wiring, the radio, or a bad nearby electronic module.

...
The other weird issue is with the buttons on the back of the steering wheel. The "bottom" direction changes track up one and the "up" button changes volume. Wtf?
...

Usually, this is an early sign of the clockspring failing.

...
The passenger door is impossible to lock, the lever on the inside will not move..it seems jammed. When I arm the alarm the passenger door still opens and the alarm goes off...

You'll have to take the door interior trim off and see what's going on in there.

 

[Ford01LS]

Thank you!

I took apart the door and figured out that one of the cables had come loose that attaches to the locking mechanism that bolts to the edge of the door. Problem solved! Now I can leave stuff in my car at night... yay.

Is the radio difficult to remove? Im hoping that its just a wire, as I dont want to get the radio replaced (thats more $$$ than i'd like to spend). Is it more common for it to be a wire, or is the radio just prone to failure for this issue? I also dont want to remove the radio and screw up the reinstall when the wiring may not be the problem at all...

Thanks again!

 

[joegr]

Thank you!

I took apart the door and figured out that one of the cables had come loose that attaches to the locking mechanism that bolts to the edge of the door. Problem solved! Now I can leave stuff in my car at night... yay.

Is the radio difficult to remove? Im hoping that its just a wire, as I dont want to get the radio replaced (thats more $$$ than i'd like to spend). Is it more common for it to be a wire, or is the radio just prone to failure for this issue? I also dont want to remove the radio and screw up the reinstall when the wiring may not be the problem at all...

Thanks again!

Neither is common, so I can't say which is more likely.
The radio is easy to remove.
http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/tech/Lincoln-LS/Radio/

 

[Ford01LS]

Neither is common, so I can't say which is more likely.
The radio is easy to remove.
http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/tech/Lincoln-LS/Radio/

Thank you

 

[utmustang88]

2000,LS, radio code yw4f-18c870-BA, external CD, Alpine, 50k miles. Same problem as you the LEDs on the face do not light up, the up steering wheel control does volume up AND the mute button does not mute (try that button out). Solution: bought 1 radio off Ebay (20$), supposed to be in excellent condition, but it was a POS, BUT when I plugged it in the steering wheel controls (mute and preset up) buttons came back to life and the led lights also came on back. I purchased another radio off ebay (re manufactured $30), plugged it in and everything works like a charm.

I thought my clock spring was going too, as the mute and up function didn't work on the steering wheel....nope, it was the radio. I'm going to try and track down what actually caused the failure. Also, radio was a piece of cake to remove.