An unresponsive radio unit can be one of the most frustrating issues to encounter on your vehicle. However, there is no need to worry about it; radio units can sometimes malfunction, like most electronics. They'll mostly need a quick reset to get back on track. We have provided an extensive troubleshooting procedure down below for you to follow and to help you fix your radio unit.
If the radio unit on your Ford Mustang is not working, you first need to check the car’s owner manual to locate the fuse responsible for the radio unit and the amplifier. In the passenger compartment fuse box, you would need to check fuse No 32 (Audio Unit) and 23 (Amplifier) (for 2021 model) for any burns or disconnections if the radio is acting completely dead. Replace the burnt fuse, if any, with a new one in the exact same current rating. To reset the unit, you should pull out the two fuses mentioned above for about a minute and then put them back inside. It should reset your Mustang’s radio unit and remove any bugs you face with the unit.
If you own any Mustang model other than 2021, you should consult your car’s driver manual and find the responsible fuse for the radio unit and the amplifier. Checking the fuse is the first and foremost step to troubleshooting the radio unit on your Ford Mustang. This may seem straightforward, but finding out why your radio isn’t working could be more complicated than checking a fuse. Continue reading as we dive deeper into reasons why your Mustang's radio isn’t working and how to fix it.
How To Troubleshoot A Mustang's Radio
A quick way to try to fix your Ford Mustangs radio is by taking out the radio and amplifier fuse for a minute and placing it back in. Resetting the stereo unit should solve any black screen or unresponsive buttons issues.
If you observe any fuse related to the radio unit or the speakers/amplifier setup is burnt or damaged, replace it with another one with the same rating. You can easily find these fuses online as micro fuses or automotive fuses. If you notice, upon reinspection, that the replaced fuse burns again as soon as you start your vehicle, chances are that your radio wiring has a short circuit or the radio unit is out of order.
How To Reset A Car Radio
If resetting the radio unit with the fuse does not work and your unit still has some bugs, you can try resetting it again using one of the other methods mentioned below:
- Try disconnecting the negative terminal on your car’s battery, and leave it disconnected for almost a minute or two. This will drain all the charge, if any in the car’s capacitors, and reset almost all of the electronic systems on your Mustang. It resets the date and time in the stereo as well, so look out for that.
- If your Mustang is equipped with CD ROM, then try putting a CD in the slot. It could force the radio unit to change the input, possibly resetting the radio.
Trying the methods mentioned above should reset the unit and should take out all the temporary bugs. However, if all the above methods do not fix a black screen or unresponsive buttons on your Mustangs radio unit, there is a permanent issue in the radio unit itself.
Mustang Radio Still Not Working - What To Do?
Suppose the radio unit on your Ford Mustang appears to be completely dead and does not come back to life even after replacing the burnt fuse. There is either an issue with the radio unit itself or its wiring. You'd need an extensive amount of tools to troubleshoot the issues in the wiring yourself.
For a simple troubleshooting process, check whether the power line (thick yellow wire mostly) is carrying the 12-volt signal and the ground line (Black) is in continuity with the car’s ground. You can also check the voltage on the switch wire (red mostly), showing 12 volts when the key is in the ACC or ON position.
If all the wires mentioned above have required voltages, then the issue is most likely with the radio unit itself. You should contact the dealership to get the radio unit replaced, especially if the car is still in warranty.
Why Did My Car Radio Stop Working?
There are several possible causes as to why your car radio is not working. However, most car radios can typically stop working due to a blown-out fuse. A fuse blows out when the current requirement by the radio unit circuit exceeds the maximum set limit by the fuse.
Sometimes random spikes in current can occur without any issues and cause the fuse to blow out. It can easily be resolved by replacing the blown fuse with a new one with the same rating as the original fuse.
How Do You Know If Your Mustang Radio Is Blown?
Suppose you recognize the fuse is not the issue as to why your radio unit is still not showing any signs of life, even after replacing the fuse. In that case, you should consult with the dealership for a proper diagnosis. There is a chance that your radio unit is blown or its wiring is messed up.
How Do You Reset The Radio On A 2016 Mustang?
The radio on your 2016 Ford Mustang can be reset with a power cycle to the radio unit. This is done in a couple of ways. First, unplug the fuse responsible for the radio and the amplifier unit. Plug it back in after a minute or two.
Another way of doing it is by detaching the vehicle’s connection from the battery's negative terminal for a minute and connecting it back up. These quick and easy methods should reset the radio on your Mustang. Keep in mind that the latter method also resets all the other electronic systems in your vehicle.
How Do You Troubleshoot A Mustang Radio?
The first step to troubleshoot the radio on your Mustang is to check for any burnt fuses related to the radio unit or the speakers/amplifier. You can then try resetting the radio unit by power cycling it with the multiple methods mentioned above. Then, if you have the right tool to disassemble the radio unit, you can try checking the voltages in the power cables. If you cannot diagnose any issues up until this step, then the radio unit on your Mustang is most likely faulty.
The radio unit on the Ford Mustang base version can be a bit buggy sometimes and might need a quick reset to come back in order again. The reset procedure will not take more than 5-10 minutes of your time and will solve most of the issues related to the radio. If it does not, it is recommended to consult the dealership or a local automotive electrician for advice.
In Closing
The Ford Mustang is such a fun vehicle that you may not need your radio in the first place. However, there is a high chance that you are going to want music while driving. If the troubleshooting recommendations above do not solve the issue, then it is wise to contact your local Ford dealer.
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We would love to hear from you! Don’t forget to leave a comment below!
First of all – try resetting the unit using buttons (seek up and power) – hold for 5 seconds. Worked for me.
I have a 17 mustang GT. The radio, Am and Fm will not work when tapping the radio button. However after tapping the station button, if I hold down the same button for the beep, it plays.
Tha Sirius and cd plays just fine without any extra work.
Any suggestions?