help with my explorer radio?

Question

my 03 exlorer radio display reads call no funtions work if u turn on running lamps radio works fine turn them off and call appears and nothing works again

Answer 1

Is this a factory radio?

"Call" means that the cell-phone mute feature of the radio is being activated. Usually on radios with this feature, there's a wire at the back that gets grounded whenever a phone call is detected (it's meant to be used together with a hands-free kit). It sounds like your vehicle's illumination wire has been connected to the cell-mute wire. When the lights are turned off, the unit detects a ground through the parking light bulbs; when the lights are on, the wire gets voltage and the mute function turns off.

Basically, if you have an after-market deck, someone messed up the wiring.

Answer 2

Puncuation and formatting would make your question a lot easier to read, but I think you're saying that your radio only works if you turn on your parking lights? (I'm assuming that it works if you have your headlights on too, then.)

That makes me think that have either some type of computer failure in the radio, or have developed a wiring problem in the accessory 12v in line.

Find a replacement radio in a junk yard, or an aftermarket radio.

Answer 3

push button if u see nothing where it says 12 but not if it isn't there