Okay.....first post here.

Got a new 2011 F350 SD XL work truck back in April. It came with the standard AM/FM unit. I purchased a brand new OEM AM/FM/CD/MP3 (BC3T-18C869-AB) with the blue lettering in the display off eBay last week.

Installed the unit, and most everything works fine.....except the radio's illumination isn't working. The display works, and that's all.

I've seen a lot of posts, regardless of the manufacturer, talking about reprogramming radios after upgrade or replacement.

What exactly is that all about? I mean, what are the particulars involving flashing/reprogramming the unit? Do you think that is what I need to have done?

Any and all input is greatly appreciated......

 

No I think the radio you bought doesn't fit the year you have so the illumanation wire isn't in the right spot

 

I don't know how that could be......my truck is a 2011, and the unit I purchased came out of a 2011.

I will say, though, that my work truck is an XL, and the truck the unit came out of was an XLT. Don't know if that has any bearing........???

 

by illumanation are you talking about the keys don't light up or the display ?

 

The buttons/keys don't light up at all, but the display works just fine.

Basically, I can see what track or station I'm listening to, but I can't see anything else when driving at night.

 

hum idk I personally would check the connection frm harness to radio make sure every prong has a mate and if not find out why not .... to do this I would buy a radio adaptor plug it into my harness and read which wire is your illumination and make sure it mates to something on your radio.....

does this make sense ??

 

Oh yeah, makes perfect sense. I'm on call this week, but you can rest assured that first thing Monday I'll be checking things out.

I've read a lot of threads talking about flashing or reprogramming upgraded radios in vehicles, and didn't know if that would rectify my issue or not.

I still don't know what flashing/reprogramming could do.........???

 

I know usually you have to reprogram the nav units but I don't think you can on the cd/mp3 units. I am not positive on the 2010+ years though.

 

I have the same issue, Except my illumination stays lit all the time. I swapped out a stock AM-FM radio, for a Am-FM-CD. Like you I installed it and turned it on. Everyhing works except the illumination stays ON constantly. It kills my battery, in two days, if I do not put a charger on it. The documentation I have found on the internet says....
The stock radio has it illumination through the wiring on the connector.
An upgraded Radio, has its Display, illumination programmed through the ODBII connection, by the dealer, or someone with the programming scan tool.
Also if your truck had the factory AM-FM radio, NO ODBII connection exists for the new radio. The connector is Not in the wiring harness.
After pains in finding the correct connector, I now have the the wiring in place to get this done. Its funny that your radio illumination didn't work, and mine stays on constanly. Looking for help..

 

Did you ever find out the solution. I have done the same thing you did and have the same problem.