The radio backlight in my 2000 E150 van will not shut off when I turn the ignition off and remove the key. The radio doesn't continue to play but the green glowing backlight stays on and runs the battery down after a few days. The screen where the stations numbers are displayed does not stay on. I am referring to a green glowing backlight around the ****. It's difficult to see during the daytime but after dark you can see it very easily. I pulled the #15 fuse from the fuse box and the light goes off and my battery no longer runs down. Do I have a bad radio or could there be some other issue?

 

Is this an original Ford factory radio or aftermarket?
If it is aftermarket it is likely wired wrong, some have a separate wire for dash lights so that the radio back light will dim at night with the dash light dimmer. Or it could be defective.

If it is the original factory Ford radio, it is either internally shorted or something is going wrong with your vehicle's wiring.
Fuse 15 under the dash is for trailer battery charge relay.
Fuse 3 under the dash is for Main Light Switch, RKE Module, and Radio.

 

I'd agree with Sam I Am on this. Good news is those model year radios are about a dime a dozen guaranteed to work through eBay. I might have one laying around that'll never be used, working perfectly when removed back in 2008 or 2009. You're welcome to it for just the cost of shipping if its still "in stock" here in the house.

Lemme know.


J W

 

Sam, I am meant to say fuse #22 not #15. Number 22 is a 15 amp.

JW, I sure could use that radio. Here is a picture of mine. Do you have one of these? I would be glad to pay the shipping.

 

I don't have one of those with integrated CD & cassette players---mine that still work would be the AM/FM only, single DIN spacing

I do have one each out of a 2003 & 2005 and they both have "needs repair" on them---my writing but I can't recall what was defective about them.

If you want to keep your current chassis it can be refurbished by several sellers I've found on eBay. You can search for yourself or I'd be happy to see if I saved any Sellers on my pages there.

HTH