The remote 6 CD changer in my 1997 F150 Lariat finally gave it up. I repaired it several times before and it always worked great afterwards. But this time I am not so lucky. It severely skips even when I am standing still and I can't see anything wrong with it like missing or broken springs or parts or stickiness. I would like to replace it with a new one that hopefully works better than the old one. The model number of my unit is a F77F-18C830-AA. Does anybody know what the first 4 digits mean? I was told that F57F-AB and DC or F87F-AA and AB work just as well. The middle portion 18C830 is the same on all of them. I was also told that compatibility is very narrow. Only a few model numbers are interchangeable. Can anybody shed any light on this. Thanks

 

CD, seriously? Do you listen to AM radio also?

Just kidding, but I've done nothing but stream music from my phone over Bluetooth for about the last 8 years.... And I'm a Luddite. I'm the last to adopt technology.

You do realize you can have almost every song made in the last 60 years at your fingertips, right for about $8/mo. In addition to podcasts, comedy, talk shows, etc. Not to mention most every radio station in the us as well, as well as a lot of stations that are Internet only radio.

 

Part Number: F77F-18C830-AA Compatible Part Numbers: F77F-18C830-AB, F57F-18C830-DC, F87F-18C830-AB

Application: 1995- 2005 Ford and Mercury full size, Bronco, Contour, Escort, Expedition, Explorer, F150, F250, F350, F450, F550, Mountaineer, Mustang, Navigator, Ranger, Tracer, and Windstar.

Ford used one source, Clarion I believe these are, for all their different models. You can still find these on eBay, reman's, rebuilders, etc for this particular head. Most do not come with the cartridges. Those seem to be gold plated when it comes to pricing.

Long story short, these are very common and available. When I went to a DD head, I pulled mine and gave it to a buddy. I'll bet you I don't have 10 CD's in my house anymore, but have over 40k songs and albums on MP3. And I'm older than dirt itself. I've just adapted.

 

What, no cable for that Blackberry?

 

My 6 disc changer is still in it's original location. Haven't had a stock radio in there for several years.

 

Come on you guys, don't bust my ba**s now. I am as old as the bible and i adopt where I want or need to, but not here. I tried MP3, ipod, iphone and they all sound tinny and crappy, nothing like my CDs, which I love. Sure I could upgrade my entire sound system and probably get decent sound from the media you all hype about, but my sweet Lariat is 26 years old and has 246K miles on its back. I think I will just try to fine a good replacement or get my changer repaired. Unfortunately these buggers are hard to work on and a lot of things need to be taken apart just to get to the laser module. Yes mbb, I listen to AM every morning for the local news LOL. Thanks Akdoggie, no kidding those cassettes go for 50 bucks and more. I wonder why, probably because a lot of people still love their 6 cd changers like I do and are not too crazy about aftermarket gizzmos. I plan on going to my local junk yards next week to see if they have a good replacement. If that doesn't pan out I found 2 units on ebay that fit the compatibility requirements and if that fails I need to put my mind to it and fix the old one

 

If it is compatible with my F77F-18C380-AA and is in good working order i buy from you. Let me know. Thanks

 

Today, the music comes actually from your phone and your head unit will just be an amplifier.

Mine.... Sounds fantastic. Exceptionally clear and detailed..... When streaming. Part of that is the speakers and subwoofer... The subwoofer lets you use the other speakers where they work best... Instead of trying to create low frequencies they struggle with.

It does not sound that good playing MP3s... Where the head unit must create the music. FM also does not sound as good as it did in the 1980s stereo.... The stereo separation on my head units FM is so poor it's not even listed in the specs. It sounds monotone. The high def stations are better but they still pale in comparison to streamed music.

I've actually only had like two or three music CDs in my life.... And they were given to me. I stayed with cassette tapes through the mid-90s and then just did without.... Only using the radio basically for the next 20 years... Except for the couple of CDs that I was gifted..... Then made the jump to streaming music. There is so much to listen to streaming when driving on trips that there's no going back. Fixed media, including CDs... And MP3s on thumb drives.... .. is antiquated and as completely obsolete as 8 track.

 

As a final post, the problem has been solved. I took it all apart like I did several times before, cleaned it all up and now again it works again like it was new. For how long, who knows. I give it 5 years and who knows what's in 5 years.