1996 Ford F-150 Radio Installation Instructions

The ninth generation of F-series pickups -- 1992 through 1996 -- brought a more aerodynamic look to the F-150, while retaining its rugged appearance. The last year of this generation, 1996, came standard with an AM/FM radio and had an optional CD or cassette player available. The radios used in the 1996 F-150 were basic in design and did not have many bells and whistles. This may not have provided for much tune-pumping excitement, but the simple design led to a straightforward removal process.

Instructions

1

Find the Ford radio tool locator holes -- two small holes -- on the far left and right of the radio unit. Line up the straight ends of the Ford radio removal tools with the locator holes in the radio. Press the radio removal tools about an inch into the locator holes.

2

Press and hold the curved ends of the radio removal tools outward -- away from each other -- to disengage the radio's locking tabs. These tabs are internal, and you cannot see them, so you must do this by feel. While holding outward pressure, pull the tools rearward to slide the radio from the dashboard until you can see the radio's locking tabs have cleared the dashboard. Repeat Steps 2 and 3, as needed, as the radio removal tools can sometimes slip out of the locator holes.

3

Slide the radio out of the dashboard, by hand, until you can reach the wiring on the rear of the radio. Press and hold the locking button on the radio's wiring harness, and pull the harness from the radio with a slight wiggling motion. Pull the antenna cable -- the black cable -- from the rear of the radio.

4

Press the wiring harness into its receptacle on the rear of the new radio; listen for it to click into place. Press the antenna cable into its receptacle on the rear of the new radio.

5

Line the radio unit up with the radio chassis in the F-150's dashboard. Slide the radio into the dashboard chassis, guiding the wiring in at the same time, until the radio's locking tabs click into place.