Hey, so I'm looking to add an audio in cable to my ranger. I have the stock ranger stereo, only an AM/FM tuner and a clock (Picture below). I know I would have to take it out and do some soldering but I'm not sure which cords to solder. Is there a detailed tutorial out there to do this? I was also wondering what equipment I would have to buy, I would like to keep it on the low end (I really don't need perfect sound quality). I have a soldering iron and solder.

My stereo looks like the one on the bottom middle of the picture (Labeled AM/FM):

(http://imgur.com/J94AFGe)

Sorry, I just think that is a ridiculous solution.

Do you mean "audio in" as in connecting another source of audio from say an iPod or portable CD player and having your AM/FM radio drive the audio through the existing speakers?

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2006 FX4 Level II, 4L SOHC, 5 speed manual, all stock with Bilsteins and 31.5" Michelin LTX M/S on DSG Alcoas.

Yes I do mean connecting a ipod/phone to play music.

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I was under the impression that this was the only way to actually attach an aux in cable? Is there another way on a 1997 Ranger?

new radio with a aux port

sent from my iPhone 5....PSH!!! I don't have money for a iPhone 5

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95 Ranger XLT 4x2 2.3 I4 5 speed 206,000 *dead*
96 Ranger XLT 4x4 4.0 V6 5 speed 173,000 *alive*
D35 front, 8.8 rear, 3.73 gears, limited slip rear diff

Ya juat get a wiring harness that plugs directly into the truck, a dash kit to hold it and an aftermarket stereo. Any audio shop will have the things you need and will most likely keep it under $100 new or even cheaper if you can find an old aftermarket stereo. (Ebay or kijiji for $20) There are so many problems associated with putting an aux plug into an existing stock stereo, its much more simpler and safer to put a whole new one in.

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Lil red

I'm an electronics tech. What you want can be done. Although the parts are cheap, you are going to pay for my time to research where to solder everything.

It would be a $5.00 job to do to my own radio. To do it for you may run about $105. A new head unit :

A) Has a warranty

B) Is New

C) Will outperform any add on.

It's your money, but do you see where I'm headed with this?

2005 2.3L XL - Alpine CDE-134HD Head - Rockford Fosgate T1682's next

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2005 2.3L XL 5SOD 3.73 K&N
KYB Shocks Husky Toolbox
Alpine / Rockford Fosgate Sound

"Ask me about my AC Vent fix!"

New Pioneer headunit with USB input on rear, iPod in glovebox out of view, new headunit controls the iPod audio.

Yeah, have to agree with upgrade your radio with a new unit that has the audio in jack built-in. But who knows, maybe you're an electronic tech. and have the schematics for your AM/FM radio and are knowledgable enough to decipher where on the pre-amp section to tap in your audio-in line. It's all do able.

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2006 FX4 Level II, 4L SOHC, 5 speed manual, all stock with Bilsteins and 31.5" Michelin LTX M/S on DSG Alcoas.

Yup, I agree. No sense mucking with that particular radio, unless you're an electronics whiz able to rewire pre-amp inputs. It's far too basic & primitive to use as a starting point for AUX input.

An (a) aftermarket radio would work, or (b) fancier Ford radio.

I went with option (b), and chose to upgrade my truck's radio wiring harness, to retrofit a newer 2008 Ford radio with AUX into my older 1997 dashboard. Ebay has many. No electronic gymnastics involved. See http://imgur.com/a/xWGY6

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1997 4x4 Mazda B4000 SE, Ext.Cab

Well for now I just got a FM transmitter, I'm not sure why I didn't think of it...

It came in the mail today and works perfectly, no discernible background noise at all.

Easiest way would be an FM transmitter.
Just tune to a station you seldom if ever use if it has that option.

I used one for years when I had a car that had oem steering wheel controls & I didn't want to deal with adapting everything to work on a new head unit. I didn't notice any real loss of sound quality either.

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