Hi! I just bought a 98 Ram 1500 Sport. It has an aftermarket radio in it and it SUCKS! I've heard the stock radios suck too, but I don't care. I need to know, will a stock radio out of a 2000 Durango work in my 98 ram???

 

I believe so as long as the connectors are the same

 

Ma Mopar used the same opening from the mid 1970's on up. The grey and black connectors are the same from the early 80's up to 2000 and some 2001, like the XJ Cherokee. The older radios were problematic but the 90's units are pretty stout and can be had with radio cassette and CD all in one. When I worked in the warehouse, we would wire aftermarket radios up for music at 2 in the morning. The dirt and vibration would kill them within a year. We started using Mopar factory units and instead of every year, a radio would last through 2 or three lease cycles. We leased new equipment every three years. I'd look for one in the late 90's to get a chance at all three. They usually don't even pull them anymore around here in the bone yards. Make sure your wiring hasn't been butchered.. Just in case, if you pull a radio out a salvage yard resident, snip the wiring plugs as long as you can. Butchered wires make for poor performance.

 

Why does it suck? operationally or sound?

 

Is it the radio or the speakers?
If it still has the original factory speakers, that would be more likely the issue.

I know my speakers gave out long before the radio became an issue.

 

no it's not the speakers I just don't like the head unit it's cheap junk. And I want an original radio in it with cassette and cd.

 

the sound is fine, it's just a cheap junky Walmart head unit.

 

Did they come with both back then? I believe it was one or the other. And who still uses cassettes? Today's technology far outdoes what was available back then. You can put hours of music on a thumb drive today.

 

You want a late 90's unit then. My 2000 Cherokee had both tape and CD, although I don't recall ever using the tape part for a tape. I did use the adaptor in it to use an aux satellite adaptor.

 

I’ve got a 98 Ram and kind of remember it being CD or cassette, not both when I ordered it, unlike the 97 that did have an option for both.