I've got a 2009 Ram SLT Hemi and recently the screen showing the time or radio station will go blank. It did it once about a month ago, but over the past three or four days it's doing it frequently. Right now, the screen is blank--I can see what radio station I'm tuned to in the instrument cluster but stil annoying to have the screen out and no clock. I'm pretty comfortable doing basic maintenance, but troubleshooting anything electric isn't my strength. My guess is a loose connection. How difficult is it to pull the radio and check connections? Any other ideas? Thanks!

 

It's really simple.. Get a torx bit t-25 or t-20 if I remember correctly. There are two screws under the little rubber mat on top of your dash above the radio. Then another behind the 115v outlet. Get a plastic dash removal kit so you do eff up your dash or use a screwdriver with a rag on it. Then once those three screws are out pry her out starting at the bottom.

 

Mine does that for a while when the truck is about 100 degrees inside. Screen doesn't come back on until the interior cools off.

 

Thanks guys. Good info. Now that you mention it, I do get the problem with the truck interior is hot...unusually hot. I'll have to monitor it for a few days and see if that's what causing it. The procedure to remove looks very simple, so I may pop the assmbly out and check the connections.

 

The first time I took it off it was a pain in the *** bc I didn't want to break any of the snapshot but I will say pull harder than you think... Use a rag on your hands or gloves when pulling from the bottom... That **** was sharp...

 

If you are losing the display and not losing it on the evic you may have an internal problem with the radio. If that is the case the radio will need to be pulled and checked out. Is your truck still under warranty or extended? if it is a trip to the dealer may be in order.

Hopefully you find the heat is causing your problem. If it seems like the heat try pulling the radio out and make sure the cooling fan is turning properly in the radio.

If the rest of the radio is working, I doubt that it will be a loose connection on the plug ins. If it was the rest of the radio probably wouldn't be working also.

What radio is it that you have?

 

Thanks for the info LVRR. I've been monitoring it the past couple of days and it's definitely heat related. If the truck has been sitting in the sun and it's really hot inside...no display untl the truck interior cools down and the radio has cooled off. I'm not sure what model radio...it's basic (no Nav or anything...just radio, CD, Aux input)

Truck is just out of warranty (80,000 km in Canada and I'm at 87,000 km). My buddy works at the dealership where I got the truck so if replacement turns out to be necessary I can likely get a good discount and/or I'll upgrade the radio. Right now it's not a big deal but if I lose the display entirely I'll do something. Before that though I will check the fan too as you suggest.

Thanks again to everybody for their replies. Very helpful.