FORD Ranger PX3- Radio Replacement

4 Aug

Written By Michael Benda

Original Setup:

Factory Radio
Factory Reverse Camera
Climate Controls - On Radio Screen
Factory Car Settings i.e Lights & Locks -Appear on Radio Screen

New Setup:

Alpine ILXF509AI 9 inch Floating display with wireless Apple car play and android auto module AHD

Parts Used:

Alpine ILX F509AI
Idatalink Maestro RR Module
Idatalink MFT1 Integration Kit
Maestro ALP1 Patch Lead
Maestro Vid1 Video Filter

Upgrade Details:

The factory radio in this Ford Ranger had completely failed—it started with crackling and intermittent sound, then eventually stopped working altogether. We're starting to see this issue more frequently in these models.

To solve it, we installed the Alpine 9-inch floating screen, which sits slightly proud of the dash but fits neatly between the factory air vents, so it still looks well-integrated and balanced.

This upgrade not only dramatically improves sound quality, but also retains the factory steering wheel controls. Using the Maestro module, we were able to program long-press functions—like activating additional cameras, climate control, and viewing vehicle info.

The factory climate control knobs below the screen still work as expected, and when used, they’ll automatically trigger the on-screen climate interface for a more intuitive experience.

Thanks to the Maestro integration, the cluster display in the dash continues to show CarPlay, Sony, and radio information, maintaining that OEM feel.

To top it off, we installed the VID1 video filter, which helps clean up the image quality on larger screens—making reverse cameras and video playback look much sharper.