Radio Backlight

In my 98 Transport the display light in the radio has gone extremly dim. If I use a flashlight I can see the info. Is there a bulb or LED I can change? Or am I doomed to a life with no display or is it time for a new radio?

Marty

I also had the same problem on my 98 Transport. I spoke with the dealer and they told me it is no longer under warranty. They have a trade in program whereby they have to replace the entire radio. (it is not repaired). They replace it with a refurbed one for around 150$ (canadian). So, I went out and bought a $5 clock (from an automotive store and mounted on the dash with velcro tape. I memorized which stations are programmed in the memory presets.

I had the same problem. It's a bulb that sells for about $7.50 Can. take out the radio 2 screws; one in the ashtray, one in the power plug opposite. pull up on the face and 2 screws hold the radio. Remove the radio and gently pry off the face plate. undo the plug and voila you're in business. Now turn the brown end of the bulb with a pair of small pliers and out she comes. Here in Winnipeg I went to Advance Electronics. Try Source or another quality electronics store (not a Future Shop or others like that. Let me know if your radio fades in and out afterwards and what solutiuon you have if any. This is now my problem.

Good Luck

I had the same problem. It's a bulb that sells for about $7.50 Can. take out the radio 2 screws; one in the ashtray, one in the power plug opposite. pull up on the face and 2 screws hold the radio. Remove the radio and gently pry off the face plate. undo the plug and voila you're in business. Now turn the brown end of the bulb with a pair of small pliers and out she comes. Here in Winnipeg I went to Advance Electronics. Try Source or another quality electronics store (not a Future Shop or others like that. Let me know if your radio fades in and out afterwards and what solutiuon you have if any. This is now my problem.

Good Luck
Thanks for the info and advice. From what I understand, you are saying the reason why the radio display doesn't work is due to a bulb. I will follow your instructions and let you know how it works out.
It sounds like you are now having problems with the radio fading in & out. What exactly is happening? Is it related to the bulb being burnt out and replaced?

You can get one here http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.vetteradio.com/images/Img3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.vetteradio.com/&h=77&w=225&sz=51&hl=en&sig2=zFAAJr91lkkAzGEQfZ5pQw&start=1&tbnid=pvNWYkYpV1Li6M:&tbnh=37&tbnw=108&ei=ghrSRKSXHs34aLKwvccH&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbulb%2Bfor%2Bdisplay%2Bon%2Bgm%2Bradi o%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN
they are about $19.00 and it shows you on that site how to remove and install the bulb.

I had the same problem. It's a bulb that sells for about $7.50 Can. take out the radio 2 screws; one in the ashtray, one in the power plug opposite. pull up on the face and 2 screws hold the radio. Remove the radio and gently pry off the face plate. undo the plug and voila you're in business. Now turn the brown end of the bulb with a pair of small pliers and out she comes. Here in Winnipeg I went to Advance Electronics. Try Source or another quality electronics store (not a Future Shop or others like that. Let me know if your radio fades in and out afterwards and what solutiuon you have if any. This is now my problem.

Good Luck
Thanks for the detailed step by step instructions. I was able to remove the bulb. Now the fun begins to find the replacement. I have tried an ELectronics store, The Source and Canadian Tire with no luck yet. I have to try another electronics supply store.

Here in Ottawa I paid $12 for one at the local GM dealer.

Be careful when taking the bulb off the little circuit board.

Mine wouldn't budge ! The plastic on the base of the bulb was starting to deform. I ended up destroying one of the tracer's on the circuit board and had to make a new one, which was a little tricky to say the least.

You can also replace the bulb with and LED. here's a good link to instructions with pics

http://users.adelphia.net/~bpaskevich/index_files/Radio_Lamp_repair.htm

I checked with a GM dealer in Montreal and they don't carry the replacement bulb. Would you happen to know the part number of the bulb you purchased at the dealer in Ottawa?
I will then contact other GM dealers in my area.
Thanks in advance.

Same problem in Ohio (except I actually broke mine while trying to put the old one back in (even though it didn't work). The sad part is you can almost see the display even without a light behind it.

Too bad there isn't some little tiny toy light that stays lit (even if very dim) for a year or two. Dealer is trying to tell me the only option is replace the radio ($250-$350). I've got the stations memorized, have a wristwatch on at all times, and refuse to spend $300 for a lightbulb on a 10 year old vehicle that unless the safety or functionality of the vehicle is affected.

The GM part # is 16208443. They are available from gmpartsdirect.com.
I've replaced a couple with success, but also a couple that broke the the solder on the circuit board. I could not repair the solder tracer line. Instead, I soldered a jumper wire from the bulb to the underside of the circuit board where the solder line originates.

Great info, my bulb just bit the dust in my 98.

Please check the last posting date of the thread and avoid posting in those beyond 90 days. You can start a new thread if you have new info. Closed.