Radio Display Fix

[BIGPROFITT]

Thanks for the information. So the Radio Shack 272-1092 provided the right amount or enough light for the display?

[catesja]

They are plenty bright for my display. Seems to be just as bright as the originals!

[rat2k5]

Originally Posted by BIGPROFITT

Thanks for the information. So the Radio Shack 272-1092 provided the right amount or enough light for the display?

Used the same bulbs last year in my 2000 Montana Radio. Very bright no problems thus far with the bulbs.

[1999montana]

Originally Posted by catesja

...Yes it is an LCD screen....

What if the LCD is failing....mine sometimes shows half the numbers or only pieces of them. For instance, the number 8 might look like a backwards E with a piece missing.

Seems to be temperature sensitive, if it's really hot (100 F) and the van has been closed up, or if it is really cold (-10 F) ....any thoughts?

[BIGPROFITT]

If I were you, I would get a used one off of Ebay. Pull the display off of that one and put it on the new one. Not too hard. Take the radio out and apart. Twist the metal tabs holding the display on and pull the display off. Put the new display in and twist the tabs back. Just an idea. I purchased a salvage one off Ebay and have been using it for parts.

[coghlan]

People have successfully replaced the radio display bulbs on 2000 Montanas, but I have this problem on an '05 (non-SV6). Is this common?

Has the radio changed since 2000? Come to think of it, my original radio was replaced by the dealer when the CD died. I wonder if they used one with an older vintage, now subject to this problem.

[McBeal]

Many thanks to dexter and his clear instructions to fix the Radio display lights. I repaired my 04 Montana.

A few comments:
If you have a drink tray there are two vertical screws behind the drink tray. I had to muscle the stopper that stops the tray from coming out and broke the poprivet(?) TO REMOVE THE STOPPER. Tray then came out, vertical screws came out and the facing came off easily.
Intend to glue or screw stopper back it some day.

When replacing the bulbs (#1141 from Radio Shack or The Source from Circuit City in Canada) don't solder the new ones into the board.
Cut the old leads off neatly between the old bulb and the 90deg bend to the circuit board. Now take off any extra wire leads that are attached to the wires coming out of the new
bulb.
You can easiy solder the new bulb leads to the old leads as you hold them side by side.

The display in a laptop is an LCD (usually) and is illuminated by a 1/16th flourescent tube. The radio uses minature bulbs so the display is easiy
dimmed.
McBeal

[Archer2010]

Originally Posted by BIGPROFITT

I removed the two 7mm bolts at the bottom near the drinktray (2002). I can not get the bottom to pull out. I don't want to break the entire front face. What am I not doing or doing wrong. I am sure I can fix the back lights once I get this face plate off. Only the left side (Time, etc) are lighted, the right side of the display is dark. Does that sound like the back light(s)? Thanks for the help.

I have a 2003 Montana and was able to remove the front face. First remove the front of the drink tray - to screws under front of the tray - the clips will pop out easily. Pull the drink tray to full open then remove to two screws next the to slide track. At this time I did have little problem removing the tray due to the plastic block - the block is revitted with plastic rivets. I was able to get the tray out by spredding the the front face sides at the bottom allowing me to pull the drink tray out as I pulled it forward - there may be a better way but this worked. I did try to pull the front face forward, but like you it would not move. There are two screws at the back of the openning for the drink tray that are at the top/back of the openning - at the end of the tray tracks - one on each side. They can only be seen when the drink tray is removed. Remove the two screws (a little difficult to get at - 9/32inch socket - one on each side. The front face can then be removed easily.

Hope this helps.

[rogschumac]

I got as far as unplugging the 2 ribbon cables and couldn't seem to get them loose. What's the secret? Is there a tiny release somewhere I can't see? I have a 2000 Montana.

[rkvons]

Originally Posted by rogschumac

I got as far as unplugging the 2 ribbon cables and couldn't seem to get them loose. What's the secret? Is there a tiny release somewhere I can't see? I have a 2000 Montana.

It depends on what radio you have. On my '98, you can release the front plate from the housing and slide it out enough to replace the bulb without removing any ribbon cables.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWzXaPL8MgQ

[Archer2010]

Originally Posted by rogschumac

I got as far as unplugging the 2 ribbon cables and couldn't seem to get them loose. What's the secret? Is there a tiny release somewhere I can't see? I have a 2000 Montana.

I had to unplug to ribbon cabbles on my 2003. The socket on the board are beige and the plug portion is green. I removed the green plug by making sure I had hold of only the green plug - you can use a thin slot screwdrive to lift up one edge - just be careful not to scratch the board. Also be careful not to grip the wire - they can easily be pulled out of the plug - its a pain to put them back in. It did take a little effort to pull them out.

[addd673]

thanks for all the advice, replaced my 04 sterio /cd player display bulbs.works great. lcd display tricky to remove but all went well. tip mark where all buttons go before face plate removal. cheers