Sound system lights

[johnholl]

The nighttime lights on radio presets #1,#2,#4,#5 no longer illuminate, but #3 and #6 do. Any suggestions?

...............or is it too much grief to repair?

John

[Johnny R]

The printed circuit board is faulty. The board is too pricy for me.

[gw84]

Probably too much grief to repair. If it's a GM factory stereo (with cassette or compact disc) you should be able to find a used one fairly cheap on an online auction site. Of course the lights could go out again, but it's gonna be a lot less trouble than trying to fix your old one!

[johnschmitt]

I'd say this is a perfect excuse/ reason to buy a new after market one that actually sounds GOOD. I never understood all the theft deterrant stuff on these head units. The burger king drive thru speaker sounds better.

[klieu]

stock radio sucks

buy aftermarket one can play mp3, it's very cheap now

[johnholl]

Thanks for the advice guys. I think I'll live with it. Replacing the OEM sound system with an aftermarket in a 98 Malibu is like wallpapering the inside of an outhouse. Might look better...but it's still an outhouse.

John

[fiberglasscivic]

Then I guess you haven't really looked at replacing your stereo have you. You can pick up an adapter plate from Circuit City that's flat (not that bulged out bulky sh** like Wal-marts), and adapters for the wiring harness and the antenna are pretty common. Any mobile audio store will have some variation of one. Try swapping the stock radio in a 95 Winnebago Van or the new Honda Accords. That's a real pain.

To replace it you can just pop off the facing around the center console, there are no screws holding it in. I think there are four screws around the stock stereo that come out really easily, once you've got it out the adapter plate goes in where the stock stereo bolted in, and any run-of-the-mill cd player will fit in the adapter (needs to be single DIN which is the normal size for aftermarket CD players). Plug the adapter harness onto the stereo plugs before you bolt in the adapter plate and clip in CD player sleeve. Run the adapter plugs to the new cd player and slide the new one in place. Replace the facing around the center and your done.

Easy enough, right?

[MalibuBob]

Originally Posted by fiberglasscivic

Then I guess you haven't really looked at replacing your stereo have you. You can pick up an adapter plate from Circuit City that's flat (not that bulged out bulky sh** like Wal-marts), and adapters for the wiring harness and the antenna are pretty common. Any mobile audio store will have some variation of one. Try swapping the stock radio in a 95 Winnebago Van or the new Honda Accords. That's a real pain.

Better yet, buy a aftermarket unit from Crutchfield, and the adapters and wiring harnesses are free (for units over $120). Plus their printed instructions are top notch.