Stock radio backlighting

[Alucard]

Hi all.
The clock on my radio doesn't light up at all =P. If I were to look really closely at it, I can see the time and radio station change, but other then that I can't see it sitting back in my seat.
Does anyone know the part number and how to change the bulb so that I can see the clock again?

Thanks a lot.

[tmanz13]

Hey Alucard,

When I bought my GA last fall I had the same problem with my factory head. It's the actual display that was toasted. I think they just burn out after awhile. I'm not sure how easy a job that would be replacing it, you might want to just take a look on ebay see if you can replace the whole unit, they're actually really cheap or call some junk yards.

but man, doesn't it make it fun trying to find stations?:D

[Alucard]

Would a newer model stereo work? I found one on Ebay, but its not like the one I have in my GA, however, the clock looks to be the same size. Would you think that would work?

Here's the link to the radio. (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38639&item=2430270054)

[tmanz13]

That's the same one that came with my 96 GA. I'd assume a newer model stereo would work, but I'm not sure if the wireharness hookups would be the same in lets say a stereo from a 2001 GA. I'm sure someone else here knows a lot more about these stereos then me but that one you linked to is the one I had in my car, so I'd say you'd be safe to go with that one. Can't beat 5 bucks... lol
:agree:

[Alucard]

I don't have a picture of my stereo, but it has the CD player built into it instead of the cassette player (The cassette is under the HVAC controls by the shifter).
I'm not worried about the whole unit fitting, I'm just concerned about the LCD display. And yes, $5 isn't a major loss, but damn for $16 in shipping! :lol:

[tmanz13]

oh okay, now I've gotcha... you want to replace the display..hmm that I'm kinda clueless on. If all the display on your CD player was just a clock for numbers like that I can see it working, but man that could be a real mess unless you're really good with electronics. I repair laptops but a car stereo is a little out of my league. The odds are inside the stereo the display is connected via a small ribbon cable, that could probably be soldered or clipped in, I can't even guess which. That could be a delicate job, and I'm sure the little display is glued in pretty well.

Since you said you can still faintly see it that would make me guess it is just the display and not something else... like some sort of circuitry. But it's going to have to be the same display ya know, so it uses the same voltage, same connections, size ect....

What I would do is try to find a cheap, working GM cassette player or AM/FM Radio(might be cheaper) of the same year with the same display at a parts yard. Open it up and take a look inside at the connections to the display and see for yourself if it is even do-able. If it's soldered in, yikes, ribbon cable is tough to solder. If I still had my old one I'd look for you but I threw it away this spring :( Maybe someone on here has their old stock one still laying around.

[Peyman]

same exact thing happend to me...and its quite simple to fix the problem...but one off ebay or buy one off someone from the forums...then sell ur broken one on ebay for more then what u bought ur "newer" one for....worked for me....