tommyboy22481
09-28-2004, 09:33 PM
This is a guide on how to fix the light bulb on your factory CD player on a 99 Grand Am. The procedure is pretty straight forward but it takes a bit of work.
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Remove the CD player from the dash. This is done by first removing the bezel around the CD player, HVAC controls and ignition. The bezel comes off pretty easy if you grab the bottom of it and pull towards the front. The bottom is all the way in the back of the cubby in front of the cup holders. You will have to unhook the hazard switch, the traction control switch and the cigarette lighter then shift into drive to get the bezel completely off. Remove the screws holding the deck in, pull the deck out a bit, unplug the connector and antenna and the deck will be free.
The outside of the deck in held together with Torx screws, but you shouldn’t have to remove them. The faceplate comes off put gently lifting the tabs holding it on and sliding it forward. There is only one cable connecting the faceplate to the rest of the deck, unhook this and set the rear assembly aside.
http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo1-thumb.jpg (http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo1.jpg) http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo2-thumb.jpg (http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo2.jpg)
You will be able to see the bulb we need to replace inside a white “reflector”. To remove it, un-solder the two connections holding it to the board. When free, you will be able to rotate the bulb 90 degrees and pull it out of the bottom of the board. If you could find an exact replacement bulb it would be then very simple to insert the new bulb, re-solder it and put everything back together. Unfortunately it’s a rather rare bulb (at least you won’t find one at Radio Shack) so you will have to modify the socket to fit another bulb.
http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo3-thumb.jpg (http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo3.jpg)
What I did find at Radio Shack was part number 272-1143, a 12v, 73mA midget bulb with an E-5 base. You get two for about a buck fifty. Twist the burnt out bulb from the socket and it will come out of the socket. Remove the two metal contacts that were soldered to the board. They should slide out of the bottom of the socket with some needle nose pliers. Drill out the socket so the new bulb will fit with some extra room for a solder connection on the side.
http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo4-thumb.jpg (http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo4.jpg)
Strip two pieces of small wire and solder one to the bottom of the bulb, and the other to opposite side. Insert the bulb into the socket with one wire going out either side through the holes left by the metal contacts. Insert the socket into the board and solder the wires where the old bulb was connected. Use a piece of tape or a dab of hot glue to keep the socket in place.
http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo6-thumb.jpg (http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo6.jpg) http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo5-thumb.jpg (http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo5.jpg) http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo7-thumb.jpg (http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo7.jpg)
Test, and then reassemble everything back together.
http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo8-thumb.jpg (http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo8.jpg)
Success!!
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[list=1]
Remove the CD player from the dash. This is done by first removing the bezel around the CD player, HVAC controls and ignition. The bezel comes off pretty easy if you grab the bottom of it and pull towards the front. The bottom is all the way in the back of the cubby in front of the cup holders. You will have to unhook the hazard switch, the traction control switch and the cigarette lighter then shift into drive to get the bezel completely off. Remove the screws holding the deck in, pull the deck out a bit, unplug the connector and antenna and the deck will be free.
The outside of the deck in held together with Torx screws, but you shouldn’t have to remove them. The faceplate comes off put gently lifting the tabs holding it on and sliding it forward. There is only one cable connecting the faceplate to the rest of the deck, unhook this and set the rear assembly aside.
http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo1-thumb.jpg (http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo1.jpg) http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo2-thumb.jpg (http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo2.jpg)
You will be able to see the bulb we need to replace inside a white “reflector”. To remove it, un-solder the two connections holding it to the board. When free, you will be able to rotate the bulb 90 degrees and pull it out of the bottom of the board. If you could find an exact replacement bulb it would be then very simple to insert the new bulb, re-solder it and put everything back together. Unfortunately it’s a rather rare bulb (at least you won’t find one at Radio Shack) so you will have to modify the socket to fit another bulb.
http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo3-thumb.jpg (http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo3.jpg)
What I did find at Radio Shack was part number 272-1143, a 12v, 73mA midget bulb with an E-5 base. You get two for about a buck fifty. Twist the burnt out bulb from the socket and it will come out of the socket. Remove the two metal contacts that were soldered to the board. They should slide out of the bottom of the socket with some needle nose pliers. Drill out the socket so the new bulb will fit with some extra room for a solder connection on the side.
http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo4-thumb.jpg (http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo4.jpg)
Strip two pieces of small wire and solder one to the bottom of the bulb, and the other to opposite side. Insert the bulb into the socket with one wire going out either side through the holes left by the metal contacts. Insert the socket into the board and solder the wires where the old bulb was connected. Use a piece of tape or a dab of hot glue to keep the socket in place.
http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo6-thumb.jpg (http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo6.jpg) http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo5-thumb.jpg (http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo5.jpg) http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo7-thumb.jpg (http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo7.jpg)
Test, and then reassemble everything back together.
http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo8-thumb.jpg (http://s93488690.onlinehome.us/GA/stereo8.jpg)
Success!!
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