Radio LED Failure

Tiny
RMORRISON
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE
90000 miles

The LEDs on my OEM radio display of the time and station do not work. Can these be replaced or does the whole radio require replacement?
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Saturday, November 8th, 2008 AT 10:18 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
BRIAN 1
  • MECHANIC
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I found the crypton bulbs online via ebay. It is not something that a standard user could fix because the unit has to be removed, taken apart, the front panel circuit board removed, desolder the old bulbs and replace with new long life crypton bulbs.

The whole radio has to be replaced the bulbs inside are none serviceable, sorry but the radio has to be replaced and reprogrammed if you can get the bulb kit from ebay
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Saturday, January 17th, 2009 AT 12:58 PM
Tiny
FLETCH09
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Thanks for the quick reply. Well isn't that nice. You would think these manufacturers would be making a ton of money how they force you to replace so many items now days instead of being able to throw a $1 bulb in it. Thanks again and have a great day, Tim
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Saturday, January 17th, 2009 AT 1:57 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
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Sorry I didn't see this sooner. I replace these bulbs all the time. Brian 1 is correct. The bulbs are not available, but only because the authorized repair centers won't sell parts without having the part number. The part numbers are found in the radio service manuals. The very selfsh folks at GM refuse to sell service manuals after 1993. Ford did the same thing after 1997. It's one of the main reasons I will never own a Ford or GM vehicle. Alpine does the same thing for their oem radios for built for Chrysler and Toyota. Fortunately, Mitsubishi-built Chrysler radios are much higher quality and manuals are available.

There are other bulbs that can be shoe-horned in and at much lower cost than sending the radio to a GM repair center. It's definitely not a do-it-youself repair as the LCD display must be removed. The microscopic rubber contact pad must be reinstalled perfectly for the digit segments to light properly.

Caradiodoc
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Saturday, March 6th, 2010 AT 12:29 PM
Tiny
DJGEARIG1
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SO, what is the part number for bulb? 2002 pont bon
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Sunday, December 12th, 2010 AT 7:36 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
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It's not a GM part number. These are generic bulbs that I modify to make work.

Caradiodoc
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Sunday, December 12th, 2010 AT 7:45 PM
Tiny
DJGEARIG1
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Do you have a the type or name or info on the generic bulb?
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Sunday, December 12th, 2010 AT 7:48 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
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They're a 1" long cylinder with a wire on each end. Bought 'em on eBay many years ago. They are just a little too long to fit in the housing without making some modifications. Also, that housing has the display contacts molded into a rubber pad. Most people who try to replace these bulbs end up swearing at me when they mess it up and destroy the circuit board. Some people get lucky, but this isn't a typical do-it-yourselfer project.

Caradiodoc
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Monday, December 13th, 2010 AT 2:37 AM

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