How to: 2000+ radio light fix tutorial (45pics)

[SalvatoreSLE]

If you dont feel like spending the 23 bux at corvetteradios.com...i just used the 2 pack of mini lamps at radio shack for behind the display. It was worth a shot for 3 bux and they turned out really good..plenty bright for the display. I noticed too that i used to touch the screen and it used to be quite hot but with the new bulbs in it doesnt get nearly as warm. I ended up doing my whole radio with the 272-1092 2 pack. Ill take pics n show everyone stock and then the radio shack special.

[CorbinDallas]

Nice hack Harro....

Just bought a used off Fleabay and lights were out
Bummer, could have done that myself, searched the audio thread, but didn't see this thread
Sent it back, for them to repair, lets see what I end up with

[00SLE]

Edit because I found the thread on the old website to refresh my memory:

I replaced mine with 12V incandescent bulbs from RadioShack. Part# 272-1154 for both the lcd display portion and behind the buttons. They're way way cheaper and easier to get. Anyways, everything works perfectly with the cheapo bulbs in there. I used LED's to replace the burned out lights behind my instrument cluster. If I remember right, I used both red and amber for those depending on where they were.

[kaotikd]

What power source did you use to test the lights.

[MIDEVOL]

All those little red bulbs in the picture, can those be replaced with blue ones? And if yes, which part number from Radio shack would I use? I was thinking of changing all the interior dash lighting to that color and want to know if its even possible. Can that be done to the vehicle display cluster too? HELP?

[harofreak00]

What power source did you use to test the lights.

Is this question to me? If so, I just used a standard 12v bench tester.

All those little red bulbs in the picture, can those be replaced with blue ones? And if yes, which part number from Radio shack would I use? I was thinking of changing all the interior dash lighting to that color and want to know if its even possible. Can that be done to the vehicle display cluster too? HELP?

Those can't be changed. The acutally buttons in the face are red plastic, so if you change the LED's to blue, you would have purple buttons.

[MIDEVOL]

Hmmm, how about changing the plastic to a blue one then? I thought I read somewhere in these forums that someone had changed all their dash lights to blue ones. That would be nice, well blue is my favorite color. Also, anyone know of any white face gauges for our dashes? I've had no luck finding any and think it'd look nice to have a white face speedo, tach, etc..etc..

[RJGill84]

You could look into installing the gauge cluster from the GXP into your car. It has white face gauges.

[likeamojay]

I only have 1 burned out bulb behind the LCD display. But do I have to order a replacement bulb off that corvetteradios website??? I don't want to pay $23 for 3 bulbs of which only 1 if possible. Could I get the bulbs for the display from Radio Shack?

[troia]

Thanks for the write up and pics. Had a few out in my radio and thought i'd try it. I bought the lamps from radio shack (272-1092) they worked wonderful. Although i found out it's easier to clip some of the wire off the bulbs so it was easier to get em in the holes due to the fact that the wire is so thin. But that was mostly due to the fact that I couldn't get the solder out. I finally used a needle to make a small hole while i heated it and the wires went right in. Then all i did was reheat the solder and it worked great.

[PontiacPrincess]

Thanks!

I guess those electronics courses I took when I was younger... and the 5 years employment at Radio Shack finally paid off.

(wifes account name)

[Oldman]

THANKS!!!

It seemed like every other week, another bulb died on my stereo. When my CD player stopped working, I bought a junkyard stereo. You know how that goes, security issues make it impossible to swap out the stereo without going to the dealership and spending about $100 to get the stereo to work.
This weekend, I took my stereo out and replaced the CD player with the one from the junkyard stereo. I then took all the bulbs out of the junkyard stereo and replaced all of the ones that were burned out in my stereo.
Worked perfectly. You can replace a defective cassette player and/or CD player from another stereo without causing security problems.
I got the stereo from a U-Pull junkyard for $20.

Now, can anyone tell me how to replace the bulbs in the steering wheel stereo controls?

[harofreak00]

They are actually surface mount LED's, kinda hard to replace for cheap.

I can sell you some mint buttons for $20 if you can't find them at the u-pull.

[Oldman]

How do you get to them?

[harofreak00]

Get to what? The switch? Just pull it out? The LED's? Take apart the switch using a sharp prying object.

[2003BlackSapphireSLE]

the display bulbs are frosted as someone else mentioned. isnt that just a sleeve that slides over the bulb?

[harofreak00]

There are etched glass versions, and also white rubber sleeves over the bulb versions. You can frost them, or put the sleeves on the new bulbs, but I have found no difference in the display, so I just leave them as standard bulbs.

[Maccaguy]

I just did this repair to my wife's 2000 Bonneville today, and it worked great! I sourced all the lights at Radio Shack, since I'm cheap. I just thought I'd ask if the lights in the climate controls were as easily replaceable? The 4 left hand side buttons (front and rear defrost, winshield/feet, and feet) aren't lighting up. Is this a different type of repair, or basically the same thing?

Last Sunday, I replaced the valve cover gaskets. At this rate, I'll have a new car in no time!

[harofreak00]

In your case, with having an SE, you are able to replace those bulbs easily. It sounds like its the one circled in red:



However, the Dual Zone climate control in the SLE/SSEi is made differently. It is lit entirely by LED's, which rarely go out.

[Maccaguy]

Am I safe in assuming that the disassembly /replacement of the lights on the climate control PCB is as straightforward as it was for the radio?