Radio display fading, Pontiac SF

yes

We both know him as the SF expert HF. I'm hoping that, to all those posts about radio displays, that I read w/ one eye open, over the years, PDX was paying attention. GW

Harry Face wrote:

GW

When you going to Momma's to fix her light bulb?

========= Harryface =========

no seriously theres little bulbs in the PCB that makes up the front panel where all the buttons and crap go, I took apart a defunct radio a few weeks ago to get a CD out of it.

Did it look like the bulbs that backlight the display (97.9 KUPD e.g. ) were easily replaceable? Remind me what PCB is.

-- GW - Conservational Ergonomist - note incorrect email address

Paradox wrote:

no seriously theres little bulbs in the PCB that makes up the front panel where all the buttons and crap go, I took apart a defunct radio a few weeks ago to get a CD out of it.

Printed Circuit Board.

And I would say they'd be total sods to replace - as in not worth the effort of tearing the thing out, dismantling it, desoldering the existing bulbs (LEDs undoubtedly), soldering in new bulbs, reassembling it, and refitting in the car...

That'd be a lot of work for factory audio... hafta be something fantastic to warrant that kind of effort.

Nick.

Nick

Your forgetting these posters in here love to work on cars.

My bulbs are fine so far.

========= Harryface =========

That's the trouble I was meaning - getting it out isn't nearly as tricky as the PCB work.

Shouldn't be too tough, so long as you have a decent low-power soldering iron and a steady hand. :-)

Can't be any worse than repairing the data cable on a VGA monitor or soldering a modchip onto an XBOX motherboard.

Nick.

its definatly easier then that, and the bulbs didnt look really like LED's, they seemed to be more like the small 12V incandecent bulbs.

They are definitely not bulbs. They have two stiff/bent metal tails that are soldered to the circuit board. They measure 5mm in diameter and 10mm long. No clue where to find the right kind. I emailed ledsupply.com Radioshack was no help. GW (Bob URZ still read here??)

Paradox wrote:

So they ARE LEDs - 5mm standard LED by sounds of things. What colour are they Geoff?

Nick.

They are opaque/mist clear/white. With 12v applied (to the good ones) they glow bright yellow/orange, in the same way any "white light" looks orange if you stare into it.

I looked at a whole bunch of hits on Google for LEDs but was not getting anywhere. LEDs I found mentioned 3 or 4 volt ratings. I'll be away for a few days, but will ask the local electronics repair guy if he can match it, next week, if I here nothing from ledsupply.com .

It doesn't look quite standard to me Bcuz it's twice as long as wide (diameter).

GW

Nick Trouns> So they ARE LEDs - 5mm standard LED by sounds of things. What colour are > they Geoff?

Good point - my ancient Pioneer in the Mitsi decided randomly to burn some PCB tracks and kill half the buttons...

Nick.

Sounds like fun, I once had to do that with a VCR to recover the tape.

My GP radio display occasionally looks alien, I assume it's the heat and humidity we've had here this Summer?

If I put 12 volts across them two light, one doesn't. My dad had a look today, (retired EE) and said that they are not LED's but a special style bulb (current can flowf both ways). Regardless, we have no clue where to get any and my mom decided that she didn't care at this point, so I'll just put it back together. T'was fun to have a look inside though. GW

Nick Trouns> Good point - my ancient Pioneer in the Mitsi decided randomly to burn some

ahh bummer, I could have desoldered the bulbs off that defunct radio and mailed them to you if you weren't able to find replacements.

wrote in

ahh bummer, I could have desoldered the bulbs off that defunct radio and mailed them to you if you weren't able to find replacements.