Radio button lights

I have a 96 SL2 that the buttons for the radio don't light up any more (It
is the radio with the EQ) some of them went out then all of them. Are there
replaceable bulbs in there? I'm talking about the buttons for the presets.
Thanks for reading this and if you can help.

 

Very glad to see your post. My 98 SL2 with 95K has this problem. Sounds like
I have the same sound system as you. For me, only the right-half of the
lights have gone dark (labeled 2, 3, 5, 6 etc.). I'm sure it would cost a
lot more to repair than I am willing to spend.

Perhaps someone has a more definitive explanation of this problem.

-- Jay

 

I have the same problem with my 96 SL2 factory radio and equlizer, tried
to take the radio apart only to find the bulbs are on a circuit board
NOT REPAIRABLE. The dealer told me they send them out to get a new board
put in them.

 

Well, if youre handy with a soldering iron you could have some fun replacing
the dead (guessing led's) bulbs with new ones of random colors

 

Well, if youre handy with a soldering iron you could have some fun replacing

I wonder if its more then just each single bulb blowing. They said a few at a
time went first, that sounds like its a connection somewhere else on the board
rather then just single bulbs......

 

1) Nope. They're soldered in. I found out because one of the bulbs on my
display went out, so I opened that puppy up.
2) They're NOT LEDs, they're gold old-fashioned incandescent bulbs. They are
running relatively yellow, so they should last a REALLY long time. Unless...
3) If the alternator on your car is going out, typically it dies because one
of the diodes shorts. This will cause a temporary voltage surge in the
electrical system of the car that can easily take out every incandescent
bulb in the car. Your car is most vulnerable when the electrical system is
lightly loaded (no headlights, brake lights or blowers on). Then the tiny
low power bulbs can get really nicely blown.

I "fixed" the problem by buttoning up the old radio and taking it down to my
local Saturn dealer for what they called a rebuilt radio. They take the old
one, sell you a repaired one, and fix what's left of yours.

Good Luck!

 

And the bulb is apparently a somewhat unusual size, not a standard
T-13/4. It needs to be at least 14 volt (12-volt bulbs are likely to
burnout quickly due to higher auto ignition system voltage), long life
rated, small enough to fit in the limited available space, bright
enough to light the LCD, and with an illumination pattern that will
work in the LCD's reflector.