LCD backlight out in car radio

[Charles Packer]

The backlight on the LCD display of
our car radio has failed. I guess it's
the backlight -- I'm not even sure of
terminlogy. At any rate it allows you
to read the panel in the dark. When it
was working, its brightness was variable
and was controlled by the same pot
that varied the other dashboard lamps.
A search of newsgroup threads about
repairing such things suggests that
it's just an incandescent bulb or two
behind the panel that need(s) replacing.
Is there any reason to fear that the
backlight for this radio might be
more complicated and/or hard to obtain?

 

[BH]

The backlight on the LCD display of
our car radio has failed. I guess it's
the backlight -- I'm not even sure of
terminlogy. At any rate it allows you
to read the panel in the dark. When it
was working, its brightness was variable
and was controlled by the same pot
that varied the other dashboard lamps.
A search of newsgroup threads about
repairing such things suggests that
it's just an incandescent bulb or two
behind the panel that need(s) replacing.
Is there any reason to fear that the
backlight for this radio might be
more complicated and/or hard to obtain?

Gee Charles:

There are thousands of different cars and radios out there. Could you
narrow it down a bit?

 

[Meat Plow]

The backlight on the LCD display of
our car radio has failed. I guess it's
the backlight -- I'm not even sure of
terminlogy. At any rate it allows you
to read the panel in the dark. When it
was working, its brightness was variable
and was controlled by the same pot
that varied the other dashboard lamps.
A search of newsgroup threads about
repairing such things suggests that
it's just an incandescent bulb or two
behind the panel that need(s) replacing.
Is there any reason to fear that the
backlight for this radio might be
more complicated and/or hard to obtain?

If the backlight is incandescent it isn't
usually a big deal to replace.

 

[PeterD]

The backlight on the LCD display of
our car radio has failed. I guess it's
the backlight -- I'm not even sure of
terminlogy. At any rate it allows you
to read the panel in the dark. When it
was working, its brightness was variable
and was controlled by the same pot
that varied the other dashboard lamps.

Check the wiring first.

A search of newsgroup threads about
repairing such things suggests that
it's just an incandescent bulb or two
behind the panel that need(s) replacing.
Is there any reason to fear that the
backlight for this radio might be
more complicated and/or hard to obtain?

Yes, it could easily be LED lighting, not incandescent.

Either getting a schematic or disassembly will answer your questions,
AFTER you check to be 100% sure that the wiring to the head unit is
still properly functioning.

 

[jakdedert]

The backlight on the LCD display of
our car radio has failed. I guess it's
the backlight -- I'm not even sure of
terminlogy. At any rate it allows you
to read the panel in the dark. When it
was working, its brightness was variable
and was controlled by the same pot
that varied the other dashboard lamps.
A search of newsgroup threads about
repairing such things suggests that
it's just an incandescent bulb or two
behind the panel that need(s) replacing.
Is there any reason to fear that the
backlight for this radio might be
more complicated and/or hard to obtain?

You'd have to include a LOT more information for anyone to comment on
your specific problem.

One rather salient point is that on many cars, actually *getting the
radio out* of the dash is more complicated than actually repairing
it...not that the actual repair would be trivial to someone with no
prior experience. If you're expecting a socket on the outside of the
box, where you simply unscrew and screw in a replacement--like a fuse,
or the lightbulb in your closet--forget it.

Any car radio backlight is deeply embedded in radio itself, and not
conducive to user replacement.

jak

 

[Meat Plow]

You'd have to include a LOT more information for anyone to comment on
your specific problem.

One rather salient point is that on many cars, actually *getting the
radio out* of the dash is more complicated than actually repairing
it...not that the actual repair would be trivial to someone with no
prior experience. If you're expecting a socket on the outside of the
box, where you simply unscrew and screw in a replacement--like a fuse,
or the lightbulb in your closet--forget it.

Any car radio backlight is deeply embedded in radio itself, and not
conducive to user replacement.

Keep in mind that this article was posted in a "repair" news group with
the description of "fixing electronic equipment." Personally, I usually
inquire the poster regarding their level mechanical dexterity and their
rudimentary understanding if any of electronic repairs before condemning
them to offing the repair to a pay for service. Lots of newbies come here
on a daily basis seeking this kind of advice. Some can be walked through
it, some can't.

 

[James Sweet]

The backlight on the LCD display of
our car radio has failed. I guess it's
the backlight -- I'm not even sure of
terminlogy. At any rate it allows you
to read the panel in the dark. When it
was working, its brightness was variable
and was controlled by the same pot
that varied the other dashboard lamps.
A search of newsgroup threads about
repairing such things suggests that
it's just an incandescent bulb or two
behind the panel that need(s) replacing.
Is there any reason to fear that the
backlight for this radio might be
more complicated and/or hard to obtain?

It's almost certainly incandescent. Replacing the bulbs isn't hard once you
get to them, but that can be really tricky. Finding exact replacements can
be tough tool.

 

[jakdedert]

Keep in mind that this article was posted in a "repair" news group with
the description of "fixing electronic equipment." Personally, I usually
inquire the poster regarding their level mechanical dexterity and their
rudimentary understanding if any of electronic repairs before condemning
them to offing the repair to a pay for service. Lots of newbies come here
on a daily basis seeking this kind of advice. Some can be walked through
it, some can't.

Considering that we don't know anything about the car, the radio or the
poster (although the latter so far has not betrayed much technical
acumen)...and further understanding that this is really two jobs:
disassembling the (unknown) car to get at the radio; then disassembling
the radio itself, finding and replacing the (unknown) backlight (if
indeed the part is replaceable), reassembling the radio...and the car.

That's one long walk.

jak

 

[Charles Packer]

It's almost certainly incandescent. Replacing the bulbs isn't hard once you
get to them, but that can be really tricky. Finding exact replacements can
be tough tool.

I'm experienced at electronics work. The unit is Subaru original
equipment. Other threads
about LCD backlight problems lead me to believe that the bulbs still
might be standard ones
carried by Radio Shack, though soldering will be required to remove
and replace. I've also
removed and replaced car stereo units, and this, I know, is where most
of the time is
expended. Once you get it out, according to one thread, you just
remove the top of the
radio to get behind the LCD panel. Well, this one has the CD player on
top, so I don't
know how that will affect ease of access to the innards.

 

[Meat Plow]

Considering that we don't know anything about the car, the radio or the
poster (although the latter so far has not betrayed much technical
acumen)...and further understanding that this is really two jobs:
disassembling the (unknown) car to get at the radio; then disassembling
the radio itself, finding and replacing the (unknown) backlight (if
indeed the part is replaceable), reassembling the radio...and the car.

That's one long walk.

Well that's all fine and dandy but you've basically just restated what you
wrote previously.

 

[Meat Plow]

I'm experienced at electronics work. The unit is Subaru original
equipment. Other threads
about LCD backlight problems lead me to believe that the bulbs still
might be standard ones
carried by Radio Shack, though soldering will be required to remove
and replace. I've also
removed and replaced car stereo units, and this, I know, is where most
of the time is
expended. Once you get it out, according to one thread, you just
remove the top of the
radio to get behind the LCD panel. Well, this one has the CD player on
top, so I don't
know how that will affect ease of access to the innards.

I spent quite some time doing warranty repair on aftermarket mobile audio.
Be sure your repair is done in a well lighted area free of clutter. Have
some containers handy for screws and other small parts. Use a low wattage
pencil style soldering iron. Good common sense, soldering and mechanical
skills are needed.

 

[clifto]

It's almost certainly incandescent. Replacing the bulbs isn't hard once you
get to them, but that can be really tricky. Finding exact replacements can
be tough tool.

Yeah. In my experience it'll be a #9173 bulb, 0.19V @ 8.62A, which some
single store in Secaucus has for $81.72 used. Substitutes won't. You'll
have to remove three quarters of the electronics and seven eights of the
mechanics to see the bulb and then remove the rest to replace it.