radio light out requires replacement of radio?!

That's what I'm told by Volvo US headquarters. Hard to believe that they
use tiny "grain of wheat" light bulbs instead of LEDs to illuminate front
panel controls, and they tell me the lights are not user replaceable, but
require replacement of the entire radio.

 

I've no idea what radio you are talking about, but stuff that is 'non
user servicable' almost always is - as with everything, it's just a
matter of knowing what you are doing and having the stuff to do it
with. You may have to search around a bit for the bulbs (a decent auto
parts store often has a surprising variety), and they may need
soldering in. You'll probably need to remove the radio from the car
and go to such lengths as using a screwdriver (gasp) to get the job
done.

Manufacturers who deliberately make stuff unrepairable (often
justifying it in terms of production costs) are just cynically trying
to drive up output, regardless of how they patronise their customers,
use more of the worlds resources and increase the land fill problem.

More and more suff is now so 'cheap' that it is considered to be a
consumer disposable. We now have a generation of people who are kept
entirely ignorant of how stuff works, little sense of the value of
things, and consequently throw things away and buy new ones when they
stop working. I predict the coming of the disposable vacuum cleaner -
when it's full, throw it away - buy them in economy six packs. If I
had my way, oil changes and routine brake maintenance would be on the
school syllabus.

Rant rant rant.

Look, just change your own bulbs and save the world, OK?
--

Stewart Hargrave

Never wear a hat that has more character than you - Utah Philips


For email, replace 'SpamOnlyToHere' with my name

 

That's what I'm told by Volvo US headquarters. Hard to believe that they

Total bollocks! I've just popped my radio back in this morning although
my problem is slightly different.

My radio is an SC800 and *all* the bulbs are out. They can be changed
for LED's if you like, just remove the radio, remove the two screws in
the side and pop off the front bezel (having first removed the knobs!)

Then ease the PCB off the connectors and you'll be able to unsolder and
resolder to your hearts content.

David.

 

You could always "search" too ;-)

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&threadm=
9ts8mo%245ta%241%40slb0.atl.mindspring.net&rnum=2&prev=/groups%3Fq%
3D850%2520radio%2520illumination%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%
3DUTF-8%26sa%3DN%26tab%3Dwg

 

You could replace with LEDs, however, the lamps run at a different voltage than LEDs, so
you'll have to put a resistor in series with the LED. You'll have to determine the
resistor value by the type of LED you use and the supply voltage.

However, LEDs are directional, meaning, a grain of wheat lamp spreads light everywhere,
and often, replacing with LEDs isn't an easy task.

My 760 GLE radio has one lamp that works, I took it apart to repair some cold solder
joints (display wouldn't work). The lamps are very small, and really, even for me (I'm an
Electronics Technician!), it is a pure waste of time.

I am going to remove the OE radio and go for a decent Pioneer or Nakamichi unit, which are
a wee bit better than the OE units (unless you are trying to preserve an older car and
keep it OE).


(to determine resistor for LED, you need to know current draw of LED, voltage that the LED
requires, and the supply voltage. If the circuit can be setup for one supply voltage, you
can use one resistor for several LEDs provided the current demand doesn't exceed the
capability of the resistor, you can up its wattage, 1/4 W being typical.)

 

You could replace with LEDs, however, the lamps run at a different voltage than LEDs, so

Agreed and in this case I wouldn't do it. I have replaced some
instrumentation lights in my Saab though with LED's, there are some nice
12v ones around now which include the resistor.

Although the Volvo radio illumination circuit is a different voltage.

David.

 

Don't you have ICE specialists on that side of the pond? Let one of them have a
look, I am sure he could replace the lights cheaper.

Cheers, Peter.

: That's what I'm told by Volvo US headquarters. Hard to believe that they
: use tiny "grain of wheat" light bulbs instead of LEDs to illuminate front
: panel controls, and they tell me the lights are not user replaceable, but
: require replacement of the entire radio.
:
:
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I bought a pack of 5 wheat grain bulbs for AU$5.00 and replaced the dud
ones in the snap out holders. Took about 20 mins.