Radio Light bulb replacement

On Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:19:34 -0800 (PST), wrote:

>One of the bulbs in the AM/FM Cassette unit in my 1998 Dodge Stratus
>has burned out.
>
>Can a do-it-yourselfer change it, or should I take it to a consumer
>electroncs repair facility?
>
>I changed one of the bulbs in the HVAC control panel. It wasn't bad
>once I figured out how to take it apart.
>
>Thanks,
>
>KM
It's not designed to be replaced by you, or a consumer electronics
shop, either. Bulb is not a standard part, and is not available under
a Dodge part number, since it's not designed to ever be replaced.

If it really bothers you, a used replacement radio is probably your
best bet.
 >> Stay informed about: Radio Light bulb replacement 

> GUEST wrote:
> One of the bulbs in the AM/FM Cassette unit in my 1998 Dodge
Stratus
> has burned out.
>
> Can a do-it-yourselfer change it, or should I take it to a consumer
> electroncs repair facility?
>
> I changed one of the bulbs in the HVAC control panel. It wasn't bad
> once I figured out how to take it apart.
>
> Thanks,
>
> KM

I recently performed a multi burnt out radio bulb repair
on my 2000 Durango that you might find useful. It took me several
weeks of searching and ordering the incorrect parts before I found
the correct ones and want to save other the trouble, so I am posting
this where I can. These bulbs should fit most of the Chrysler rasios
as well as fit other componants in the dash such as switches and in
the instrument cluster.

My radio is in a 2000 Dodge Durango - radio model PO4704382AC:
CHRYLSER AM/FM/CASS/CD WITH STEERING CONTROLS MOUNT 1 MODEL RAZ.

The replacement bulbs are available at Mouser Electronics on the
following page:

http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?qs=6YhTptf0WO1dQPp6ZqL...52bw%3d

The bulbs are $0.65 for 1-9 or $0.59 for 10-50, to replace all of the
bulbs in the above radio, 9 are required. Shipping is approximately
$7.00

A technical description of the bulbs are available on this page:

http://www.jkllamps.com/files/CNW1%20MULTI%20LISTING.pdf

The bulbs are 3mm size, 14.0V, 40mA and are installed in a twist lock
base which is 8mm in diameter and 9mm in height. These are also
known as 3mm T-1 Neo-Wedge base bulbs. There are some companies who
sell LED's that use the same base, but I have not used and therefore
cannot vouch for them. Note that LED's do not have the same
dispursion of light as incadecent bulbs, so they may not light the
radio display properly anyway.

To replace them, remove the dash trim around the radio and remove the
2 x 10mm bolts securing the radio. The radio does not neen to be
removed entirely fron the dash, but enough to have access to the 2 x
phillips screws on each side of the faceplate. Remove the screws (4
total, 2 on each side) and then remove the volume knob and EQ knobs
if your radio has them. Next remove the faceplate by prying under
the plastic sides of the faceplate where it snaps over the metal
bumps on the radio. Once the faceplate is removed, remove 2 x
phillips head screws holding the display to the front of the radio
and pull it off from the left side. You will notice that there is a
notch on the right side that forces you ro remove the left side first
and it will automatically unplg itself from the rest of the radio
chassis. With the display removed, you can see the grey bulbs on the
back with a regular screwdriver indent in them. Simply turn 1/4 turn
to remove. The new bulbs do not come with the green filters that the
OEM radio has, so you will need to pull off the blue/green filters
from the burnt-out OEM bulbs and slide them on to the replacement
bulbs. Reverse the procedure to reasseblre everything. Take care
when reinstalling the display as there is the notch on the left side
you must slide the display under first and a pin that inserts through
the display on the left side that must be aligned for the display to
install correctly and the display plugs to mate correctly. This is
actually a fairly easy job for anyone who is mechanically inclined
and is cheaper than a new or rebuilt OEM radio. If you replace the
OEM radio with an aftermarket radio you lose the steering wheel
controls, so this is a way to get more life from your factory radio.

Note that some of the neo-wedge base bulbs in the dash use a longer
base. I found one of these in my rear defroster switch that was
burnt out. The base was the same 8mm, but the height was 20mm. I
suspect mouser sells these also but used the bare baseless bulbs
below from Allelectronics instead. and simply unwound the bulb wires
from the OEM base, removed it and replaced it with one of the bulbs
below since I already had them on hand.

http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/LP-23/14V-40MA-T-1-3MM...MP/-/1.

One final note, Allelectronics does sell a Neo-Wedge bulb with green
filters at the link below, but they are 4mm bulbs with a 10mm base
and 12mm height and will not work for the radio application because
they are too large.

http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/LP-70/14V-NEO-WEDGE-BA...LAMP/1.

Please let me know if you have any other questions and hope this helps
a fellow Durango or other Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth owner.

Here are a few other useful links I found during this ordeal if you
want to post them:

OEM new and refurbished factory radios:

http://oem-auto-accessory.com/factory_oem_chrysler___jeep_radios.html

Neo-Wedge and other LED auto bulbs, note as stated earlier I did not
try these and cannot vouch for them:

http://www.superbrightleds.com/instrument.html

Thanks
 >> Stay informed about: Radio Light bulb replacement