Monsoon radio lcd stop working? Here is how to fix it! (Page 1/2)
AADrcw MAY 14, 08:38 PM
This is a common problem on the Delco Monsoon radios, One day you go out and turn on your car, your radio starts playing but the screen is still black. Most people automatically assume that the screen went out and trash the radio. 99% of the time the real problem is the bulb behind the screen burns out.

After having one in my car burn out and a friends I decided to take one apart and see if it is fixable, I found out that it is very easy to do and takes around 15 minutes. I have done several of these radios since and have had no problems at all with any of them since. Keep in mind this will only fix radios that the screen does not light up, the ones that display random jibberish is a completely different problem.

The radio I am using to make this write up has already been fixed but I did not have any with the factory bulb to demonstrate with.

Ok before we start I want to make it clear you are doing this on your own and if you mess anything up it is not my fault and I am not liable for any damages.

Step 1) Remove the radio from your car


Step 2) Start by popping loose all the tabs that are circled in the following pictures. The best way to do it is to start with one and slowly work your way around till they are all loose






As you pop them loose gently pull outward like this


Step 3) Once all the tabs are loose pull the face plate out from the radio, There will be a ribbon wire connecting to the internals of the radio so be carefull with that



Step 4) locate the bulb and socket behind the screen and see if you can see the broken filament in the bulb


This is the socket from the top


Step 5) Twist the socket counter clockwise to remove it from the board. (note: you may need some needle nose pliers to turn it, Sometimes it is easy to turn other times they can be a total pain)




Step 6) Once you have the bulb and socket out you will have the remove the factory solder holding the bad bulb in. (as I said above this radio has already been fixed so I can't show the solder) You will need to remove the solder from the small silver tabs. I used a small pick to do it.


Step 6) Take your new bulb and fold the wires down straight out like this. ( Sorry but I cannot give a exact bulb number as I do not know, I have several small bulbs left over from another project and they worked perfectly, Pretty much if the bulb is a automotive bulb and will fit in the socket your good to go)


Step 7) Insert the bulb into the socket through the small holes made for them.


Step 8) Bend the wires from the bulb back onto the tabs, I have never resoldered any of the ones I have done and they have been fine, You can resolder them if you would like.


Installation is reverse of what you have just done. Snap it all back together and plug it up and your good to go.

This is the first write up I have ever done so I hope it helps at least one person. If Its hard to read or anything like that comments and suggestions welcome.
Spoon MAY 14, 09:39 PM
Nice writeup. Easier than I thought it wouild be.

Spoon
------------------
"Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story which was a dialogue between two pieces of yeast. They were discussing the possible purposes of life as they ate sugar and suffocated in their own excrement. Because of their limited intelligence, they never came close to guessing that they were making champagne." - Kurt Vonnegut

[This message has been edited by Spoon (edited 05-14-2012).]

kendallville MAY 14, 10:48 PM
real good I give it an A+ Did not know you could fix that , just thought the radio was trash.
thanks have to keep this one for future referance, nothing lasts forever so I will need it again.
RWDPLZ MAY 14, 11:23 PM
You can buy the bulb from GM (or at least you could back in 2005), I got a UP3 radio for like $45 because the display didn't work.

http://www.fiero.nl/forum/A...050818-2-063070.html

GM part # 16208443
DRWBRTq19 MAY 14, 11:43 PM


That bulb looks like it's a 74 to me. Same one used in the ashtrays IIRC.

Drew
AADrcw MAY 14, 11:55 PM
Thanks for posting the part number to the factory one, I haven't fixed one of these in a while but the one I used to take the pictures I believe was a 74. I pulled that one back apart just to do this write up. The 74 does work well and you can't tell a difference from the factory one as far as lighting is concerned.
lou_dias MAY 16, 12:13 PM
Now if someone would only post how to fix the CD player... ;-)
Patrick NOV 03, 05:16 PM

Thanks to the OP for this helpful thread.

I was going to add that this repair applies to similar Delco radios that are not "Monsoon" versions... and then I realized that the radio used by the OP isn't even a Monsoon version itself (so I'm not sure of the reason for the "Monsoon" designation in the topic heading).

This is a Monsoon version of the same radio...



Monsoon FAQ can be found HERE, but in regards to the repair covered in this thread, no difference I suspect.

One question I do have though... I have seen tutorials online which show the small bulbs which illuminate the controls being replaced with LEDs. I have yet to see it demonstrated that an LED can be used to replace this particular bulb which illuminates the LCD display. Is it possible, and if not... why not?
litespd NOV 03, 05:53 PM
There are a few for sale on Amazon.com that already have the socket attached...just pull the old one out, and put the new one in.
GM UP3 Radio Bulbs
Patrick NOV 03, 06:29 PM

quote
Originally posted by litespd:

There are a few for sale on Amazon.com that already have the socket attached...just pull the old one out, and put the new one in.



Does it have a gold filament? The ridiculous price of that bulb is one of the reasons why I was wondering about the availability of an LED replacement.