Bulb/Backlight for stock 97SSEi Bose Radio?

[Water 97SSEi]

The screen in my stock radio (Bose with the CD, but no equalizer) has finally went. You can still see it at times, but there is basically no backlight for it. Is it just a bulb or something that I could easily replace? Or would I be best off buying a new OEM (or aftermarket) radio? Cause it still works fine, all buttons function and you can see the screen when light shines on it (kinda like turning the backlight off on your iPod/PDA/Phone/etc.).

[harofreak00]

http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... 27&t=13943

[Water 97SSEi]

http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=13943

Thanks. I'll order one up once I take out my radio and take a look at the bulb thats in there now. It use to work when I whacked the radio (or around it) so maybe the bulb is just disconnected. If it is dead I'll be sure to get one from you or olblueeyesbonne.

Good to know its really simple to replace too.

[sonoma_zr2]

I did this, cheaper

[Water 97SSEi]

Yeah, I might do it the cheap way, though I'd probably have to wait till Thanksgiving break when I go home to have access to a soldering iron. Did you use all three of those bulbs?


Now its hard to tell from the pictures what you did with the three bulbs but let me know if I got this right...did you use the housing of the original bulb and put these three bulbs in that?

[sonoma_zr2]

just 1 bulb, actually the bulb on the right package is the one. No, I didnt use the original bulb holder. You could if you busted the old bulb out, drilled small holes for the new bulb leads. Then you wouldn't have to solder, but you would have to solder the bulb in the holder.

here is what the original bulb looks like



It slips into the hole from the pcb side and twist to make the contacts

[Water 97SSEi]

Oh ok, yea thats what I thought at first, but the picture with the three bulbs threw me off and made me think you used more then one. So the one little bulb lights up the display as good as stock would you say?

[Maymybonneliveforevr]

If I understand correctly you used the bulb on the right side of the page? Is so how many LED bulbs were needed and since there is somewhat of a glare, can anyone give me the part number. I also understand that the left package of bulbs are not needed?

[harofreak00]

No LED's, these are incandescent. This is what Travis used: http://www.radioshack.com/search/index. ... -1141&sr=1

[Maymybonneliveforevr]

Wow only $1.49 I would have thought it would be led. What quantity will be needed and thanks for the replies Haro. By the way I didn't have a chance to read your thread Haro, I assume you used a different method and maybe led's or not?

[harofreak00]

Just 1.

I have never fixed a 92-99 radio myself. I'm just linking you to what I know.

[Maymybonneliveforevr]

Thank you Haro, off to Radio Shack, when they open up. But I have to tell you, one bulb for the whole display is a bit hard to believe but then I haven't opened it up yet.

[Maymybonneliveforevr]

By the way, I guess these bulbs aren't the same as some of the dash board lights are they?

[harofreak00]

1 bulb for the clock display, not all the other buttons. Just look at the pictures, you can see how it is positioned right behind the display.

[sonoma_zr2]

Just dusting this off a little. The bulb finally burned out and I am moving the stereo to the 99 so I had to fix again. Digging for the bulbs I found these



Christmas lights! I decided to give it a shot.





Very bright, we will see how long this last.

[sonoma_zr2]

Well that only lasted a couple days. Wasn't expecting a lot, since christmas bulb lights are 110V AC. Went down to radio shack to get another of the bulbs on the right, they don't have them anymore. Only the ones on the left. I had those so I stuck in both (in parallel). Works but very dim in night mode, the only time it is a problem is when it is still light out and the lights kick on. My next experiment is with a 194 bulb (glanced at a pkg of them while looking for other alternatives. They will not fit into the hole, the reflector bowl will have to be removed. This will require some pcb removal.

[Water 97SSEi]

Guess I never posted about what I ended up doing, but I found a guy selling GM ACDelco factory bulbs on ebay. Installed it last November. Still going strong. About $11 I think it was. Believe the seller was "GMRadios" or something like that.

[sonoma_zr2]

you can also search for "2721mf" on ebay. these are the same as stock used in BMW's. they sell in lots of 10 for $10. you can also use a #74 bulb from any autoparts store if you don't mind soldering.