Expert: Cleggsan - 12/16/2009

Question
QUESTION: my radio has no lights on my 1998 chevy subarban how can i fix this problem

ANSWER: I would need to know what radio is in the 98 suburban;  aftermarket or original OEM and which one (GM has several radios for each model).

My guess is the 12v line ignition wire feeding the radio has come off or a fuse has opened up.  Check all the fuses and if you know how, check the power wiring to the radio. There are three 12v lines to the radio; 1. direct from the battery with 12v always on (but some models, the lower powered ones, get their power from the ignition switch so only two 12v lines in this case), 2. from ignition to turn on the radio line when the key in the ignition is on acc and 3. the dimmer line which controls the display light on the radio to match the dimming of the dash lights in the vehicle.  If you have a vom and know how to use it the testing is not complicated.  You might find a broken wire, loose connection or something like that.

Good Luck.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: it is a delco original the radio is playing,but no lights at night,the people i talk to said the bulbs is blown but i still think it is wrong, why should all the bulbs be blown at the same time,please comment,thank you


ANSWER: The question to ask - or answer, rather........    is this:  Is the problem internal or external to the radio unit.

External: Means is it a broken wire or open connection that is preventing the 12v feed to the display lamp/light.

Internal: Means is there something inside the radio unit itself that has failed such as the connection from the voltage feed to the display, a cold solder joint, a defective display panel or lighting unit in the radio.  Most often there is not a bulb(s) inside but a lumenescant panel of some kind that lights the display uniformly.  

So, some troubleshooting and diagnostics is in order.

You made an interesting statement: "no lights at night" do you mean the display lights up ok during the day?  If the operation of the headlights turns off the display on the radio then it is a wiring problem "external" to the radio unit, perhaps........

Nuff?



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: ther are no lighte on in the day time or nights no lights period so is it fixable,i heard delco had this problem on their 98 99 2000 radios on the chevy subarban and trucks,anymore help is appreciated thanks

Answer
Yes, display lighting is a problem for many if not all car radio units.  And, the problem may well be the lighting elements.  But, as outlined in the previous response it must be diagnosed because the problem can still be "external" or "internal" to the radio unit. It is not hard to check, but until some testing is done you cannot know for sure.

For example, you could pull the unit out and feed an external battery connection to the unit while "on the bench" and see if the display is working.  This would tell if the lighting in the radio is working or not.  

Yes, it is fixable, of course, but you cannot fix it until you know what has to be fixed!

http://www.corvetteradios.com/corvetteradios_013.htm

Check the above.  Your radio there?  If so, you can order bulbs from many sources. Do a google search for them.

http://www.modifiedlife.com/radio-wiring-diagram-and-car-stereo-wire-diagram-199

From above, illumination wire is grey; you can check it for proper connection.