Section of radio light went dim

bocody · Post by **bocody** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 8:34 pm

The left section of my radio light has gone dim or burned out all together. It's not bad at night but in the daytime you can't see the display or the clock very well. Anyone know a fix? Thanks in advance.

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 9:01 pm

I don't think anyone has reported replacing burned out lights in the radio. What year Vibe and which radio do you have? If it's under warranty then get the dealer to fix it, for free. If not, then the stock radios usually go pretty cheap on ebay.I replaced mine with a different unit (one out of an 03 matrix that had CD/cassette) and I gave the original one to another member, who hooked it up wrong and assumed the lights in it didn't work, so he took it apart and destroyed it doing so. I am not saying that it is difficult or risky since I have never taken the face plate off, just that that's the only time I remember anyone ever did.Welcome to genvibe

bocody · Post by **bocody** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 9:41 pm

I have an 03 and it has the AM/FM CD player combonation. This all happened 2 weeks after the warranty ran out. I had the face plate off and there are no light bulbs. Something that's soldered on the circuit board must illuminate it.

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 9:55 pm

if it were mine, I'd probably look at replace instead of repair. unfortunately it's probably cheaper to pick up a replacement radio than to find the lights, I assume LEDs, and solder them on the circuit board. Ebay has a couple radios for Vibe and Matrix, sometimes one will show up really cheap, the cheapest I see there today is $40. Any one out of a Pontiac Vibe will fit, as well as any out of a 2002-2004 Toyota matrix. 2005 + matrix is different though.Sometimes members here will offer up stock radios when they install an aftermarket one, so check the for sale forum. There's one mentioned in http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=19097 but merzbow may have it by now.

Mavrik · Post by **Mavrik** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 2:02 am

it can't be repaired... the radio would have to be replaced unless you have access to a radio repair shop. In which case then it "could" be repaired but not all that cheaply. Replace the radio, find a used one or since lots of Genvibers part out their radios, see if anyone has theirs still lying around.I have a 6disc one laying around but its from a montana van. EXACT same as the 6 disc in the Vibe but I don't know it it would work.

bocody · Post by **bocody** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 8:58 am

Thanks to all for the help. I'll probably just live with it as long as the radio and CD player work, or can find a bargain

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 9:36 am

well don't stop there, tell us more. Like what color it is what options you got, why you bought a vibe in the first place, how you like it, what problems you've had (in addition to this dark radio), etc

BlueCrush · Post by **BlueCrush** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 10:52 am

Here's a few cheap one's on eBay:http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...ZWDVWh ... on...wItem

bocody · Post by **bocody** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 11:01 am

My Vibe is Salsa and the main reason I bought it was because of the Toyoda engine and transmission. It has power windows, doorlocks, mirrors, automatic trans. etc. I thought they were the ugliest car on the road when they first came out and then they started growing on me. My mother bought an AWD in May of '02 and I got mine, FWD, in Sept. I had the cladding and rocker panels replaced with the '04 style per the service bulletin. Mine were pretty chewed up in front of the back wheels after only a few months of winter driving. I'm very dissapointed in the paint, my hood has quite a few chips in it. The only other thing that aggrivates me about it is all the squeeks and rattles inside. They are worse than any car I've ever owned. Road noise level inside is nothing to brag about either. Other than that it's not too bad. Buy another one? I don't think.

bocody · Post by **bocody** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 8:49 pm

Thanks for suggesting Ebay, I got a radio for $45.

mandyw · Post by **mandyw** » Fri Oct 07, 2005 9:44 am

My radio just did the same exact thing about a month ago. And it is also on the left side. I called the dealer where I bought the car and they told me that it is a lightbulb on a board but the thing is soldered together and they would send mine out and get me a refurb, for $229!! I told the guy to shove it up his u know what and that I can get a new stereo put in for cheaper. I hate Pontiac and GM, they are a bunch of crooks.( They wanted $140 to fix my window that came off track, I had it done for nothing and it only took 10 minutes by a buddy of my husbands.)

yooper_bob · Post by **yooper_bob** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 5:05 am

I had the same thing happen to me about a year ago. I stewed for a while thinking about how to fix it. Then I gave the faceplate a good whack with my fingers. Voila! Lights came back on. A few months later the same thing happened and was cured with a similar whack. Definitely worth a try...Bob 03 Mono Shadow GT

Limeliz16 · Post by **Limeliz16** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 6:20 am

Unfortunately, you cannot just replace any bulbs in GM's radios. They are a liquid plasma and you have to replace the whole unit. If it's still under warranty, take it to a Pontiac dealer and have them pull the radio to get the part # off the back and order it. Normally it will take about a week to get in. Hope that helps!

bocody · Post by **bocody** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:44 pm

Got a new radio on Ebay for $45. Installed it and it works great. I'm a bit puzzled though. I thought security codes prevented a radio from being installed in another vehicle? Could these codes have been cleared by the salvage people I bought the radio from?

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 12:04 am

Vibe radios do not have the theftlock feature.

GMJAP · Post by **GMJAP** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 12:05 am

Quote, originally posted by bocody Â»Got a new radio on Ebay for $45. Installed it and it works great. I'm a bit puzzled though. I thought security codes prevented a radio from being installed in another vehicle? Could these codes have been cleared by the salvage people I bought the radio from?The Vibe radios do not have Theftlock/security code locking.Edit LOL..... beat to the punch by the joatster again!

bocody · Post by **bocody** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 12:47 am

What's the purpose of little red flashing light?

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 1:10 am

http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=1242Quote Â»"The Radio has an LED that blinks whenever the ignition is OFF and acts as a pseudo theft deterrent"

LILDEEVIOUS31 · Post by **LILDEEVIOUS31** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 8:19 am

Same here, it just happened. Is it usually covered by warranty? Theres no way Im paying 250 to have them fix it!!!!!

northvibe · Post by **northvibe** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 8:21 am

it should be covered, its a manf. defect in it.

ColonelPanic · Post by **ColonelPanic** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 11:15 am

Woo hoo, my EQ and TONE buttons now barely light up. Bummer. Oh well, if they were completely out, it would be a perfect match for my climate control lighting which doens't work either. lol

bocody · Post by **bocody** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 1:52 pm

Out of warranty, bought an OEM on Ebay for $40

ColonelPanic · Post by **ColonelPanic** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 1:27 pm

I've finally lost the entire bottom row of buttons, and now the presets/CD function buttons intermittently stop working. The A/C and recirc switch lights are dead. That compliments the before griped about HVAC control lights that are dead, I bought the $10 a piece bulbs but haven't replaced them yet. So the only lights that work anymore are the rear defrost, hazard flashers, inverter switch, and the ring around the lighter. Good times! What a bunch of cheapskates for not using LED's, get with the 1980's! And I guess my fault for leaving my lights on because of that stupid improperly functioning light sensor setup and/or driving at night most of the time.

Post by **NSimkins** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 1:31 pm

Did you check fuses and all that jazz?

ColonelPanic · Post by **ColonelPanic** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 1:32 pm

Yeah, fuses are good. It's the bulbs.

bocody · Post by **bocody** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 1:44 pm

It wasn't the fuses. I got another radio from a salvage company and the lights work fine

Mavrik · Post by **Mavrik** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 3:58 am

those displays are like a digital watch. When a section goes out, its a problem with the whole display. Our Vibe radios come with the display, its not a seporate piece that I know of.

mddanielson · Post by **mddanielson** » Wed May 24, 2006 2:11 am

Same thing happened to me. I bought an 05 used with 17k miles. One month later, the left side went dim. I plan on dropping it off at the dealer since its under warranty.Radio displays are usually small LCDs. This one probably uses an LED backlight. Its not practical to replace. Luckily, mine is under warranty.

Digger · Post by **Digger** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 12:42 pm

the right side of my display went out. Anyone have a fix ( other than new radio) ?

cerulean · Post by **cerulean** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:23 pm

Quote, originally posted by Digger Â»the right side of my display went out. Anyone have a fix ( other than new radio) ? http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=33363

ajflan · Post by **ajflan** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:42 pm

Its not a permanent fix, but it may light up again if you punch it just right. Thats what we used to do in Merzbows car lol.

LMK9232 · Post by **LMK9232** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 9:03 pm

Left section of radio light went dim 2004 Vibe- 100,000 miles It really seems ashame to have to replace a good functioning radio when just the left side light go out on it. I'll try banging on the face plate and see what happens. Just wanted to write to add my name on the list of crappy vibe radios.

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 5:54 am

Quote, originally posted by LMK9232 Â» Left section of radio light went dim 2004 Vibe- 100,000 miles It really seems ashame to have to replace a good functioning radio when just the left side light go out on it. I'll try banging on the face plate and see what happens. Just wanted to write to add my name on the list of crappy vibe radios.Quote, originally posted by cerulean Â» http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=33363

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