91Pioneer Posted March 22, 2014 Posted March 22, 2014 OK so my 88 Comanche has a radio like this but worn a bit more: The buttons work OK, I can turn it on, turn up bass, fader works, choose FM, seek, etc. However, it does not light up at all. The back-lighting for the buttons & screen doesn't work when the headlight switch is on. The LCD display is blank at all times, even during the day. Is it possible to fix this easily or should I just try to locate a replacement? Honestly I'm not looking to upgrade, I mostly just listen to FM radio so I want to stick fairly stock. Plus crooks don't want to steal an old 80's factory radio LOL. Thx.
jimoshel Posted March 22, 2014 Posted March 22, 2014 Pull the radio out to where you can get behind it. Find the Orange wire with White tracer. Either take a sharp object, needle, ice pick, etc, and puncture the insulation, making sure you have contact with the wire. Or scrape a bare spot off the insulation so you can reach the wire. Get a 12V source, the cigar lighter is handy, and touch it to the pin sticking from the Orange wire. The back light and led should light up. If they don't they're bad and need replaced. If they do the problem is in the wiring between the dimmer control on the light switch and the radio.
91Pioneer Posted March 22, 2014 Author Posted March 22, 2014 Thanks, that's very helpful. I will check that out.
91Pioneer Posted March 22, 2014 Author Posted March 22, 2014 The back light and led should light up. If they don't they're bad and need replaced. If they don't light up, can they be replaced/fixed easily? It could just be a wiring issue, I'll try to get to that tomorrow.
Jeep Driver Posted March 22, 2014 Posted March 22, 2014 The back light and led should light up. If they don't they're bad and need replaced. If they don't light up, can they be replaced/fixed easily? It could just be a wiring issue, I'll try to get to that tomorrow. What you have is a $10 radio that you could not give away on a good day. There is a thread here regarding the same issue with a newer radio...97 up... The problem may not be the LED itself but the circuitry that controls the LED. Assuming that you could find a radio shop that could fix it....for say.....$90.......why would you spend $90 on a $10 radio? Look for a replacement.
Jeep Driver Posted March 22, 2014 Posted March 22, 2014 Exactly what I said- http://www.ebay.com/itm/Radio-Cassete-player-for-1996-Jeep-Cherokee-Model-P56007214-/310900337032?pt=Car_Audio_Video&hash=item48631aa988&vxp=mtr
danbyrambler Posted March 22, 2014 Posted March 22, 2014 Make sure the antenna is plugged in when testing - AMC/ChryCo used at least 3 suppliers back when & on some units the led display will not come on without the antenna ground - JIC your's is one of them. :wrench:
91Pioneer Posted March 22, 2014 Author Posted March 22, 2014 Assuming that you could find a radio shop that could fix it....for say.....$90.......why would you spend $90 on a $10 radio? What I meant by "fixed easily" is can I take the cover off and change a bulb, that kind of DIY fix. There's no way I'm having a tech fix this if it's broken, I'll just buy another radio. :driving:
91Pioneer Posted March 23, 2014 Author Posted March 23, 2014 I didn't get a chance to probe the wire today, but I did pull the radio. Yikes. It looks like the previous owner just twisted the wires together and put electrical tape on them, all of 'em. So... before I worry about powering one wire, I'm gonna solder every wire so it's good as new. Just one more thing on my to-do list, which is growing daily LOL
91Pioneer Posted March 24, 2014 Author Posted March 24, 2014 Oh bad news. I got the wires all soldered, split loom, and wrapped in electrical tape, it looks spanky new and professional. I even verified there is 12V on the orange/blk wire and... the illumination in the radio is faulty. Unfortunately that radio on eBay which is bidding for $19 has a whopping $33.62 shipping charge to Canada... so I guess I'll just keep looking for a radio. If anyone in Canada has a radio for sale cheap please let me know.
danbyrambler Posted March 24, 2014 Posted March 24, 2014 Lots of them here - http://www.car-part.com/ - Use 88 cherokee - - IDK about cheap, but lots of 'em :wrench:
91Pioneer Posted March 27, 2014 Author Posted March 27, 2014 Sweet, I won an eBay auction for a working cassette radio, I got it for $1.... :thumbsup: plus $29 shipping. :doh:
Jeep Driver Posted March 27, 2014 Posted March 27, 2014 Sweet, I won an eBay auction for a working cassette radio, I got it for $1.... :thumbsup: plus $29 shipping. :doh: Sellers don't pay ebay for shipping costs. That's why they do that. I don't like it either.
danbyrambler Posted March 27, 2014 Posted March 27, 2014 Sellers, & I'm one, do pay shipping costs - - eBay changed it's S&H policy at least 2 yr ago & levies a S&H dollar amount % fee that is slightly higher than the final value % fee - Hence the great shift to free S&H - - The uninformed sellers still use the old one dollar/99 cent fee dodge not realizing it's now a more expensive way of eBay selling
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now