Thread: 04+ GP Radio Light Fix

Thanks to Bio248 for the detailed instructions and photos that gave me bravery to try repairing the display on my '04 GP GT. I'll pass on a few lessons learned for anybody interested:
1. Take care with prying off the cover on the radio chassis. The side walls are just rough stamped out and might have sharp edges, as in cut thumb.
2. Don't waste time and effort on installing the mentioned Radio Shack 25 mA bulbs. They are too weak for daytime display. They just show at night.
3. "Grain of wheat" 3 mm bulbs are the key, for sure. I didn't find any with solid wires either - only stranded. Instead of eBay, I found the web site of "Ken's Electronic Parts", at Kalamazoo, Michigan. Since I was driving by on a trip, I wanted to bring my burnt ones and compare size and selection. Aside from the mentioned 12 V 75 mA versions, they also cary 14 V 80 mA ones (PH495B) for reasonable price. Since the Radio Shack package mentioned the 25 mA ones were rated at 5000 hr, and my GP has > 4000 engine hours on it, and the voltage regulator is typically putting out > 14 V while driving, I decided to give the 14V ones a try.
4. If you go for the 80 mA versions, don't cause yourself aggrevation like I did by tinning the stranded wires - then they are a pane to get through the circuit board holes, even after reaming out with a pin. They are mounted and giving good visibility, similar in contrast to the upper display and other red lights around the dash.

Again thanks for posting the instructions! DD