Another Radio Bulb Question

[Romer]

Sarah's Radio in her 96 has a bulb thats burned out when the lights are on. This has been covered before and you have to dismantle the radio to replace the bulb pretty extensively.

However, when the lights are off, the daytime bulb works and you can see the stations. So, is there a wire I can snip to not let the radio know when the lights are on so the daytime bulb will be on with the lights? That's better than no bulb illuminated.

Thanks

 

[Long Duck Dong]

Ken,

If I'm reading your post right your saying that during the day time there is enough illumination to read the digital display, but at night when you turn on the head lights the light goes out.....is that correct?

There is a wire behind the radio in the factory harness that controls illumination, when you turn on the lights at the switch it turns on the lights in the radio. The problem is if you cut that wire you wont be able to see you functioning buttons but you will be able to see your digital display.

THe display lights are tiney tiny LED's that are soldered to the circuit board and are a pain in the arse to replace but it can be done.

Steve

 

[Romer]

Thanks Steve. You read that correct.

Which wire do I cut?

 

[Long Duck Dong]

Ken,

Which vehicle is it? The LX or the 4Runner? The wire color is the same on both vehicles, but they are in different locations on each of the vehicles....

Your looking for a solid green wire

but before you cut it I suggest using a test light to verify its the wire. ground your test light and touch the opposite end on the wire, turn on the light switch, if the test light lights up, clip that wire.

The the 4Runner the wire is going to be behind the radio. There will be 2 harnesses and it will be in the larger of the two harnesses.

In the LX450 the easier place to get the wire is behind the glove box (if I remember correctly it's back there too) You will have to drop your glove box, remove the factory passenger tweeter to access the factory amp.

You will have a single plug on one side of the amp (this is the input side) then on the other side of the amp there will be 2 plugs which is the output side, look for the green wire on the output side in the larger of the 2 plugs. Test it with your test light and clip it as needed.

Hope This Helps,
Steve

 

[Romer]

Thanks Steve.

It's the 96 LX450

 

[Romer]

I noticed that none of the lights come on when the headlamps are on. I mean the display is n ot illuminated and the buttons are not illuminated. Something other than the bulb to check?