Hey all. Does anyone know why my wife'* radio display might work some of the time and not others? I have seen this display fail completely in other Pontiacs, but I haven't seen this" it works some days but not others" thing. Anyone have any info on these things?

I can tell you it'* powered by a bulb. When it fails, is it still backlit in red, or does that go away too?

Never had problems with the display in the bonne, but my GTP has shown that alien language a lot as well.

My 97 light was out when I first got it (tape player only) . But a week later when I was driving around looking for a CD player, the light came on and stayed on. Almost like it knew I was about to get rid of it and was begging for forgiveness. :(

I have the same issues with my 99. It'* got the cassette deck. The light goes out completely, or it just goes to scrambeled numbers (alien language). Back when it was still under warranty I took it to the dealership and they told me that they updated the ECM and that it would take care of it...but of course it didn't. I just deal with it now.

Chalk it up to another fine GM audio system.... :?

I don't think there has ever been "alien language" on the display. It is just the red backlighting that comes and goes. When it'* out, if you shine a flashlight at it, it is perfectly legible, but otherwise it is useless. How is the bulb connected? Is it a soldered in LED? If so, is it possible the soldering job was just messed up?

Is it just the display backlighting, or are the button backlights out, too?

The bulb is a small twist-in bulb in a plastic base. I'm not sure where to get an exact replacement, so when I replaced mine, I soldered in a similar size bulb from Radio Shack.

Are the lamps on the buttons going out too?

Sorry for the delay in replying. No, the buttons stay lit perfectly. It'* just the display that comes and goes.

I would start by checking the connections at the small bulb behind the display.