Radio Repairs, Including
Display
Backlighting Bulb Replacement (4.0/4.6)
Introduction
Removing Radio Front Cover
Removing Radio Body
Removing Front Panel from Radio Body
Bulb Removal and Replacement
Reassembly and Final Observations
Professional Repair Alternatives (Covering LCD
& Other Radio, Tape and CD Player Problems)
Introduction
The radio and tape player on the Range Rover (like that on any other
vehicle) eventually needs serviceing -- if nothing else the cassette
mechanism is bound to wear out after a few years of use. The CD changer
can also cease operation if its connector at the back of the radio unit
comes loose. Another common problem is that like other LCDs on the
various dash displays in the Range Rover
4.0/4.6, the backlighting for the radio is provided by incandescent
bulbs which eventually burn out, leaving the display dim or invisible.
(In the case of the radio, there are two bulbs, one on each side of the
display, so if one fails you will still be able to see the display but
one side of it will be very dim).
Ron Beckett kindly
provided the following sequence of illustrations showing the procedure
for removing the radio to access the rear connections or send the unit away for repairs (or, if
you are especially adventurous, attempting to replace the backlighting
bulbs).
Removing the Radio Front Trim/Cover
The first step is to remove the plastic cover panel that surrounds the
main radio controls. It has a hole in it for the volume control knob,
so there is no need to remove the volume
control knob. Just insert some kind of hooked tool into the gap at each
side of the radio cover panel and pull
the panel off. Such a tool is easy to make from a piece of
aluminum stock. (See details in photos below and at top of page). I
made a crude one from a piece of plumber's strapping. The second time I
did the operation, I had lost the "tool", but knowing how the panel is
attached, had no trouble prying the cover off with an ordinary
screwdriver.
 |
 |
Home made hooked tool (2 needed
) that Ron Beckett used to remove the applique around
the radio.
|
The hooked end of the tools are
slid up behind the panel then
they are pulled to remove the radio cover without breaking it.
Ron has seen
several broken by heavy handed mechanics. |
Removing Radio Body
With the radio exposed you can insert two screwdrivers in the holes
shown to disengage the clips holding it in place in the dash (see photo
below). One of these clps is visible in the right hand photo below in
the secton on "removng the front panel". They just have to be pushed
downwards a bit to disengage. It takes a fairly firm pull, and if you
manipulate the top clips while pulling you will hear them disengage. I
found sticking your fingers into the
cassette tape opening gives you a good grip to pull the radio out. With
the clips disengaged, you can extract the entire
body of the radio out and
disconnect the wiring harness.
At this point you are ready to send the radio out for repair. The usual
procedure is to drop it off at the dealer -- they wll charge you a
preset fee and send it away for you. This is usually a slow and
expensive process (I have used it twice), but fortunately there
is now a far better alternative professional service available through Roverville Radio Repair Services (see below)
who have lower charges and a 24 hour turnaround.
If you are not sending the radio away, but just want to remove the
front panel (see below) or check the CD changer plug connection that
can sometimes fall oout from the rear of the unit, you don't need
to remove it entirely and disconnect the cables. In this case, it is
easier to pull
it only part way out, and with the transmission lever in "Park", the
body of the radio can be rested neatly on the shifter handle for
support. Note in the
pcture above the mounting screws (left and right of the radio) for the
fascia switch pack have been removed -- this is not necessary for the
radio removal operation.
Removing Front Panel from Radio Body
The volume knob now has to be pulled off. Then, after unclipping the
side clips (two on one end, one on the other), you
have to tilt the bottom of the panel slightly out so that the two top
surface retaining lugs are easier to release. Ron advises not pushing
down on them, as they will break. (I found some fiddling with one of
them was needed to get the front panel to release -- see below).
|
|
Side clips on end of radio:
these need to be released before tilting front panel up from bottom
|
Location of one of the top
surface retaining lugs. Do not try to bend them!
|
After tilting the front panel slightly it can be carefully pulled away
from the
main body of the radio. You might have to give the top clips a bit of
help with a screwdriver though. The panel cannot be tilted very much
because of the guides for the side clips, and it is a little stiff to
pull off as there is a multiplug that is being disconnected at the same
time (white plug in lower right of photo below). This forms the
electrical connections between the front panel and the rest of the
radio.
With the front panel off, you can now see the back of it
(photo below) and the location of not only the two LCD backlight bulbs
but the other bulbs which illuminate the radio controls.
|
Back of radio panel after
removal from radio body, showing locations of the two LCD backlighting
bulbs and the other bulbs used to illuminate the radio controls.
|
Bulb Removal and Replacement
|
|
Exposing the Backlight Bulbs
|
Closeup of the bulb and its cover
|
With the back of the panel accessible, the LCD backlight bulbs can be
exposed by prying off the silicone covers that protect them (see photo
above left). The miniature bulbs have no proper holder, but they have a
cover which surrounds the globe (photo above right) and the flying
leads are simply soldered to the printed circuit board. To
unsolder the old bulb and resolder the new one, use a small soldering
iron intended for electronic work that does not generate too much heat,
otherwise you might accidentally unsolder other connections on the
board.
Reassembly and Final Observations
Assembly is the reverse of removal.
After completing the operation, Ron noticed his radio LCD display is
now slightly brighter on one side, so he wishes he had replaced both
bulbs instead of only the one that failed. Obviously, both lamps need
to be the same. Ron could not source exactly the right bulbs, so
thought afterwards that he should have swapped a bulb from elsewhere on
the board to the LCD and fitted the "slightly off spec" replacement
into the newly vacated hole where the difference in brilliance would
have been less noticeable.
Professional Repair Alternatives
John
& Tom at Roverville Radio observe
that people attempting radio repairs with little to no experience in
such
fine/micro electronics tend to mess components up along the way...
they have to fix them after you've tried and it makes it harder
and more
costly in the long run! Roverville warns "Note with respect to
the
info above:
The button lamps are a different voltage from the
LCD illumination, DO NOT INTERCHANGE THEM!!!! YOU"LL MELT THE FACE
BUTTONS and also note the green filters are usually
melted
on so these cannot be reused. You have to use correctly
specified lamps (we
do sell them and other parts too, including entire new faces)." So,
they do not feel the advice about swapping
for other lamps on the face circuit to get an even glow a good
idea. (I should know, because I tried it myself, botched it up and had
to send my unit in for a proper repair!).
The
following information is provided on John & Tom’s services
for the benefit of Rangerovers.net readers. John & Tom have kindly
offered to help sponsor this website, so if you contact them, please
make
sure you mention Rangerovers.net!!
ROVERVILLE
– RADIO REPAIR, USA & UK
Independent
Land Rover Stereo Repairs, Sales & Service
Website:
www.roverville.us
John
of Roverville - Radio personally
owns 8 Land Rovers and is an active member of Texas Rovers Land Rover owners club http://s99930825.onlinehome.us/site/
Roverville - Radio
provide top
quality repair work with all genuine
factory parts at a fraction of Dealer middle-man
prices and delaying turnaround time. Most dealers do not
offer offer
radio repair services... they'd sooner sell you a
new one for a few $1,000 or
£1,000. If you
hear "it's a fried/dead /no good unit", send Roverville an
e-mail... they can revive it back to perfection. Usual Repair
price is
$185 US, depending on the model unit you have. This includes everything
right
down to return shipping. The sooner you send in your unit the sooner
you’ll be enjoying your music and chat shows again. They
carry the full line of Rover units, all fully serviced “perfect” with
“warranty” for exchange if you prefer not to wait for repairs, this
method costs a little more, but you have a unit shipped to you the day
your
arrives at Roverville, though usual repair time is about 2 days +
shipping.
They
also repair units for the Dealers world wide... and lucky
individuals
like you here reading this……those that prefer not to wait
the 2-3 months it takes most other repair shops. Bottom line,
they know
these units inside and out! Hence they specialize in Land Rover
units only
that’s what they do at Roverville Radio - Repair!
Roverville - Radio also
buy any
Rover stereo equipment, CD changers, woofers, wiring
harnesses, amps and speakers, in working or
non-working condition with or without code. All units are
professionally tested & reconditioned like new prior to
resale! Payment
for used
equipment will be made once received
by
Roverville .
Unfortunately, John & Tom have found that many inquiries
are
from owners simply wanting free advice; they do like to help, but
cannot
spend all their time just helping out on the phone -- though if you are
genuinely interested in professional repair or exchange services you
should
definitely contact them in the USA or UK via http://www.roverville.us. They will reply with helpful "easy
for anyone to follow" removal
instructions, pictures etc. so you can remove the radio/CD
etc yourself, saving you at least $100 that a dealer would
charge
you.
When you send them an e-mail please explain your stereo’s issues…. best you can! Also state the Year &
Model of your Rover. Thanks!
I can personally
vouch for their outstanding service, having used it myself. It was amazing having a one-day
turnaround rather than the typical wait of weeks or months through the
dealer (which I have also experienced twice before). Roverville have
kindly agreed to help sponsor this website in proportion to the
referrals
they get from us, so if you choose
to use their services please mention Rangerovers.net!
Page last updated April 2006
