Proton Gen 2 radio LED replacement DIY.

As promised, here is the guide for the radio LED replacement DIY.
*Please note that what i have on hand is a radio from a highline gen2. It has the mp3 function.
Unlike the normal line gen2, it does not have the mp3 function. With the mp3 function, this also mean that this is an upgraded version. It is easier to handle. But it will not be a major problem. Just incase someone says why i have a different photos than the one in your hand.

For this DIY, you need some sophisticated tools. If you have read the meter led replacement DIY, you just need to add on to it. Or you will have to gather all of it. Here goes:

Torx screwdriver. Size 20, 15, 6
Flat screwdriver. Normal test pen size.
Philips screwdriver. With magnet capability.
Soldering tools.
Tweezer.
solder and paste.
Plastic wedge. (optional. But necessary in order to avoid scratches)
LED from the meter project. For the buttons
Special 4 pin led that has 1 anode and 3 cathode. MUST have in order to change the screen color.

1 : Using the plastic wedge, pry from the bottom to open covering of the upper control panel. Just slip it in, and slight pry it upwards. Then you can use your other hand to slowly slide out the covering.



2: Remove the two screws as indicated, and the wires loom behind the panel. Dont worry as the wires are location fixed. You wont be able to mess them up. Remove the panel, and you will see two more screws holding the radio. Remove that as well. (The screws are all of same size. So you dont have to sort them out. Unless its different from my car.)



3: Remove the two screws at the aircond panel. Use your hand to feel the location, or you can just duck down to see it clearly. (Technically, we have to remove the whole center console in order to remove this panel. But since we are not going to touch on this, i have came up with a short cut. Very unprofessional, but its your choice.)



Using your wedge, slide it in between the radio and the paneling. Its a very tight fit, so make sure your wedge can withstand the pressure. Then push your wedge upwards as in to pry out the paneling. (Its locked with a lock. So on a virgin car, its very hard.)

4: Now you have pry out the upper part, using a torch light, peek between the gap made. You will see another two screws in there. Using the philips screwdriver now, slide in and remove the screw inside. Becareful not to drop the screw or you will have to open everything up.



5: Pull out the radio now, and remove the wires loom behind it. At another bottom corner of it, there is the antenna. Unplug it. (Its a bit difficult for big hands. Its quite short.)

6: Now the radio is in your hand, head over to your favourite workbench and proceed. Using a marker pen or whatever deem suitable, make a marking on both of the bracket beside the radio. (Important to do so or you will end up having an upside down bracket.) Using the torx screw driver, remove the 4 screws holding the bracket and set aside. Remove the other 2 screws holding the front face. Set aside the screw and the small brackets.

7: Softly pull the front face out. *NOTE*
# If you have a mp3 radio, just pull out the front face. Remove the ribbon cable behind the face by pushing out the lock a little.

# If you have a non mp3 radio, slowly pull the face out. Take note of the ribbon cable there. At the head unit, you will see a lock. using a free hand, pull out the lock a little, and this will release the ribbon cable.



8: Set aside everything except the face of the head unit. Remove every small torx behind it. Note the screw holding the cable in the middle. Slowly take out the black covering to reveal the board.

9: Every single led on this board have to be replaced with the same led used for the meter project EXCEPT the 4 in marked in the photo. This is a very special LED. It looks like normal LED, but this has 1 anode, and 4 cathode. Unlike normal led which has 1 anode 1 cathode or 2 anode 2 cathode. It wont work if you use a normal LED.



10: I believe you have replaced all the leds and now you can put everything back in place. For the non mp3 users, you will have difficulty in putting back the ribbon cable now. Using one hand, slightly pull out the lock and hold it there, using another hand, to slide in the ribbon cable. Push back the lock to hold the cable in place. You need to adjust yourself for this task.

For the mp3 users, just slightly pull out the lock and slide in the ribbon and lock it by pushing the lock back in place. Now go on and and have a try in your car!


Finished work!