What To Do When Your GMC Sierra Radio Display Screen Is Blank

If you’re a GMC Sierra owner who has had your infotainment screen go blank, you’re not alone. This is actually a pretty common problem with GMC Sierra trucks and other GM models. The GMC Sierra is prone to other radio problems, such as the radio staying on when the door is open.

You may be wondering what you can do in this situation. No one likes to bring their vehicle to a shop. It’s not fun sitting around for hours and then paying a lot of money to have the issue fixed. If you have a blank radio display screen, there are a few things you can try to fix this problem at home.

Sometimes The Screen Is Too Dim

Sometimes when you park your vehicle in a dark area, your headlights automatically go on when you start your car. That causes the instrument cluster and infotainment screen too dim. Sometimes it can look like the infotainment screen is off when its brightness setting is quite low.

The first thing you want to do is turn the dash light brightness controller to the highest setting. If the display screen gets brighter and more visible, then all is well. It’s most likely working fine.

If that easy fix doesn’t work, then there’s probably something wrong with your display screen.

Do The Audio And Radio Controls Work?

Is your display screen blank but everything else (audio, radio controls, etc.) is still working? The problem obviously lies with the display itself. The most common causes of this issue include:

• Loose wire harness that plugs into the back of the display
• Extreme heat

You can check the wire harness for any looseness. If it's loose, then try to tighten it.

Is The Radio Completely Dead?

If the display and the radio are dead, there's an issue with the entire system. It may be a bad fuse, or a bug within the system. Many GM owners said that either resetting the radio or disconnecting and then connecting the battery does the trick.

Is Your Radio Acting Strangely?

Many owners of 2006-2009 GM vehicles have reported strange issues with their radio displays. For example:

• The display goes blank or shuts off intermittently when the driver shifts gears or switches video sources
• The display freezes or displays “MAP DVD Read Error” messages intermittently
• The display makes some features inaccessible when the vehicle is in motion (i.e. navigation entries or scrolling lists)
• The display continues showing the vehicle logo after the driver starts the vehicle

These issues are so common that GM released a technical service bulletin about this in 2008. It stated that software anomalies caused these issues. If you think that this is why your radio isn’t working right, you can have your local GM dealership update the navigation radio software.

We Offer Replacement Radio Displays And Radio Repair Services

If you believe that the issue lies within your infotainment display, you have two options:

1. Replace your radio display screen
2. Have your radio display screen fixed

Either way, we can help. We have an extensive inventory of refurbished OEM replacement infotainment displays. We also have a team of skilled techs who can repair just about any GM infotainment display out there. Read more about our radio repair services here. If you don’t see the part you need in our inventory, get in touch with us. We’re always happy to work with you!