temp display half dead

[anarchy-inc]

For the last few weeks my temp display has been randomly failing to display a few segments of each number. It seems to be showing the temp just not the complete number, so now I have a new game in trying to guess the numbers! The brightness of the remaining segments are fine and respond to the dimmer controls for the dash lights.

I've read the post below and think I can handle the cluster removal but I wonder if just replacing the display it self will fix it. Is that little unit controlling display? i.e., does it take the temp probe signal and drive the display? or is the unit a dumb display and gets driven from somewhere else?

http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=80148#post80148

I have at least one bad bulb on the other side of the cluster thats been bugging me, so now may be the time to take the plunge.

 

[barflux]

You will need a new cluster. There is no fix.

The display is faulty. Happened to mine and quite a few others.

Around £600 to install and replace.

 

[Shude]

You will need a new cluster. There is no fix.

The display is faulty. Happened to mine and quite a few others.

Around £600 to install and replace.

The actual cluster retails at £350, installation is easy but it would need some coding for mileage/assyst etc.

I have a facelift CLK cluster on my parts shelf at home, I will check to see if the display can be swapped - a lot of the bits inside the cluster are available separately. Could also be a bulb as you have already suggested.

 

[sym]

If its any consolation, BMWs suffer from the same issue - something with the connector to the dot matrix display. Having £700 of new instrument cluster fitted next week, under warranty, fortunately !!

S.

 

[Shude]

If its any consolation, BMWs suffer from the same issue - something with the connector to the dot matrix display. Having £700 of new instrument cluster fitted next week, under warranty, fortunately !!

Well they're all made by VDO so it makes sense they may have similar issues.

 

[sym]

Yup.

 

[anarchy-inc]

I have a facelift CLK cluster on my parts shelf at home, I will check to see if the display can be swapped - a lot of the bits inside the cluster are available separately.

I'd be interested to know if you can check.

I thought that the actual temp display unit would be available on it's own. I gathered from that post about retro fitting one, they did not replace the whole cluster.

Could also be a bulb as you have already suggested.

This is why I don't think it's a bulb.

The bulb that I know is out is on the right of the cluster and this photo was with the headlights off, so the backlight wouldn't be on anyway. The number 1 on the left has a partially lit bottome segment, the "C" letter is missing the left and top segments, and the "0" is missing the top right one.

Could this really mean a whole new cluster?

 

[Shude]

Could this really mean a whole new cluster?

It could. I'd be tempted to beat the cluster repeatedly with a hammer as a last resort. Could be a loose connection or something...

Will get the cluster out of the box later, might be tomorrow though as tonight I will be kinda busy

 

[anarchy-inc]

It could. I'd be tempted to beat the cluster repeatedly with a hammer as a last resort. Could be a loose connection or something...

Will get the cluster out of the box later, might be tomorrow though as tonight I will be kinda busy

The hammer idea sounds more like it, sometimes the display is fine.

As for tonight .. . got the homebrew cider chilling as we speak.

 

[m16k]

If you search the web you will find a lot of instructions to repair the pixels on your display either by packing out the connection to improve the contact or replace the ribbons that connect the lcd screens to the dash. the ribbons cost about £12 on e-bay and about the same for a 'T' tipped soldering iron to heat the ribbons to stick them on.
Alternatively there are a couple of repair services on e-bay that will do the repair for £95.

 

[Howard]

Holy 8 year thread resurrection Batman !

There is a HOWTO on here somewhere too.