Invisible Infocentre!

[djck 0]

I'm looking for a working, non-fading infocentre for 2003 facelift 2 156 V6 2.5.

Mine like most I read about, fades once it gets hot after 15mins.

Is anyone breaking a later model with a good one,

or has anyone found out why they fade and worked out a fix?

They heat up and fade, is there a connection?

Do the screens on later working ones get hot to the touch, I wonder,

or is a faulty component, that could be replaced, to blame?

£80 for an LCD display seems quite steep.

Has anyone out there got any ideas?

[Smaky 73]

Hold in the + and - buttons for ten seconds, turn the key to MAR and continue to hold for another 10 seconds, this should reset the display light colour.

[djck 0]

Thanks Smaky,

Tried that, it made no difference, but I don't get the "Turn the key to MAR" bit. As far as I can tell, there's only 2 key positions, 1; Turn the key one step and all the dash lights illuminate and 2; Turn slightly further and the engine is started, then release and it springs back to the first position, where it stays until I turn it back (anti clockwise) to the off position and I can withdraw it. Ok that's 3 positions!

Am I being thick or is that normal! I've tried your suggestion in those positions but to no avail. It's set on max brightness already and fades after 10-15 mins.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

[Smaky 73]

Your forgetting the 4th position where you press the podger in and turn the key to PARK.

 

But MAR is the first position, read the ignition barrel.

[Smaky 73]

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk! Because I'm on tour!

[djck 0]

Thanks again Smaky, Yep I see but sadly it doesn't cure a fast fading infocentre. Seems a pity that it does work fine for a little while and then disappears, what can have changed since it was new, that can't be repaired?

 

While I'm at it I can't get it to show MPG! The screen comes up but shows no readout and then returns to the main screen, just showing day, date & temp.

[Smaky 73]

Could be a dodgy plug then.

[djck 0]

Thanks for all this advice Smaky, I'll have to go foraging tomorrow, beneath the dash!

I'm obliged to you.

[djck 0]

Unfortunately none of the above.

 

I took out infocentre and dismantled it. Everything looked normal, no evidence of any faults. The screen just progressively loses it's transparency and ability to show information. All contacts fine.

 

I drilled several 6mm holes in the plastic housing to help ventilation, which may have made a slight difference but not a lot.

If there is a heat issue, the unit certainly generates it's own heat, probably from the bank of bright LED's that backlight the LCD display, then it needs more than passive ventilation. I read somewhere someone fitted a 'PC' type fan, it would be interesting to see how that was done.

 

All of this aside, Alfachris has kindly located a used replacement, so let's hope this cures the problems.

[Biffa 0]

Have checked for dry solder joints? even if they look good stick some heat on them just to be sure.

[iridium 1]

Just make sure the replacement's from a post 03 car - I have heard that they cured the problem on them.

 

Sent from my HTC Desire HD using Tapatalk

[djck 0]

I'm waiting for the replacement from Alfachris, which he says he'll accept back if it fades, how's that for service!

 

When I take the old one out I'll recheck the soldering with a multimeter and put an iron on anything slightly suspicious but it looked pristine on initial inspection.

 

Thanks for all your suggestions, keep 'em coming, these older infocentres are a pain in the ** ** and not cheap.

If there are any good fixes or affordable solutions out there, it would be good to hear, for all!

[iridium 1]

Any luck in finding out what was wrong with the old one?

 

Sent from my HTC Desire HD A9191 using Tapatalk 2 Beta-4

[djck 0]

I'm waiting for the replacement from Alfachris, which he says he'll accept back if it fades, how's that for service!

 

When I take the old one out I'll recheck the soldering with a multimeter and put an iron on anything slightly suspicious but it looked pristine on initial inspection.

 

Thanks for all your suggestions, keep 'em coming, these older infocentres are a pain in the ** ** and not cheap.

If there are any good fixes or affordable solutions out there, it would be good to hear, for all!

 

Got the replacement, fitted, all ok, works for up to 1/2 an hour then fades! In this warm weather it fades immediately.

No response from Alfachris, despite repeated efforts to contact him

It was a 2002 replacement I've since discovered. I guess I'll have to keep looking, that was a waste of £40!

[Smaky 73]

I'm going to be striping done some of these ICs which fade to discover why they do this, I think I already know but I want to confirm it, plus I have foound a screen from another source which may be a direct replacement and more available.