AU trip computer units - how's your display in the cold?

Dauphin · 30-07-2012, 01:26 PM

I'm happy because my trip computer in the Fairlane looks as good as new again. It faded years ago but it seems the cold weather lately makes the LCD display work properly.

Is anyone else experiencing this?

Dezza · 30-07-2012, 06:50 PM

Mine's perfect but I got a recoed one 2 years ago, from this mob.
http://www.liquidxtal.com/

SantoAU · 30-07-2012, 10:01 PM

How cold is cold? We've been hitting low single figures here in the West and it's not made a difference on my display. It's coming out on the weekend for an ironing

AU Mont · 31-07-2012, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SantoAU

It's coming out on the weekend for an ironing

care to take some pics, and document it?, even thought its easy i dont want bugger it up

cheers

Bushbasher · 31-07-2012, 09:45 AM

+1 for the iron. Pull it out, dismantle it and iron the circuit tape where it joins the circuit board......gently.

Bushbasher

**auIILTD** · 31-07-2012, 11:21 AM

Mine is definatly better in the cold, but reverts back to it's missing segments in the warmer weather.

Stu

SantoAU · 31-07-2012, 11:33 AM

I'll photo it all. Might even start a build thread as there's plenty of little cosmetic stuff to be done.

Just have to find the time #firstworldproblem

rowan194 · 31-07-2012, 01:49 PM

I can't remember if it's liquidxtal/autotronic or another company, but I remember seeing an ad years ago that claimed their fix was permanent.

What does the ironing do? Melt and reflow the solder a little? Or is it a removable connector?

My segments are starting to fade (eyebrows raised when it claimed 700+ km DTE after a fill... it was actually 300+ :( ) so I'm interested in the solution.

While it's out - has anyone converted the lamps to LED? Are they those tiny ones that are soldered in, or something more standard like T5?

edit: this page http://liquidxtal.com/Symptom.html says it's a permanent fix, and also mentions blown illumination bulbs, which look like the same bulbs used for cluster illumination. I'm surprised they don't offer LED "globes" as they should last the lifetime of the car, rather than 100,000km...

Bushbasher · 31-07-2012, 10:17 PM

The tape is stuck on not soldered which is why they fade over time as the glue slowly lets go. Ironing melts the glue and re-sticks it down. If after you iron it you still have bad segments then you may need to unstick the tape and cut off the end where it has been stuck down then peel back the clear covering and glue it down again. I did that to mine and it works good 95% of the time but I still get the occasional fade out when I climb in the car hot or cold but within a few minutes of the cabin coming up or down to temp the display comes good. I figure it was the glue I used that causes it ........ a smear from a hot glue gun probably wasn't the best option but it was all I had handy at the time, lol and you know what they say, " if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
As for the globes, they are little globes that press into a seat which is twist locked into the board. I think there's 4 of them from memory but don't quote me on that. Be careful not to damage the opaque plastic diffuser behind the LED display when you take the unit apart as any damage or scuff will show up through the LED display at night.

Bushbasher

BHDOGS · 01-08-2012, 07:33 PM

Would changing them to cool LEDs help as maybe the heat from the bulbs contribute to it

rmack · 01-08-2012, 09:22 PM

Mine goes funny after the head light have been on for a while. Will change to LED's when I get time. Geat more for the to do list. LOL

SantoAU · 03-08-2012, 05:59 PM

I'm currently in the middle of re-ironing for the the third time. First attempt: all pixels back, but some were dim. Second time - most of the pixels dim. Fuuuuuuuuuuuu...

Third time's a charm hopefully.

ps: be careful you don't snap off the plastic clips when pulling apart the unit.

SantoAU · 03-08-2012, 06:19 PM

pps: don't dismantle the unit on the dining table unless you're willing to have the missus give you an earful.

#tipsforyoungplayers

Bushbasher · 04-08-2012, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SantoAU

pps: don't dismantle the unit on the dining table unless you're willing to have the missus give you an earful.

#tipsforyoungplayers

ozyscott · 09-09-2012, 06:16 PM

My 1997 EL Fairmont is having an issue with the trip computer......its really dim in the day time unreadable but at night you can see it, has anybody heard of this? I'm thinking maybe its a bulb?

Ford_The_Win · 09-09-2012, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozyscott

My 1997 EL Fairmont is having an issue with the trip computer......its really dim in the day time unreadable but at night you can see it, has anybody heard of this? I'm thinking maybe its a bulb?

Bulb behind the screen. Take off the radio surround and dash fascia (a few screws) and the bulb unscrews, pop a new one in and you're set. There's two, one does the screen and one does the buttons.

XRGhia · 09-09-2012, 06:28 PM

Blown globe mate. Pop the trip comp out with a flat blade ad replace the globe...

The Fairlane's trip comp and climate control screens are screwed come any heat...

ozyscott · 10-09-2012, 03:28 PM

Thanks for the Replies Fellas.......Fixed it, replaced both lights in the Trip Computer and also put a new antenna in as well that was a worse job......Just bought an EL Fairmont, it goes well, just trying to get everything right on it....