fading dash LCD screen !!!

[JJmac]

The Dashboard display screen starts to fade after the car warms up - becomes difficult to read after a while. Anyone know how much it costs to get replaced ??

[SimonS4MTM]

Dont know about cost but it requires a new dash pod

[david7m]

Welcome.

There expensive, plus if you go second hand, you'll struggle to get similar mileage and it'll need to be coded to your car I think....

My S3 has started to do something similar. When it gets warm, the top left hand side of the radio/cd selection starts to fade. At the mo, this is only a tiny part of the screen........

Dave

[Ads4]

My LCD screen is starting to get a number of lines across it so info on replacing much appreciated...

[nickb834]

Welcome.

There expensive, plus if you go second hand, you'll struggle to get similar mileage and it'll need to be coded to your car I think....

Dave

My last S4 did this too.

You'll only need to code anything if you change the entire instrument cluster.

Depending on how brave / competent you are, you could just swap the LCD screen over.

I very much doubt it is the circuitry that drives the screen at fault here but rather the screen itself.

Anybody got a cluster lying around where they can read off the part no of the display (not necessarily audi / vag no's)?

It may not be possible to source the display (Doubt that RS components do them!) separately, but if you can find a cluster cheap - at least you won't have to pay Audi to recode the immobiliser / keys.

I'd do it if anybody wanted to send me their cluster and a new LCD display / donor cluster.

If anyone wants to be the guinea pig then I'll do it for nothing

I'll be able to swap it quite happily but if it's the IC that drives the LCD at fault - it may be beyond economical repair.

I think Audi would have used a stock IC as in off the shelf rather than anything audi specific, so we should if need's be, just be able to desolder the IC and swap it over.

Any takers?

[Ads4]

Spoken to Audi and they can't source the LCD screen itself without the instrument cluster although they say there is a company in the states that can fix it if you send it to them (and can live without the car for a few weeks). Audi charge £460 inc VAT for the cluster and then 'around' an hour to fit and code. Guess the lines don't bother me that much after all...

[nickb834]

sounds about right that doesn't it - typical Audi.

Not worth doing unless you find a cheap second hand cluster.

[rolskii]

I heard some info on this, its a slim foam conducting bar (covered in very thin bands of conducting material, tin no doubt) that transfers data to the screen contacts, heard that its these contact bars/strips get flaky..... same as you get in mobile screens etc... to power up the lcd screen..... if this is true - them you can purchase these strips, you will just have to match up the thickness of the bands so you dont get any crossed data...
I have never looked inside a dash clock unit, so I cant verify this, I cant remember where I heard it too....
I have a spare but it doesnt fit my car, (so if anyone wants to offer a price for a facelift unit...?)

[nickb834]

I heard some info on this, its a slim foam conducting bar (covered in very thin bands of conducting material, tin no doubt) that transfers data to the screen contacts, heard that its these contact bars/strips get flaky..... same as you get in mobile screens etc... to power up the lcd screen..... if this is true - them you can purchase these strips, you will just have to match up the thickness of the bands so you dont get any crossed data...
I have never looked inside a dash clock unit, so I cant verify this, I cant remember where I heard it too....
I have a spare but it doesnt fit my car, (so if anyone wants to offer a price for a facelift unit...?)

Say wha?

Do you mean the contacts around the edge of the screen where it attaches to the PCB? - these are most commonly ribbon cable's that have either graphite type ends on a plastic tape OR a small white plug - something similar to what you'd find on a PC motherboard (smbus / usb) pin headers.

Info on Audiworld suggests that it's a heat issue, some of the guys there noticed that if they pressed on the display whilst it was doing this the affected areas of the display showed up again.

Check here:
http://forums.audiworld.com/s4/msgs/2225464.phtml

Also some nice pictures of the LCD itself:
http://www.modifieda4.com/gallery/trip-display

As and when I get another S4 I'll have a look at this.

[belgianS4]

Had the same problem with my previous cluster.

Bought new face lift type and i've let a german friend make pcb's to connect to the original wiring with a new fiddle which can keep out the oil level sensor error.

He coded the new cluster and made can-bus connection with my navi.

So now i have a newer cluster with no lines, without anologe clock and can bus for navi radio cd etc...

Costs a little bit less then a new cluster but just depends on how cheap you can find a cluster on ebay...

Cluster costed me 250 euro, work inclusive pcb's etc 230 euro.

Went to germany for the install but if you have vag-com you could do this yourself at home (the programming part).

If someone wanted some info on the chap who did this work no prob can/will help you guys!

There are some but's and if's I had a cluster with the same code as my new cluster otherwise you would need to place a new immobilizer or deactivate the original in some way.

Hope this info can be of some help

Hendrick

[rolskii]

Say wha?

most commonly ribbon cable's that have either graphite type ends on a plastic tape OR a small white plug - something similar to what you'd find on a PC motherboard (smbus / usb) pin headers.

Info on Audiworld suggests that it's a heat issue, some of the guys there noticed that if they pressed on the display whilst it was doing this the affected areas of the display showed up again.

Check here:
http://forums.audiworld.com/s4/msgs/2225464.phtml

Also some nice pictures of the LCD itself:
http://www.modifieda4.com/gallery/trip-display

As and when I get another S4 I'll have a look at this.

Okay cool... so im talking <beep>.... i did say i hadnt seen one....

belgians4....
so you got a pre-facelift with post clock wired up for can-bus ...?

cheers david

[nickb834]

Okay cool... so im talking <beep>.... i did say i hadnt seen one....

No offence intended mate, it was your post that got me to thinking of looking on AW to see if anyone had done this - the pics were a good find.

belgians4....
so you got a pre-facelift with post clock wired up for can-bus ...?

cheers david

Now that's interesting, canbus in a prefacelift!

Although, tbh - performance mods from me first - I think I know my way to work now

[JonnyX]

I like the final picture in the project....

http://www.modifieda4.com/gallery/trip-display/dscn6601

All that's missing is the guy tearing his hair out!

[nickb834]

I like the final picture in the project....

http://www.modifieda4.com/gallery/trip-display/dscn6601

All that's missing is the guy tearing his hair out!

Aye - the obligatory pr0n shot, wouldn't fancy putting that lot back together on a Sunday night ready for monday morning commute!

[belgianS4]

Yep only cluster on the inside was pre-facelift but 'rest' of the car is facelift like headlights etc it's a '99

Cheers,

Hendrick