RS2 instrument cluster LCD display replacement

[GreenMachine]

9/10 times these threads all end the same. Someone talks of a newer option without ever having anything apart. They do a little research and give up. Nothing goes anywhere. Keep your eye's open for used bits for cheap. Something is better than nothing IMO.

[gmac78]

Very true, if LCD's can not be bought new i guess the hunt starts now for a low mile cluster......Oh the joys!!!

[AndyP]

I started trying to source these from a company in the USA that said they could make them but they needed a pin out for the screen and nobody could supply it

[3db]

Couldn't You just give them half bled one for tests? I'm sure they should be able to figure out, if they can make one.

As for used LCD's (not whole board computer, just the LCD screen itself), they can be salvaged and easily changed from any (avants, sedans, coupes) B4 and B3 and also Audi 100 C4. A6 C4 uses different contact spacing and is not compatible.

Also I would recommend to not use regular light bulbs for backlight, as they tend to heat that LCD up. Better to solder some bright LED's with series resistors as they generate much less heat. Just put the resistors outside display housing and scuff up the front of the LED with some 800 sandpaper to spread light evenly.

Here's my TDi dash panel with my own 100% LED's conversion, except for ECU, ABS, IMMO and AIRBAG light as those tend to leak some current in light-off state and LED stays dimly lit, also regular bulb in BATTERY light, as it is needed to start the alternator:


And here's all LED conversion in rest of the dash:

[Tridac]

3DB - Led Lighting

Leds are a good idea and had thought about that, as my instrument cluster is in bits right now. Chickened out at this stage, as there's more than enough other stuff to fix at present.

Moderate heating shouldn't be a problem. Lcd panels don't like low temperatures, but just slows down the response. What lcd panels really don't like is a residual voltage offset across the segments. They need to be driven by a 50% bipolar voltage, otherwise permanent damage can occur over time. Trying to analyse why these particular lcds are failing, one scenario might be that the glass outer layers are separating, allowing moisture to get in as the panel is subject to regular temperature cycling. Combine that with a cheap nasty support frame, which does nothing to seal the unit, nor insulate the panel from vibration and you have all the ingredients for a guaranteed failure. That VDO panel might work, but it's definately made down to a price and not very good quality.

One thing that may help would be to run a layer of epoxy or electronics grade silicon rubber ( not bathroom grade) around the outside edge of the lcd panel to seal it and modify the plastic support frame for better support, but i's too late for the one here...

[M_GORDON]

Here's my TDi dash panel with my own 100% LED's conversion, except for ECU, ABS, IMMO and AIRBAG light as those tend to leak some current in light-off state and LED stays dimly lit, also regular bulb in BATTERY light, as it is needed to start the alternator:

[Taavi]

Discovered the same problem on my instrument cluster. As the car is from 92, no wonder. It is good that today there are a lot of different clusters available but new replacement would be awesome although I dont think its realistic with reasonable price.

[John Lambert]

S2 Display

I bought another cluster unit with and stripped it down to remove the film on the screen and swapped it over to my S2 computer screen replaced a bulb at the back of the unit and it now looks and works fine.

[Michael S2]

What does the faulty part look like when removed from the cluster? does anyone have a photo?

Is it anything like this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LCD-Displa...0AAOSwtJZXVnd9

[4WDrifter]

What does the faulty part look like when removed from the cluster? does anyone have a photo?

Is it anything like this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LCD-Displa...0AAOSwtJZXVnd9

I think these are the components you're talking about.

[Michael S2]

Thank you So i guess the white text is just a sticker on the screen?

Doesn't look anything too hi-tec anyway. Maybe someone has contacts they could have them make a batch.

[AndyP]

Thank you So i guess the white text is just a sticker on the screen?

Doesn't look anything too hi-tec anyway. Maybe someone has contacts they could have them make a batch.

The problems is the contacts, you see all those tabs along the top of the white box in pic 3 above? They are the contacts that drive the LCD screen, it sits on top of that box and the contacts touch the 2 black strips on the back of the screen.

The company I was dealing with got as far as making the screen but without a pin out for it, it went no further

[ronaldvossen]

If I'm not mistaken, both glass sides have released when you took the plastic cover off? (Which was the case with my display as well)
Did you notice liquid outside of the glass parts?

[4WDrifter]

My advice is buy a speedo unit with a display that hasn't bled and change the whole section not just the screen