Climate control dead pixels

neil_1821

Active Member
Jan 9, 2011
131
0
ive been searching Google and the likes to find some info but not turned much up.

I've got a couple of dead pixels on the passenger side of the climate control as well as one showing where it shouldn't be if that makes sense.

As far as I can tell people have recommended cleaning the LCD contacts, so I stripped mine down yesterday. The metal frame that sits around the LCD looked quite oxidised with a little white scaling on it; I was going to use some 2000 wet n dry to clean it up but my dad said it could be played and that might remove the playing rendering it duff. I tried with some lighter fluid on a cotton bud but it's not made any difference. Can anyone confirm if the metal surround is played at all? Anything else to try?
 

neil_1821

Active Member
Jan 9, 2011
131
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It's pre facelift, 2008 K1 model. Controls are the same as this picture

1.jpg


I don't have a picture of what I'm trying to clean as I put it all back together; but where the middle LCD is, at the very front of it just behind the plastic is a metal rectangle that fits all the way around it with 2 square contact points on it. I didn't know if that could of caused the dead pixels as it was perfect in September when I purchased the car
 

Speed-FReek

Active Member
Jun 12, 2013
1,108
17
South Oxfordshire, UK
OK.

It would have been useful to see if the LCD used a elastomeric (zebra) connector or a flexible (ribbon) conductor strip that is sealed to the connections points on both the LCD and the circuit board. It is usually the connections on these that become bad over time due to vibrations and other atmospheric condition which then cause the loss of pixels on the LCD itself.

If a zebra connector is used, you can try removing and re-seating it. After removal, use acetone to remove any residue from the connection points on both the glass and the circuit board before refitting it. You need to be careful to get the alignment of the zebra connector correct (i.e. in exactly the same position as it was before).

If a flexible conductor strip is used, you can use the following method to try and make the connections good again...



Just be aware that if you can make it worse if you don't know what you are doing so if you're not confident then best to get an electronic repair specialist to do it for you.
 

neil_1821

Active Member
Jan 9, 2011
131
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Ah right. I can tell you that it uses a elastomeric connector

So the metal that sits around the front has no purpose then and it's actually the zebra connector that transfers the signal.

I may remove it again and then i can provide some more pictures.
 

Speed-FReek

Active Member
Jun 12, 2013
1,108
17
South Oxfordshire, UK
Ah right. I can tell you that it uses a elastomeric connector

So the metal that sits around the front has no purpose then and it's actually the zebra connector that transfers the signal.

Correct - all signals to the LCD are transmitted through the zebra connector. The metal frame is usually just part of an assembly that helps to secure the glass LCD to the circuit board.
 

neil_1821

Active Member
Jan 9, 2011
131
0
Correct - all signals to the LCD are transmitted through the zebra connector. The metal frame is usually just part of an assembly that helps to secure the glass LCD to the circuit board.

Ah many thanks; learnt something new today! Electronics aren't exactly my forte.

So basically the signal is passed through the zebra through pressure from the LCD to the PCB. So it's perfectly safe to remove the zebra connector and clean it up on both sides as well as the pcb? I don't think i have any acetone, or if i do it's industrial strength stuff; would nail varnish remover or lighterfluid be ok to use?
 

Speed-FReek

Active Member
Jun 12, 2013
1,108
17
South Oxfordshire, UK
Yes, the connections are just made through the zebra connector.

Nail varnish remover is acetone so use that as a cleaning agent.

You will probably find that you will need to "peel" the zebra connector off the LCD. The apparent adhesive is usually just the result of pressure on the rubber over time causing it to "stick" to the glass. You don't need to use any type of adhesive on reassembly. It's just the compression of the zebra strip between the glass and the circuit board that keep it in place and creates the required connections. Alignment of the zebra strip can be critical so if you still get issues afterwards then you've probably not aligned the strip correctly.

If you decide to try again, please post back afterwards and let us know if you've been successful.
 

neil_1821

Active Member
Jan 9, 2011
131
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Right i've taken it out again, here's a picture of how the pixels are. Granted it's not that bad but it's still annoying.

I've cleaned both ends of the zebra connectors and the connectors on the board as well as the LCD screen. Doesn't seem to of made much difference

It's also impossible to not re-align the connectors as they're housed in a plastic casing so can only be put back together one way.



 

Speed-FReek

Active Member
Jun 12, 2013
1,108
17
South Oxfordshire, UK
OK, if it's still the same after cleaning the LCD / circuit board connections and re-seating the zebra connector then maybe the LCD itself is actually faulty, or the zebra connector is damaged in some way.

The easiest way to fix this will probably just going to be be to get a donor unit and swap it over.
 

neil_1821

Active Member
Jan 9, 2011
131
0
Yeah i've come to that conclusion now too; even if you push on the screen the place where the dead pixels are won't even show so i assume somethings happened to the gel. Shame you can't get replacement LCD screens as that'd work out a lot cheaper. May do some research, see if you can actually get any at all.

Thanks for all the help!