[V8] PRND21 Display Problem

[dsaad at icehouse.net]

If this is in fact an LCD display (I don't know - I have a 5 speed) and the back
light is good, then it is very possible that the glass display unit is comeing
loose from the circuit board. This is a fairly common LCD problem. The Auto
Check display does the same thing.
In my case I was able to carefully remove the LCD unit and then remove the metal
bezal that clamps the LCD glass to the circuit board. There you will find some
rubber like contact strips. The trick is to carefully clean this stuff with
no-residue electronic cleaner and re-assemble.
Do NOT use a pencil easer or other abrasive cleaner!!!!
I also placed a strip of paper under the bezal to act as a shim - to force
better contact to the rubber strips.

This is pretty delicate work so if you try it, work slowly and carefully. Avoid
finger prints on the contact surfaces.

It is very unlikely the actual display unit is bad (unless it is cracked) and
also unlikely the drive electronics are bad.

Dave



Quoting "Buchholz, Steven" <Steven.Buchholz at kla-tencor.com>:

> ... the PRNDL display is an LCD which is back lit ... it could be that
> the illuminating back lights are not functioning.  One thing you can do
> for a test is to shine a flashlight at the front of the display and
> change the selector to see if you can see the LCD "segments" change in
> the reflection from the flashlight.  If so then you need to change some
> bulbs ... if not it may be something more significant.  In either case
> you'll need to pull the instrument cluster.
>
> If you find the LCD unit is broken let me know ... I've got an IC from
> an automatic in one of my 5-speeds ... I'd be willing to trade the LCD
> unit in my IC for a malfunctioning one in your car ... of course I have
> no way to test mine ...
>
> Steve B
> San Jose, CA (USA)
> >
> > I've never seen one like this posted on the list before.
> > Yesterday when I
> > stated up the beast, the (D) segment on the PRND21(m) was not
> > lit. When I
> > moved the Transmission selector to
> > (D)rive, it lit up and looked as normal, but when any other
> > gear or Park was
> > selected, the (D) display was dark. Looks really weird. Turning on the
> > headlamps (to change the display intensity) did not have any
> > effect. The
> > transmission DID function normally.
> >
> > Any Ideas? .... Yes, I did whack on the top of the dash pad a
> > couple of
> > times.....
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