[beehob]

I have a '52 156 which is great. It has a small problem where the display on the infocenter only works properly at really low temperatures. On a warm day or once the heating has kicked in, the display starts to fade in vertical lines until it is completely blank. The only warning for ice on the road was the alarm sound today.

Could anyone tell me if they have heard of this problem and how to resolve it please? The guy I bought it from said the PCB just needed replacing but I wanted to check here. Does the whole unit need replacing?

Cheers

 

[cj romeo]

They all do that to different extents, I got a 2003 156 brand new and it was never much different to yours.

I found that a quick turn to 'Lo' blasts cold air behind it and cures it for an hour or so!

It gets roasted in winter by the heater, and in summer by the sun!

Mine also didnt like cold temperatures!

 

[Pea Sea]

Mine does the same. I keep planning on taking the pcb out a re-soldering the joints (unless eveythings surface mounted) as it looks to me as though there are dry joints - i.e. when the soldered joint around a components leg/contact get hot the joint between the component and the pcb opens up. Very common fault in electrical goods like TV's/VCR's etc. If the connector to the display is a ribbon type then it's very likely that that is where the dry joints will be. I just need to get round to stripping the whole thing down. Might have a bash one night next week and I'll let you knwo what I find.

 

[Joss]

I work for a company who produces clusters for major car manufacturers including LCD screens that go in MFD's on many cars. When I get into work tomorrow I will ask the guys in the electronics department what the cause of this might be and the best way to rectify it on a low cost.

 

[Pea Sea]

Nice one Joss :thumbs:

 

[OperationAlfa]

Replace it with one from a post November 2003 car display.... They had cured the problem by then.

Strangely, they never had this issue in the 156 GTA's. My old 156 2002 1.8 had this and it annoyed me.. a lot!

My 2003 GTA did not.

 

[NineOneSix]

i remember that! :lol:

 

[cj romeo]

Replace it with one from a post November 2003 car display.... They had cured the problem by then.
.

they are smaller!

 

[OperationAlfa]

they are smaller!

they are a straight swap believe it or not.

 

[cj romeo]

I'll take your word for it, but I measured both in situ for someone trying to fit an LCD into a MkI and the later one presents itself smaller.

 

[Joss]

The guys at work asked if the problem has persisted from new or if the problem has become more apparent as the car gets older? It could be one of several problems.
The first could be a software problem. The MFD's (mid facia display) are tested to extreme temps and then the software is written to compenstate on the screen for the change in temp.
The second could be that the batch of screens are faulty. Are they TFT or dotmatrix. I haven't got one in my car so i can't go look.
The third and quite likely possibility is a connection issue. Manufactures are know to change connectors on circuit boards because one proves unsuitable. Have you simply tried swaping the screen for a newer type instead of the the whole board. That way uoi could determin if its software or screen malfunction. Not every car had the problem so there must be some spare MFD's about for an early model without he fault.

Sorry it's not a cheap fix. This is the best they could offer without actually seeing the MFD itself and watching it do it.

 

[TheBoffin]

I've got the same problem on my 2002 156 ... I bought the car second hand .. so i've just lived with the issue to be honest -- but in a perverse sort of a way i'm glad it's not just happening with me.

 

[beehob]

Thanks all.

Cheers Joss, I bought the car second hand and it's hand the problem since the previous owner. It's a dot matrix display and it fades in vertical lines. I'll try swapping it for a newer display and see if this helps.

 

[Alfajac]

Hello

Any news about this issue ?
In France a lot of people has also the problem (as everywhere I guess).
If you have any good solution (except switching on the air conditionning) I should be interested.

I don't think it's a connection problem as the screen function correctly when temperature fall down.

thanks

 

[Guest]

My display is the same.
I stripped it yesterday morning and cleaned the LCD Display contacts where the ribbon cables slide into the PCB connectors.
This usually works on other Hand held terminal displays that I've worked on, I use a pencil eraser (the pink type) to clean the contacts, it is an old trick. The rubber is very slightly abrasive and is perfect for cleaning fine metal contacts.

This has definitely helped but did not resolve the problem completely and i fully expect it to return again soon.

To clarify, the display is an LCD, it gives a reverse LCD display, it has a red filter behind it and an array of white LEDS to illuminate it from behind to give the red readout that you see. Change the filter to green and you'll have green display instead.

 

[yetyGT]

The same issue is also discussed in this thread - http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-147-156-and-gt/152507-156-faulty-computer-display.html#post3891117