Multi Function Display Screen Fault, Posible Fix

[Old Mosher]

Hi all.

Among some of the odd nagging faults I've finally got around to looking at on my car I had an intermittent fault with the Multi function colour display (VDO 9638879480)

Sometimes when I started it up the display wouldn't illuminate and sometimes it would. With the sunlight shining on the screen you could just about see a shadow of the image, so I figured the back light tube was on its way out.

I got lucky and snagged one from Ebay for £25 that went straight in with no problems. but to the most part they are upwards of £95

I stripped down my faulty unit and found the L shaped backlight tube was burned out at one end. But the actual display panel is a separate part from the aluminium back shell and interface board and can be replaced.

The part number is LTE072T-4455-2  I goggled it and found a new one for £56.76. Could be a better gamble than a second hand unit from ebay.

I hope this is of help to someone with the same problem. 

[aspire_helen]

2001 C5 2.2HDi Exc SE.

I have posted elsewhere that my colour screen has had intermittent problems for some time - dimming, yellowing, horizontal blue lines, but always readable.  . I fitted a cheap 2nd hand screen off ebay resulting in no change, suggesting that the screen unit itself was not the problem but its control ECU.

Yesterday, my problem worsened with new symptoms as follows:

1. Screen appeared unlit.  Sound system controls on radio/Cd unit non-effective.Could not change from CD to radio or vice versa. Trafficmaster green light came on for the first time ever!! (I never renewed the licence).

2. Screen came on whilst driving, but no satnav maps. Sound system controls OK.

3. Screen went half dim.  Remarkably, the background screen was displayed but NO digits eg the spaces where the  time and temperature digits should be were blank..

4. Screen went black again, but on  closer examination was in fact very, very dim.

I will investigate the LCD illumination lamp for the screen as per Old Moshers' post, but I suspect yet again that the control unit is the problem.

 

Can anyone tell me which component controls the screen and associated functions eg radio/CD, trip computer etc?

Helen

[aspire_helen]

Hi

C5 2.2HDi Exc SE 2001 - A Successful Update - Multi Function Screen (MFD) Colour Screen Satnav FIXED by replacing MFD ECU

 

After the MFD finally went blank and lost functionality of satnav/single CD/CD changer/stalk switches/ trip computer/text warnings/clock/temp gauge etc, I obtained a second hand MFD ECU - 6563AK/J "Elect Ctrl Unit" from Ebay and fitted it today.  Everything now Ok, indeed colour screen is more vibrant - I guess I had got used to a slowly deteriorating image.  Cost from Citroen £1500+.  Double checked unit was from same spec car as this item may need configuring with Lexia etc if the spec is different.

 

The ECU is buried inside the fascia to the right of the instrument cluster.  Access requires removal of  instrument cluster (easy - see Haynes). Access is improve by removing steering wheel and switch stalk assembly (also in Haynes).  The ECU is large (0.8kg) with 4 multi-connectors plus one fibreoptic. It is secured by one easily-accessed T20 screw. I had thought I could access from underneath by removing the satnav box (to the right of steering column) but the box will not come out....indeed, the ECU retaining screw is actually screwed into the top side of the box.  So, persevere through the instrument cluster aperture.

 

The ECU is buried under numerous wiring looms and its connectors are very fiddly.  I  released many of the loom clips to provide some space and removed each connector in turn - access gets easier as the connectors are removed. Tip- tie some chord to each connector as you release it to ensure it wont get lost amongst the spider web of looms.  

 

Regarding the removed ECU. It is easily dismantled. There is suggestion on line that ECU failure could result from failure of the cooling fan located centrally over the main microprocessor chip.  The circuit board showed no visible signs of failure or over-heating.  The 4cm 12v  cooling fan was working, but is easily replaced - a direct replacement AFB0412MA only £4 from China.  For those owners with a colour screen satnav, and minded to check that the cooling fan is working, it is easy to do - requiring only the removal of the instrument cluster. The fan vents out/upwards from the top of the ECU through a circle of vent holes, so a strip of paper (feather?) should be blown away from the vent holes (not sucked into them).

 

Hope that helps - I am one happy bunny!

helen

[paul.h]

Good to see it is fixed, the alternative at the dealer prices could have been changing the car. The dealer in Lincoln seems to charge about £96 an hour for labour apart from fixed price jobs, which makes it uneconomic for them to do repairs as our cars are getting older and need more doing. Fortunately most things can be done diy.