Dash temperature Led change/replace

[Peter Stott]

Has anyone changed the Leds which backlight the in car temperature display on a 1998 (Mk2) LS400? I don't want to damage the dash trying to get to replace it.......

[Malc1]

Some years back i found a chap ( old/ex member here ) down south who I visited who zapped the Display out and " fixed " it with quite some skill on his kitchen table  .  coffee was served too

He's no longer with us and indeed i have the need for that same quality specialist to sort out a display on both my Ls400s .........

maybe it's not as simple as replacing the back lights ..........

Malc

[Peter Stott]

Thanks. It isn't really a problem but it is one of the very few things that isn't working........!!

[Malc1]

Hoping someone might pop along who's found a recent answer to this age old Ls400 problem 

I would like mine both sorted too

Malc

[Stanwithaplan]

I've got the same issue and not got the solution yet.  My indie spent a long time taking the head unit out and after a couple of wrong choices on bulbs he's soldered in some new ones (it's not a case of unscrewing as it is the other similar bulbs in the car). They still dont work so it may be the actual (LCD?) displays, I dont know? Buying a new head unit with nav for £300 on eBay would be a gamble I'm not willing to take, I'd rather buy a little torch :0)

[Malc1]

Pixels failing is just NOT a simple question of bulb replacement I’m certain

Technical ( soldering ?? ) skills on a workbench / kitchen table are required …….. it’s a Q of finding those people with those rare skills in the UK 

Where R U  ? 

Come on, help us out PLEASE 

Malc 

[Jon Evans]

If you genuinely mean the backlights rather than the displays, I have done this in the past. I was expecting to find LEDs but they were actually small light bulbs. Here’s a write up of how I did it: https://www.evansweb.info/2009/11/15/ls400-centre-console-illumination-repair-part-1/

if it’s the LCD display itself which has failed then it should be easy to swap out, as long as you can obtain a replacement.

[Peter Stott]

Great..! This is exactly what I needed. It is a much bigger job than I would ever have thought........but the description and pictures are excellent - I must pluck up courage and have a go. Finally, what were the "grain of wheat" back-light bulbs you mentioned...? This is what an owners club is for.😀

Many thanks....

[Jon Evans]

Well, clearly you're not going to have much luck these days with Maplin. 🙂 However, I've had a scout around eBay and I reckon these are probably equivalent:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353688297804 (100 for £6.99)

There are people selling them in smaller quantities (looks like they fit some Scalextric models), e.g. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154189018515 (4 for £3.60 so you're not saving much).

This is part 2 of my write-up showing the bulb dimensions. The original bulbs were apparently 3.5mm diameter x 6mm high, and I noted that the Maplin ones were a bit taller but still worked fine. I really need to sort my site out and make it easier to find things 🙂 

https://www.evansweb.info/2009/11/22/ls400-centre-console-illumination-repair-part-2/

Good luck, if you get stuck then pop down to Banbury and I'll help you out.

[steve2006]

6 hours ago, Jon Evans said:

If you genuinely mean the backlights rather than the displays, I have done this in the past. I was expecting to find LEDs but they were actually small light bulbs. Here’s a write up of how I did it: https://www.evansweb.info/2009/11/15/ls400-centre-console-illumination-repair-part-1/

if it’s the LCD display itself which has failed then it should be easy to swap out, as long as you can obtain a replacement.

Wow, you are the great Jon Evans who also designed the height sensor rod repair who I have linked to many times!

I never knew you were a member on here 😀

Your background sounds similar to mine, from any early age “I’ll fix your iron Mam” to a career in electronics/television then finishing on power distribution.

[Jon Evans]

I remember that height sensor repair! I was really pleased with how it turned out. You can get replacement links for about a fiver now on AliExpress 😀

I studied electronics at uni but didn’t end up making a career out of it, I’ve spent my working life in IT so far. I still do a lot of amateur electronics though.

[Razor61]

23 hours ago, Jon Evans said:

if it’s the LCD display itself which has failed then it should be easy to swap out, as long as you can obtain a replacement.

There is a used unit for sale on eBay, it's malfunctioning but if the lcd back lights work ok then the board could be swopped over rather than replacing the miniature bulbs.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266176983327