Jim Walker does good work and fixed my dash lights and fuel gauge.
Regarding the "ink blot" LCD climate controls, mine display perfectly when the car and dash are hot. Perfectly. As they get colder the ink blot effect occurs. I recall seeing someone saying when this is the symptom replacing a few cheap capacitors cures the problem.
Does anyone have capacitors to replace and/or a how to?
HomerTHX1138,
It sounds as if your car has/had both lighting problems mentioned in this thread. That is the dashboard illumination and the climate control LCD blackout (or ink blot effect). I have been living with both these minor irritations for a couple of years and I'm getting ready to do something about them. My climate control LCD displays the same symptoms you mention, visible when hot, black when cold. I am capable and enjoy tinkering so I will attempt the LCD blackout solution myself, buying the LCD module from lextreme or Jim Walker. However, I am a little confused about the dash light problem as I look for the cause. The specific problem my car has is that both the speedo and tach needles went completely dark at about the same time (temp and fuel are OK). As I read through the thread, noticing what "Davidliang" had to say, it strikes me as odd that BOTH needles should fail at the same time (btw, LCD also failed only weeks before), especially if the reason for failure is a crack in the conductive material near the base. What are the chances they both fail at the same time and the same location on the needle? Is it possible that a capacitor(s) has any thing to do with both problems? Or something else? Please forgive my ignorance if this is a stupid question. I am not educated about electrical concepts.
If the problem has nothing to do with capacitors or another electrical problem and replacement needles will last many years, I guess I can just replace the needles...??
"Seagrass" informs us that replacement needles can be had for $75. Does anyone know where they are available?
Instrument cluster clock/climate control
in 90 - 00 Lexus LS400
Posted
HomerTHX1138,
It sounds as if your car has/had both lighting problems mentioned in this thread. That is the dashboard illumination and the climate control LCD blackout (or ink blot effect). I have been living with both these minor irritations for a couple of years and I'm getting ready to do something about them. My climate control LCD displays the same symptoms you mention, visible when hot, black when cold. I am capable and enjoy tinkering so I will attempt the LCD blackout solution myself, buying the LCD module from lextreme or Jim Walker. However, I am a little confused about the dash light problem as I look for the cause. The specific problem my car has is that both the speedo and tach needles went completely dark at about the same time (temp and fuel are OK). As I read through the thread, noticing what "Davidliang" had to say, it strikes me as odd that BOTH needles should fail at the same time (btw, LCD also failed only weeks before), especially if the reason for failure is a crack in the conductive material near the base. What are the chances they both fail at the same time and the same location on the needle? Is it possible that a capacitor(s) has any thing to do with both problems? Or something else? Please forgive my ignorance if this is a stupid question. I am not educated about electrical concepts.
If the problem has nothing to do with capacitors or another electrical problem and replacement needles will last many years, I guess I can just replace the needles...??
"Seagrass" informs us that replacement needles can be had for $75. Does anyone know where they are available?
Thanks to any and all,
renewabill