I think my infocentre has finally died (Sadly before I even got the car to MOT!) as now it's not showing anything on the LCD (even bright light shone through shows nothing), so it's either the LCD itself, the 'zebra' connector or the infocentre electronics have failed.
Searching back over historic posts, @brinkie and @jifflemon the experts in this field have helped loads, doing a few bench tests (I now have a test rig here so I can supply 12v from spare car battery (fused) onto the green and grey connectors onto the dashboard cluster) there are a few observations:
The 5 pin connector/prongs that send the data to the LCD processor seem fine, continuity is OK and I get a voltage reading on all pins (assuming they are modulated on something like a serial bus to the LCD controller) so this does seem to confirm the infocentre computer is powering up and generating a signal/power to the LCD. Not sure if there is an easy way to test if the data is 'good' or not though.
Are there any pins to probe on the infocentre computer to try and work out if it's alive and working or it's just receiving power and not running? (Trying to determine if it's LCD or computer failure).
I've tried re-cleaning the 'zebra' connector for the LCD, created a little more pressure on the clip to make sure it sandwiches correctly, cleaned the pins, checked power on the main board and illumination bulbs are working ok.
I suspect I'm in the market for both, the infocentre and LCD and at least I can then do further diagnostics and work out which is at fault before I delve further. (1994 2litre Volvo 480 ES with the dashboard with grey and green connectors plus SRS) So if anyone is selling the infocentre and LCD (Or ideally, the whole instrument cluster so I have a second to test/work on) please let me know.
My Infocentre has died
Moderators: jifflemon, coyote1980, Rachel
My Infocentre has died
Thanks for all your help! - Andy
Volvo480 ES 2.0 petrol - 1994 (UK RHD L-reg)
Volvo480 ES 2.0 petrol - 1994 (UK RHD L-reg)
Re: My Infocentre has died
Is the infocentre bulb the correct one and is it lighting up?
Re: My Infocentre has died
And you haven’t removed the orange bridge fuse have you?
Re: My Infocentre has died
Just to add the replies on the thread (was also discussing on FB)
Yes magic orange link in place and confirmed infocentre bulbs lighting.
The LCD isn't doing anything shining bright light against it and nothing at all, no segments or anything so it's either the LCD controller or the infocentre computer not sending the data to the LCD chip.
I'm going to aim to get a replacement instrument cluster, test and compare. Will post back findings.
Yes magic orange link in place and confirmed infocentre bulbs lighting.
The LCD isn't doing anything shining bright light against it and nothing at all, no segments or anything so it's either the LCD controller or the infocentre computer not sending the data to the LCD chip.
I'm going to aim to get a replacement instrument cluster, test and compare. Will post back findings.
Thanks for all your help! - Andy
Volvo480 ES 2.0 petrol - 1994 (UK RHD L-reg)
Volvo480 ES 2.0 petrol - 1994 (UK RHD L-reg)
Re: My Infocentre has died
have..
pm
pm
- brinkie
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Re: My Infocentre has died
If the infocentre lights up and the bulb is confirmed working, it is mostly down to one of these:
1. Fuse for infocentre computer blown. Same fuse as cigarette lighter, so plug in a phone charger and check if it works.
2. Thin blue-brown wire not connected to alternator ground. This is the ground wire for the infocentre computer, it goes all the way to the alternator.
1. Fuse for infocentre computer blown. Same fuse as cigarette lighter, so plug in a phone charger and check if it works.
2. Thin blue-brown wire not connected to alternator ground. This is the ground wire for the infocentre computer, it goes all the way to the alternator.
Robert.
Present cars: 1994 Volvo 480 GT 2.0i, 1999 Volvo S70 2.5 Europa, 2010 Volvo V70 2.0F Momentum
Present cars: 1994 Volvo 480 GT 2.0i, 1999 Volvo S70 2.5 Europa, 2010 Volvo V70 2.0F Momentum