Trip Computer Lighting
 

The left side of my trip computer does not illuminate, but the right side does. I was removing the map light switch to replace it today and suddenly the left side of the computer lit up. Any thoughts on what caused this on the computer??

Thanks from an appreciative newbie.

Most probably a dodgy connection inside the trip computer.

Cheers,

Allan

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...p-clock-78495/

That thread might help.

I swapped out the original bulbs for LED. Very easy to do. NEO5 bulbs is what I bought. I needed to buy a pieces of colored gel that I slid behind the display. (You'll have to open up your unit)

The trip computer always ran super hot, now it's not hot at all!

Good luck.

I just had a similar problem not too long ago. I found that the lamp base wasn't making a good contact to the PC board. I just repositioned the lamp by very slightly turning it into a better contact position within the pc circuit hole and voila, hasn't flicked since, but I will still clean the contacts soon.

Thank you all for giving me a few things to look for. I REALLY hope it is not inside the computer itself.

I replaced both bulbs in my computer with green LEDs, I believe they were NEO5G. I purchased them from SuperbrightLED.com NEOx LED Bulb - Instrument Panel LED | Instrument Cluster and Gauge | LED Car Bulbs | Super Bright LEDs because they work with varying voltage they do not dim when you turn on the headlights. So at night they are at full brightness in your computer. My 95 had a clock which I replaced with a 94 computer.

How does the color look? I bought mine from the same place, but again, using regular white bulbs and I used a piece of light gel to bring it back to its intended color. (All you would need is a sample, so if you can coax a stage/theater shop to part with a sample fan book of different gels available, it would save you a couple of bucks.)

What is involved in converting from conventional lighting to LED lighting?

Unscrew the old bulb, screw in the new LED bulb.

It's readily accessible from the top of the computer. No disassembly required.

If I am going to change that I should probably do the surrounding switches to match. Are they just as easy.

Just looking at the web site. What size did you use?

NEO5.

Surrounding switches? That will not be as simple.

Sizes will be different as well. Let's tackle this one first and when you get in there you can size up the challenge.

The white LEDs were too bright and the green looks more natural. One thing you will need to do is check for polarity. LEDs will only work one way, you need to find which side of the light socket is ground and line the ground side of the LED up with it.

Where does the light come from that illuminates the buttons on the trip computer? I have replaced the 2 bulbs at the top of the computer and they seem to just illuminate the clock.

Oh you're going to have to open the back up. There are four plastic tabs that hold onto the white trip computer frame. You'll need a small screwdriver to carefully pry the black rear plastic cover off.

Once off, you'll have two screws to remove. One is visible, the other one is only visible once you pull out the white harness inside the black cover.

Carefully separate the parts noting that the flexible plastic circuit connector does not come off...that I am aware of.

You'll need to be handy with a soldering iron.

You will need two 12v or 14v (recommended) "grain of wheat"bulbs. Best found on eBay. They need to be 4mm. I think Radio Shack specializes in 3mm and 5mm.

Be careful removing the blue rubber condoms over those bulbs, they are difficult to come across.

I replaced my bulbs with LEDs, but I was unable to match the colors, so I may resolver with plain old fashioned bulbs...

Thanks for the insight Vee...I think I may leave well enough alone.

It's really not too tough.

If you set aside an hour in a closed room with a closed door, you will be fine. It all comes apart rather easily.

It's more my soldering prowess that concerns me... Do they solder into a circuit board or onto some leads?

Is it similar to what is described for this Infinity:

http://trueler.com/2011/04/04/infini...eplacement-di/

Almost, you will have to solder them into the circuit board directly.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-4mm-14v-G...d15d27&vxp=mtr

It really isn't difficult to do with a Radio Shack soldering iron. The hardest part is getting the old solder off, which I do by heating it up while shoving a pin through the hole. It picks up enough of the solder to open up a hole to push the new lead through, then just reheat and touch a bit of solder on it and boom! you're done.