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Instrument cluster dead backlight on center lcd repaired!

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backlight guages instrument cluster lcd
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23K views 38 replies 12 participants last post by  L_D  
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#1 ·
So it looks like many metris owners have had the same issue. Center main LCD displays goes black and cant read anything unless a flashlight is placed on it.

After lots of research, i did find a guy that replaced the LCD w a new one and he claimed it solved the problem. However comments showed many that tried the same repair didnt work out.

There is a store in italy that sells a repair kit for the lcd! I paid around 230$ and the kit arrived at my house in less than a week. Kit includes a bench test kit, u plug the harness into the cluster and add 12v, it powers the cluster. It also includes instructions on what to replace and came with 5 super tiny capacitors. Tiny meaning i can barely see the contacts! Its a 6 pin capacitor.

As i am not skilled enough to replace such a tiny item... you need a microscope to remove old part and solder in the new one. I took it to my local ubreakifix store. I did call local speedo repair shop which told me cant do MB cluster. Audio repair shops said cant do anything that small etc etc...

Long story short ubreakifix store solder tech said he will attempt to replace it. And he got it done and my cluster is bright again!!!

I will post some pics, i do have 4 extra capacitors because the repair of a cluster only takes 1. I suggest everyone order from minitools and just get the kit. I hope someone in my situation finds this.
 
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#5 ·
My bad what ever it is called, ive pointed w the white object in one pic. And in the close up pic u can see which one was replaced. Just look at the solder.
As for the part itself, i have no idea. Again, i purchased a kit from minitools in italy.

store.minitools.com

CAN BUS signal generator for Mercedes instrument clusters

CAN BUS message simulator / signal generator for several Mercedes speedometer bench test - repair, including Mercedes Vito W447, Metris and Marco Polo.
store.minitools.com store.minitools.com
 
L
#8 ·
My bad I did not see it. Yes it is a can bus generator. Would it be possible to take a picture of the top of one of the resistors that you still have left? With the correct resistor I can repair it without the Minitool kit
 
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#9 ·
L_D, i copy and pasted from minitool item i bought.
The tiny part is microscopic! I understand u just want the part. Perhaps ask minitool directly to send u the part and not the canbus generator.... theres nothing written on it that i can see w my eye and package has minitool part # only. Wish i could be more helpful but i think minitool is a better guys to ask these questions to.

"The package includes, in addition to the CAN BUS generator, 1 kit for 5 repairs of Mercedes Marco Polo, Vito and Metris W447 instrument clusters with blank, flickering or visible only against the light display."
 
L
#12 ·
pounce said:
Just pay for the fix kit
Click to expand...
Pounce, your comment is strange. The PCB board component is a <$10 repair whereas the Minitools order is $173 (excluding shipping and import duties pushing it to $250) that includes a CAN BUS generator that is not nessecary for the repair and they dont have stock due to international chip shortages post C19.
I ordered a LCD screen in August from Minitools after reading success for some forum members in this regard. Cost me $255 in total and did not solve the problem.
Chidivers success gave me renewed hope having the exact same instrument cluster.
 
#15 · (Edited)
The poster has already referred this person to mini tools and has said they don't see markings on the part. The other person keeps asking. The other person already bought a part from mini tools that doesn't work. That person only tried an online chat with mini tools and gave up. Appears to me this person should discuss their failed part and need of a chip with mini tools.
 
N
#16 ·
I too have the same issue with my 2016, it does come on from time to time. I did not think a new screen or pulse generator would be the cure here. Your saying they sell those capacitors on minitool ? Additionally do they tell which one to replace ? I would be elated to be able to fix this. Thank you
 
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#17 ·
Yes theres a pic of what was replaced. I would just order minitool and then take to electronic repair shop. Cell phone fixing place charged me 70$ or so. Its very very small and i dont think normal diy can do. I own soldering tools but not for something this small.
 
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#20 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hi there, I have the same problem on my Vito w447 2016, and I have replaced the 3 components pointed out by @Chidiver, but no luck. The screen is still dark (no backlicht). I have replaced the 2 BCP 53 Transistors and the Nexperia BC847BS,115 Dual NPN Transistor, 100 mA, 45 V, 6-Pin SOT-363, like @L_D has shared with us. Does any of you have any idea of what I could check/change next? Thank you all.
 
#21 ·
I had a same problem too. I bought 2 cluster from ebay and they were different than mine. One that i got was cargo version. They are different than passenger van. I was lucky found one more from ebay. It was a newer version. I think MB knows old version has problem. Everything looks good but mileage was different and dealer wanted charge money for program. I decided not to program.
 
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#23 ·
Thanks for posting this info. I just replaced the transistor pack on my instrument cluster and walla, the backlight is back.

I'd like to ask if anyone has a bad cluster board that they would like to give/sell to me. I'm thinking that I could probably do some of these repairs for folks but I really need a unit to keep on the shelf so we can do a swap-repair rather than sending the cluster and waiting for it to come back. I don't imagine anyone wants to drive without the cluster entirely. Will it even start without the cluster??

Anyway, all I'm seeing on ebay are the non-deluxe version used or the fancy version new for big bucks.
 
#24 ·
Do you desolder or piggy back?

Id try salvage yards if you haven't. I've seen Vito screens on ebay for under 100. Not sure of the compatability.

Not sure you are going to get a lot of business, but I'd imagine it could be rewarding helping others.
 
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#25 ·
pounce said:
Do you desolder or piggy back?
Click to expand...
I desoldered the old pack. I didn't find a short in the old pack so I'm curious what the failure mode actually is. Piggy back would be pretty difficult. I don't think the pins are long enough to bend around the bulge of the package and doing that on such a small component would not be easy. Furthermore, there are lots of other electrical problems with that idea. Several PN junctions would still be in the circuit and I have to assume that one of the transistors is still actually functioning. If I had a schematic diagram, I might have some other ideas.

Id try salvage yards if you haven't. I've seen Vito screens on ebay for under 100. Not sure of the compatability.

Not sure you are going to get a lot of business, but I'd imagine it could be rewarding helping others.
Click to expand...
Yes, I'll take a few moments to look for crashed vans. That might be the easiest place to find a starter pcb.

I don't have hopes of any real "income". Mostly just to help other Metris owners when this odd problem pops up. I'm thinking that if I can sell a working cluster for $300 with a $250 refund when the buyer sends me their non-working cluster, then we can keep the thing going and affordable. And I have no idea which model years are actually problematic. At some point, I'm sure that no one will need this.
 
S
#26 ·
chmedly said:
Thanks for posting this info. I just replaced the transistor pack on my instrument cluster and walla, the backlight is back.

I'd like to ask if anyone has a bad cluster board that they would like to give/sell to me. I'm thinking that I could probably do some of these repairs for folks but I really need a unit to keep on the shelf so we can do a swap-repair rather than sending the cluster and waiting for it to come back. I don't imagine anyone wants to drive without the cluster entirely. Will it even start without the cluster??

Anyway, all I'm seeing on ebay are the non-deluxe version used or the fancy version new for big bucks.
Click to expand...
did you replace with the nexperia transitor or the kit from minitools?
 
W
#34 ·
My 2016 display went out at about 70K ish miles. Work one day and then not for months. It has been dead for more than a year now. I am at 112K miles now. I did get a quick flicker of the display a few months back. That is the part THAT i don't understand. Either the resistor is bad or it is now.
 
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