Mercedes-Benz Metris Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

Instrument cluster dead backlight on center lcd repaired!

Tags
backlight guages instrument cluster lcd
1 reading
Jump to Latest
21 - 39 of 39 Posts
#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.
 
#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.
 
#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.
 
#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?
 
#31 ·
Skbuilding said:
did you replace with the nexperia transitor or the kit from minitools?
Click to expand...
Sorry, haven't been checking this forum lately. A few other life things going on.
Anyway, I ordered the transistors from an electronics distributor.
I have not had a chance to look again for instrument clusters etc to work on this.
110k is about when mine went out in my 2016.
 
#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.
 
#35 ·
whiteyjfm said:
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.
Click to expand...
Could be that the welding on the board is not 100% on the pins - I would get the part and get someone that can solder that fine for you.
 
21 - 39 of 39 Posts
About this Discussion
38 Replies
12 Participants
Last post:
L_D
Mercedes-Benz Metris Forum
posts
44K
members
7.7K
Since
2015
Welcome to Metris Forum, where you can talk about the Mercedes Benz Minivan and check out the various campervan conversion kits, and discuss Mercedes Metris reliability.
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Mercedes-Benz Metris General Discussions Engine and Technical Discussion Electronics Metris Builds and Conversions Interior and Shelving