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bloody trip computer 

 

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 Post subject: bloody trip computer
Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 4:05 pm 
Getting Side Ways
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ive had this problem for a while and i thought it was some loose wires.. but when its at night and i put on my lights, the trip computer flickers (like its dimming then going bright and continously does this.)
i installed the trip computer 2 months ago and today took everything out and re put wires.. made sure they were securely connected.
but it continues to flicker.

im stumped.. any ideas?

 

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Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 4:09 pm 
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is the bulb in secure?
any dirt under where it touches the wiring board bit?

 

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Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 4:14 pm 
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ok i took a stab in the dark (i felt like a bomb dismantler lol)

well one of the wires is the LCD dimmer .. which is the white one... so i had everything on.. and just snipped it and it stopped flickering ! (i think i found a new profession hehe)
so basically it still dims when you put the lights on, so i think that extra wire had something to do with over riding it.

:D
Mission Accomplished

(SORRY I DIDNT REALISE I PUT THIS IN 6 CYL WORKSHOP... WAS MEANT TO PUT IT IN INTERIOR MOD)

 

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Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 5:18 pm 
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Most of the times when you disconnect the battery or put something like that in you have to adjust the brightness all the way down then all the way back up, then set to the brightness you want.

And you have to do it for both no headlights on and when the headlights on.

It has the effect of resetting the dimmer levels, and its a s**t load easier than cutting wires. :D
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Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:30 pm 
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meh.... i just went snip and it fixed the problem!
although i did find out what the wire was and wat it did (did have the soldering iron on stand by)

 

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Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 4:20 pm 
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Glad it worked for you but a friend of mine installed his trip computer and had ther same drama.

He came over and I pulled his dash out and had a look. All wires were perfect and he HAD snipped the red/dark green wire that isn't needed (he has used the original plug and just added the pins that I gave him.

I cannot find the problem although I had noticed that if I touch the data wire at a stripped area then the flickering stops. Very strange.

Any help would be apprectaed but I can attest that the uneeded wire (pin 2) has been snipped as per instructions.

I have also tested the TC in my car and it works fine so it's not the bulb or TC thats the problem.

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Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 12:50 pm 
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Just to clarify what the drama is:

TC works perfectly with ignition on and dims 100% when headlights are turned on etc.

When you start the car the TC again works fine but its when you turn the headlights on and then the flickering starts.

So the only time there is flickering is when the engine is running AND the lights are on (park or Headlight)

I have checked all wires with a multi meter and solder joins are fine etc.

Data wire has same data at cluster plug and also TC plug.

If you guys cant suggest anything then I will have to remove the 3 wires and start again for him this coming weekend. I have done 8 installs in 7 days and have never had a drama so I dont know why his one is playing up. All cabling is correct.

I just didn't want to cut the white wire as in the doco it doesn't say to and I have never done this before and it has always worked fine.
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Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 7:09 pm 
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mate i had a similar weird problem but my trip computer once installed into my ef would work fine but totally dim with lights on. Also the odometer lights would be affected also on mine. I tried putting the old clock back in, and the problem wasnt there. So went to an autoelectrician, and all he done was use the white wire from the climate control also. Cant remember wat he connectedd that to though, cluster wire, or the other two. Got me stumped but didnt complain afterwards, works a treat now!
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Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 7:16 pm 
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WIKED wrote:
I cannot find the problem although I had noticed that if I touch the data wire at a stripped area then the flickering stops. Very strange.


that to me sounds like an earthing problem, or possibly some extra inductance on the data wire you dont need, id follow the data wire along its full path and see if anything funny is going on.

 

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Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 7:25 pm 
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True..it sounds like an earthing problem to me also. The data wire is fine and not touching anything but plastic and is producing good current at the TC end.

I am really at a loss with this one. I guess I will change the whole data line and see if that changes anything.
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Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 1:56 am 
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hey mate.. i did this a while ago. i had to snip two wires. from memory, it was the white one as well.

if that doesnt work, what did you hook the dimming wire to.. the rear demistor switch? if so make sure grounded properly.

tell us how u go. snip that white wire! (cos it will stop the flickering... if everything goes out.. well put it back together hehe)
but yer good luck with it and let us know how it all goes

 

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Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:20 am 
Oompa Loompa
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I will snip the white wire also to try that out. Like you said if it doesn't work I can always just solder it back up anyway so no big deal there.

I usually only snip the red/green (pin 2 Clock Power) wire as per instructions and never had a drama but I guess NOT all cars are the same with their gremlins. :twisted:

Yes the dimmer & illumination wires are both sourced from the rear demister switch. I have resoldered & checked them 5 times over...lol

Anyway I will tackle this later on this afternoon when he comes over and see what can be done

Thanks guys

*EDIT*:
I snipped the WHITE wire (pin 5) and yes it fixed the problem straight away. This has me stumped as in the instructions it doesn't say to cut that wire but to only cut PIN2. Oh well a fix is a fix no matter how bizare to me.

Maybe it would be a good idea for the powers to be to add this detail in the technical document so for future people that may have this little gremlin creep in.
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