Volvo hour counter LCD has faded away

[stephendenton]

The hour counter LCD display on my Volvo KAD 32 (which is in the centre of the rev counter) has finally faded away. Has anyone had this experience and/or have any ideas on a fix (hopefully not replacing the whole rev counter at usual Volvo prices !). Thanks

 

[[2068]]

Same problem here, normally caused by moisture inside.

I was planning to take them out and leave them in the airing cupboard for a couple of weeks, and if that didn't work, take a deep breath and sigh.

dv.

 

[Garryt]

Same Here!

And if you buy a replacement from Volvo it will cost over 200 squid!

Common problem.

They are VDO intruments so I was going to buy a couple from the U.S. where thay are much cheaper!

 

[DAVIDO]

Get the same problem with mine and they were new two seasons ago /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif They dont stop counting and the display will more than likely re-apear come the summer.

 

[Dipper]

Some years ago the lcd display on my log unit failed - it 'bled' internally. I bought an identical burnt-out log unit from a boat jumble and swapped the lcd display which worked perfectly.

You may be able to source a display from a specialist electronics company. I'm not in any way an electronics expert but I would guess that many of these are standard and I would be pretty sure that Volvo don't make them themselves. For example, a quick google search has thrown up this site . They have display modules from £26 upwards.

 

[gimmesunshine]

similar problem on mine, but occasionally comes back to life full brightness, common problem.
Have heard airing cupboard trick occasionally works.
Its a siemens vdo unit. They are not allowed to repair them at their repair centre in brum as vp have the 'rights'. vp offer no such service to force you to buy new!
however the inards are same as fiited to many trucks, so maybe truck dealer better source.
The lcd display is on a flex ribbon, nothing like site above.
An alternative which i am going to do is fit another pair of hourmeters as i'am not prepared to pay vp prices for them to fail again in 3 or 4 years time.
search for ebay for houmeters and can usually find new 12v ones on there for £20 or so, even second hand vp ones but tend to think they probably have same problem.

 

[JKay]

It's a standard feature !

Hope you have NOT been useingVolvo stuff near water /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

cheers Joe

 

[A_8]

Are u sure its volvo and not the standard VDO?
I had the same problem on my VDO's and called the distributer in sweden who said its a common problem from a few years back and that they have changed the LCD to a more moisture resistant type.
They also offered to replace (at no cost) the LCD's in mine if I sent them to them.
If they are original VDO's and newish I suggest you do the same.

 

[Robin]

They don't like damp. The hour reading will not have been lost, just the display and when we had this (on a sailboat Volvo) the cure was to remove the revcounter and sit in front of a fan heater on 1kw setting for 30 minutes after which it would work again, sometimes initially a bit flickery, but usually recovering to normal after a short while. The problem would thereafter vanish until the next winter cold and damp. The other option is to wire in a standalone mechanical hourmeter, cost about £30 and forget about Volvo's little money earner.

 

[Remmington]

Try a hair dryer or hot air gun in situ

 

[gimmesunshine]

mine are 6 years old so dont know if vdo will replace lcd's worth a call though

if search ebay for 'hour meter' get a few good results for not much money

 

[stephendenton]

Thanks for all your comments. On balance I think I'll try the hair dryer/airing cupboard approach to start with and if that fails then I'll get a separate meter and mount it in the engine bay.

 

[mjf]

Sunlight

As others have stated this appears a very common issue.

I'm unsure how true this bit of advice is, but I heard a while ago from a friend in the Med that one of the causes was prolonged exposure to the sun / sunlight. He covered his dash with a canvas cover and next time he used the boat all was well again.

Saying that it heat generated by the cover on the instruments may have dried out the innards.

 

[StugeronSteve]

Don't worry, like bikinis the display will be back when it warms up.

 

[Renegade_Master]

cant just be the damp as the hour metes are on the inside of our flybridge. They have started to fad badly after 3000hrs and 6 years darn nuisance

 

[MoodySabre]

I've just bought a new hours meter from Conrad Electronics - £11.99 plus 50% for postage. Still cheaper than many.
http://www1.uk.conrad.com/scripts/wgate/..._max_results=10