Citroen XM Dot Matrix Display Repair Flex, Repair those missing pixels

[noz]

Hi all,

This is all a bit of an experiment so bear with me on this.

To kick this one off I offer the conductive flex needed to repair the dot matrix displays. There are many self-help files in circulation but the secret has always been to get the correct material to act as the flexible conductor between pcb and screen.

From China
Price per item $6
MOQ 5
Shipping to UK $20


So, the sale price would be ( (5 x 6) + 20 ) / 5 = $10 = approx £6.25 & UK P&P.

It is likely the shipping to the UK would be very negotiable i.e. I think a lot more than 5 could be ordered without raising the shipping cost at all.

How many people would be interested in buying a flex repair strip for repairing the dot matrix (left hand) display on your Citroen XM?

Cheers

noz

[endorfin]

Ken Hall pointed me to this thread after I was querying whether the French repair kit was worth the 34 euros.

I have three displays that I'd like to fix so count me in for 3 please. I'll even have 5 if it helps in case I balls 1 or 2 up.

Do you have any links to the conductive flex you're looking at.

[robertxmb]

Please count me in for two, if you are short of quota I would take 3. A very good idea in a general sense too as some parts are becoming difficult to source, especially simple but expensive things that could, perhaps be manufactured from sample. The mileage or time lifespan of components prone to failure would be useful to know from owner records. Also the bits that seem to go on for ever against the odds, to avoid unnecessary stocks

Robert.

[Jan-hendrik]

I'll follow this experiment with great interest.
I somehow remember the Lexia from China

[kenhall1202]

QUOTE (endorfin @ September 16, 2011 08:23 pm) 

Ken Hall pointed me to this thread after I was querying whether the French repair kit was worth the 34 euros.

I have three displays that I'd like to fix so count me in for 3 please. I'll even have 5 if it helps in case I balls 1 or 2 up.

Do you have any links to the conductive flex you're looking at.

I don't know how Noz has found a supplier of suitable conductive rubber, which is commonly known as Zebra rubber because of the striped -conductive/non conductive/ conductive- construction of the sheet. I searched high and low for a supplier without success, so well done Noz.

Critical specifications of the rubber sheet will obviously be the size (length, breadth and thickness) plus the pitch and orientation of the alternating conductive/non conductive 'sandwich'.

Ken

[xmexclusive]

Hi Ken

There have been a number of chinese suppliers for a while now.
Price has halved in the last few months and minimum quantities reduced.
The item is a complete new flexible plastic joining strip not a thin rubber contact strip.
I still think there may be a way to repair the existing strips using a low temperature soldering iron to remelt the fixing glue under each contact.
Must get a display out and have a try.

John

This post has been edited by xmexclusive on September 17, 2011 04:59 pm

[noz]

Hi endorfin,

As John says there are many people offering the repair flex. I don't know whay that is becuase its obviously a very small market worldwide. The only thing I can fathom is that it is actually manufactured for some other purpose and they are just marketing it as an XM display fix.

Here's the link to the one which I quoted above:
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/47852786...splay_flex.html

cheers

noz

[Masterclock]

Count me in for one.

Cheers

[xmexclusive]

Important note about the LH Displays for Mk2 cars.

There are at least 2 different versions of the LH Display

These displays use the same wiring and plugs.
They also give the same display outputs.

I can remember posting about this some years ago but at the time made no notes of the differences as it only affects the type of internal repairs that can be made.
This morning I had a search through my box of spare displays and took the cases off a few that still had ident stickers on.

The different types were marked:-

96 156 259 80
- 624 BORG
- 2163-01

This type of display uses the Japanese "Zebra" strip to connect the electronics to the display. One strip is used per display.

96 178 883 80
- 321 BORG
- 21620-01

This type of display uses the French "Conductive Rubber Strip" to connect the electronics to the display. Two of these strips are needed per display.

I will keep the displays and takes some record photos when I get the chance.

John

[kenhall1202]

From what I have seen of the pictures of the various Chinese offerings they all seem to be selling the printed circuit flexible plastic type (ie the same as what was fitted originally to mine) and not the conductive Zebra rubber as offered by the French sellers. If this is the case then I don't believe it will offer a permanent fix as it will involve gluing it back onto the printed circuit board and the LCD glass - not a job I would fancy.

Ken

This post has been edited by kenhall1202 on September 27, 2011 02:41 pm

[xmexclusive]

Hi Ken

The two types are different designs of LCD connection Not alternatives they are not interchangable between the two types of display.
The chinese ones are strip conductive foils glued at each end to make the electrical connections.
The french strips are just thin segmented conductive rubber strips. These strips are identical to the strips used in original manufacture of these particular displays. These rely on pressure to hold them in place. I suspect that these strips just need careful washing in a suitable solvent and can be reused rather than replaced. Just need a bit extra pressure when reassembled because the original rubber deforms with age.

John

This post has been edited by xmexclusive on September 26, 2011 08:33 pm

[kenhall1202]

Hi John,

I beg to differ based on my own experience of repairing my original Mk 2 display, which had the commonly experienced missing display segments, due to the partial failure of the electrical contact where the printed circuit plastic film (NOT rubber) was glued to the LCD glass and the circuit board.

The repair consisted of carefully peeling off and discarding the plastic strip, removing all remaining traces of adhesive with solvent and then ftting the single conductive rubber strip. As you correctly say the rubber strip only relies on compression rather than glue to maintain electrical contact. My repair was done several years ago following Derek W's advice (on this forum) and the pictorial French article (which I believe originally appeared on Planete Citroen) and has proved to be 100% reliable.

Ken

Edit

At the risk of double posting here is the French article I used to repair my LH display with the expensive French sourced Zebra rubber.

Also have a read through this topic from 4 years ago http://club-xm.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=2286&st=0

This Japanese company uses the trade mark 'Zebra' for it's elastomeric products.
http://www.fujipoly.com/products/zebra-ela...connectors.html

This post has been edited by kenhall1202 on September 27, 2011 05:51 pm

[endorfin]

What about these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MULTIPLE-CONTACT...7c#ht_500wt_668

the seller has others different sizes

[xmexclusive]

Hi Endorfin

Had a look at those Polish rubber connector strips.
Thanks for searching them out.
XM type are 94mm x 2mm x 5mm so none are suitable as direct replacements.
In my look round on ebay I found a LCD display repair soldering iron for £12 so ordered one. Will no doubt take a while to come from China.

John

This post has been edited by xmexclusive on October 01, 2011 05:13 pm

[Jan-hendrik]

QUOTE

At the risk of double posting

It was covered recently and files were posted in the self help section:
http://club-xm.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=5137

This post has been edited by Jan-hendrik on October 01, 2011 11:45 pm