DIM Message Display

[greasyfingers]

Something I've been meaning to ask since I got the car a couple of months ago - 2001MY V70:

I get all the message options on the DIM display - ie. Average MPG, Instantaneous MPG, Miles to Empty Tank, Average MPH, or Off, but they come up in random order. As I rotate the ring either way, I just have to keep rotating it until I get the display I want; there is no telling where that will be, in the order they come up in.

Is it meant to be like that? I can't think why it would be.

[fluff110]

No that's not normal behaviour

It could be the switches that read the ring rotation in the stalk as they wear out eventually or get gunged up - you may get something similar on the input knob of the radio at some point.

You could try getting another stalk off ebay (something like this or this or this might be OK) and swapping it over. Be a good idea to disconnect the battery before swapping as a precaution.

Or it might be possible to take the stalk apart and clean the switches - there's a panel on the back of it held in with two screws. I've got one in the shed for a project but it's too cold to go out and look at it right now I'm afraid!!

[Mnkiboy]

Thought it was just mine that did this. Sometimes goes through in the right order, sometimes skips one out and you end up going round and round until the display you want comes up!

[TJMurphy]

I've seen this a bit of this on mine as well, sometimes it skips an item or two but keep on rotating and the next time around it's fine. I don't think I've ever seen it produce things in the wrong order though. Has been doing it for years but is so intermittent I thought it was just "the way it is"!

[greasyfingers]

I thought there must be something wrong with it. I guess that it's not so much displaying things in random order, but is missing some out as I rotate the ring.

Which prompts the question, what is the 'right' order?

And is it easy to dismantle the stalk so that I can try cleaning the contacts?

[fluff110]

Hi Stew,

Yes that sounds right, or it might be skipping entries as well. The usual order is off, average speed, instant consumption, average consumption, miles to empty (I think).

Disconnecting the stalk isn't difficult - from memory there's 2/3 Torx screws that hold the plastic surround together. Take them out then open the surround slightly and the stalk is attached with another 2 Torx screws to the clockspring, remove them and it unplugs and pulls out.

As for cleaning the switches inside the stalk I don't know but the two screws on the back of it hold on the rear panel - taking that off might give you enough access to clean the contacts - but I've not seen inside one yet.

[greasyfingers]

Thanks, Fluff, and others. I shall add that to my list of things to do when I get a round tuit.