Drivers Information Module (DIM) diy repair

[malibusam]

Yes. I switched out two bulbs and things were dark. They are toshiba V2, can't find them anywhere over here :/

[malibusam]

I guess the bulbs are T5 wedge bulbs and the Toshiba bit is the socket. I never bought any and then something odd happened.

The readouts for mileage etc, randomly started working for a few days, then only one worked, now the entire dash is off again :/ I might have to do some more soldering... all in all I think only one bulb is out and it has to do with the info window. I know b/c I switched its place.

[Propofol]

Hi All,
My display went a bit iffy again so I resoldered the board again only to find that the clock and mileage windows went blank (bulbs working beneath them).

In a last ditch attempt to fix things I went to my local electronics repair shop and for the sum of £37.60 had the board resoldered - it transpires that I had soldered a few pins together and caused a short.

To cut a long story short - It's all working fine!

He can't check the board for you after he's done the work but for £37.60 vs. hundreds of pounds I think it's a bargain!

His details are:

Excellent Electrics,
6 Chatterton Road,
Bromley,
Kent,
BR2 9QN

0208 3255055
07885 115130
enquiries@excellentelectrics.com

[mrkakka]

Thanks for the write-up. I have the exact same problem. I am a beginner at soldering. I got a fine pencil tip 25 watt soldering iron and 0.8mm rosin core solder as well as some flux. Would someone mind walking me through how to resolder the joints properly? I'm going to practice on an old PCB first. I couldn't find any online video demonstrating on such a small joint or how to apply the flux beforehand.

[billynomates]

Originally Posted by mrkakka

Thanks for the write-up. I have the exact same problem. I am a beginner at soldering. I got a fine pencil tip 25 watt soldering iron and 0.8mm rosin core solder as well as some flux. Would someone mind walking me through how to resolder the joints properly? I'm going to practice on an old PCB first. I couldn't find any online video demonstrating on such a small joint or how to apply the flux beforehand.

If you look at the first post on this tread it shows you the chip to be soldered.

I cleaned off all the bule gunk with some isopropal alcohol and a cotton bud. I then used liquid flux and a dry soldering iron to heat each leg of the chip in turn until I could see the solder melt. I used a big magnifiying glass to see what I was doing. It took three attempts untill I got everything working again.

Its now been fixed for nearly 40k miles (touch wood )

[mrkakka]

Originally Posted by billynomates

If you look at the first post on this tread it shows you the chip to be soldered.

I cleaned off all the bule gunk with some isopropal alcohol and a cotton bud. I then used liquid flux and a dry soldering iron to heat each leg of the chip in turn until I could see the solder melt. I used a big magnifiying glass to see what I was doing. It took three attempts untill I got everything working again.

Its now been fixed for nearly 40k miles (touch wood )

Thanks billy. I cleaned the chip and everything. Just to be sure, are these the joints around the sides you have to solder in the pic attached? After completion, should you wipe off the remaining flux with isopropyl alcohol? Appreciate the help for a noob.

[billynomates]

Originally Posted by mrkakka

Thanks billy. I cleaned the chip and everything. Just to be sure, are these the joints around the sides you have to solder in the pic attached? After completion, should you wipe off the remaining flux with isopropyl alcohol? Appreciate the help for a noob.

Yes, do all the legs on all four sides. Be carefull not to join any of them together with solder and it will short out the chip. I cleaned my with isopropyl alcohol after to remove any flux as it is corrosive.

[bogart]

On a positive note I did mine around a year ago and is still going fine.

[Propofol]

All good here still. I think if you can't do it yourself or it is still malfunctioning afterwards then any good electrical repairer should be able to resolder it for you for not a lot of money.

I'm not plugging the guy who did mine - anyone should be able to do it.

If you do cross solder the chip, because of the low voltages it has a reasonable chance of escaping unscathed but best avoid if possible.

[V70 Geoff]

Hi, my clock and info displays have gone haywire on my 2002 S60 2.0T. Having read everything on here I intend to send the dash to www.bba-reman.com due to limited time and the need for my girlfriend to get to work every day. They appear confident they can fix. Does that still seem to be the best place? Thanks for any replies.