Technical Dashboard clocks, 2014 automatic Doblo.

[Manic mechanic]

The Dashboard LCD screen has gone on our 2014 Doblo 1.6 diesel automatic. We bought one from E.Bay and fitted it but it didn't work. We sent it to, now 2 companies for repair and they have both returned it saying they 'can't do it (bearing in mind they thought they could in the beginning), can't get the screen'. The screen seems to be a little bit bigger than the manual one (so different part number etc) to allow for gearbox information to be displayed and apparently Automatics are very rare, so no-one seems to stock the screens or be able to source one. We looked into a complete dash, again 2nd hand wasn't an option as no-one has any, so main dealer price was over £700 and they are all on back order, no idea when they will come, anyone had similar issues or appreciate and advice you can gove, thanks.

 

[ZaphodB]

Some LCD's just go out of fashion/out of production quite quickly , some are just used in manufacture and are a special run for an end-user.
Most times they are an industry standard pinout/comms protocol, but there are odd times when that industry standard was changed after the very early ones. (I know of one that the manufacturer designed the origin on top left (or whatever) then in later versions the industry standard changed to bottom left etc, so replacing one for the other results in mirrored text!)

Got any numbers on the back of the original lcd ?, I'll try and do some research for you

 

[Manic mechanic]

Thanks for that, I am waiting for the parts coming back from the 2nd 'repairer' in thepost, should be here any day though so will get you the info ASAP.

 

[Manic mechanic]

OK, I have some numbers,the only thing being it has been in the hands of 2companies who said they could repair it but both ended up failing, so I have no idea how many people have had their hands on it or even which one is which. Using my best skills of deduction though, I would say this is the one; numbers on the wiring plug, 218359 FPC - AO 22.
I have the same numbers from the other one but don't want to confuse things here, happy to supply later if it turns out they are swapped.
The packaging of the new part did state it was for 'Manual Tranmission' which we didn't notice at the time but it is clearly there but not on the part it's self. I don't think they are different sizes at all, otherwise they wouldn't fit the cluster but maybe the display within the screen has more character space or something.
Appreciate anything any one can come up with, Thanks.

 

[ZaphodB]

218359 FPC - AO 22.

That's on the flexi (sorry won't lead me anywhere), none on the back of the panel itself ?

 

[Manic mechanic]

No, the newer one had a sticker on there with some details but nothing on the old one, cold it have been removed?

 

[ZaphodB]

Could have been, pretty much every lcd panel I've ever dealt with, no matter what size, has an id label on the actual rear of the glass. (sometimes tiny one in the corner on front (in the none-visible areas when it's in its frame.)

I've just been doing a bit of looking around, and it would seem there are at least an auto and a manual version of the earlier year Doblo, which makes me think it was a custom manufacture for Fiat , with custom segments and certainly not dot addressable.

With that in mind I think it's gonna be find a donor dash at a scrap yard, but make sure it's also an automatic and same year range.

You could have a word with these guys in Italy: https://store.minitools.com/en/cata...atibile_marca=184&compatibile_modello[]=32115

 

[Manic mechanic]

Thank you ZaphodB, if I gave you the numbers from the small sticker on the other panel (bearing in mind I might be wrong about which one is which) could you tell if it was old or new and get anyinformation from it?
Will contact the guys in Italy and see what they think also.

 

[Manic mechanic]

ZaphodB, would it be worthwhile if I post up the new panel details? Maybe you could advise if it's new or not and if it does turn out to be the original we have the correct details to check for another.
I found a company. 'screenarama' who do Laptop screens and some car ones but they say they 'don't do that type of screen' and they couldn't suggest anyone else, so just waiting for a reply from the link you gave me above, otherwise we have no leads.

 

[ZaphodB]

ZaphodB, would it be worthwhile if I post up the new panel details?

You can do , but I think from what I said in post 7 , it's looking like a bespoke panel Fiat had made up for that vehicle.

Without any other info on the original panel (label missing?) I don't think I'm gonna get any further.

 

[Manic mechanic]

OK,here goes, didn't know how to do this last time so hopefully this will work

 

[Manic mechanic]

Pic 1 only numbers on the panel.
Pic 2 Font of panel showing sticker with numbers.
Pic 3 Panel below and packaging for new panel we bought, actually says 'Manual transmission' but at the time we didn't know any different.
Thank you.

 

[ZaphodB]

The part number is the COG-xxxxxxx (obviously your first replacement was for the manual 'box)

There isn't a corresponding COG number somewhere on the original is there?


I'll do some research later anyway

 

[Manic mechanic]

Did you notice the number on the 'New' one; 2004 09 30. It looks like a date but 10 years before the van was built, any significance?

 

[ZaphodB]

The FPC's (flexi cables) could well have been separately manufactured in quantity (and by a completely separate FPC manufacurer) to accomodate a whole bunch of displays (with different programming and segment arrangements).... so I'd ignore that

The main assembly is the COG numbering, the flexi is just a flexi

 

[Manic mechanic]

The FPC's (flexi cables) could well have been separately manufactured in quantity (and by a completely separate FPC manufacurer) to accomodate a whole bunch of displays (with different programming and segment arrangements).... so I'd ignore that

The main assembly is the COG numbering, the flexi is just a flexi

Is the COG number not for the new panel, meaing is's not rea;y the right one or do you think that's the original panel?

 

[ZaphodB]

COG actually stands for (Chip on Glass) which describes the driver IC/circuitry technology, but this manufacturer has just added into the part number framework to ID it.

The numbers will then undoubtedly specify the segment layout and firmware/backlight colour etc and various other technical features/options, a lot of these smaller LCD's are dot addressable (which is how they build up the graphics), but this type I think has pre-built segment graphics.
But even if you google search COG-VLIT" you'll see there's dozens and dozens of different ones , and it's probably one manufacturer (who's simply decided to put COG in the part number to differentiate the COG stock from other types of LCD in their portfolio.

I'm betting that original panel had a part number on it (apart from the writing on the flexi itself, which just describes the flexi)

Tall ask but maybe somebody else has stripped their (auto) one down and there's a pic somewhere when they documented it.

There's no getting away from the fact you need that original manufacturers number.

What actually went on the old panel?... missing segments?, no backlight ?

 

[Manic mechanic]

Ond cold mornng I started the van as it hadn't been out for a few days. I left it running for 10/15 mins and returned to it, to swith it off and the digits on the dash were flicking randomly. I pressed some buttons but no difference so switched it off. When OIturned it back on it was just an orange rectangle and it remains that way to this day. The last time we took it out a drive it didn't seem to be able to change gears automatiallly andI had to manually doit, so it;s like even the ECU is confused as it isn't getting the right information from the dash, maybe?

 

[ZaphodB]

The panel (obviously) won't have any effect on what the dash is reporting onto the network..... it's a display only kinda thing... that's its sole purpose.

You can prove that by just not having the display connected.,, it's lik powering up a PC without a monitor attached , it'll still boot fully up

What might cause the gear problem could be down to something else on the dash pcb

Have a you got a both sides pic of that ?

 

[Manic mechanic]

No, didn't think it was worth it but we still have it OK so could do one tomorrow.
I had a bit of a search about, seems the Gearbox was a collaboration of 2 companies, Magnetti Marelli and Borg Warner. I think Borg Warner did the mechanics and Magnetti Marelli the electronics and that's the stamp on the dash panel. So had a look at their website but couldn't find much so I messaged them and asked if in the absense of Fiat being able to supply a dash, could they supply or advise who could suppy an LCD panel. Don't know if it will work but got to be worth a shot.