Technical LCD Dashboard Display Dimming???

[ivorcuk]

Hi guys!
I'd like to know is there a way to avoid LCD display dimming on ABARTH models.
The thing is: When you turn your head lights on-the display automatically gets darker.(I know that someone of you guys-that have Abarth SeleSpeed-should have troubles with it-as myself, and have expirienced what I did....)
....it's quite OK when you drive at night, but since by the law in many countries-nowdays you have to drive with your head lights on even at daylight-it's gets quite anoying, because I can't see anything if i'm driving daytime.
It should be multifunctional display, but I can't even see in which gear I'm in to, not to mension I'm not able to see anything else.(My Stilo is SeleSpeed)
So I'd like to avoid dimming of that dashboard LCD when I turn my lights on (it gets darker as soon as I turn on possitional lights=first klick).
Can i just find a wire & cut it, or I should get ERROR messages when I do that?(which wire should i look for anyway?)
Enyone?!?!?
I know that you can set dimming level of that LCD on the left side of the dashboard with MODE functions (I know i can do that for "turned OFF" lights and for "turned ON" lights separetly, but the contrast is just too damn fine :-(
So if anyone can help me on this I'd be grateful...

 

[Argonought]

You can get quite fancy driving specs these days which sharpen up contrast.

Have you considered those as an option? :idea:

 

[ivorcuk]

thNx for Your reply mate!
I didn't consider that as an option.
I even don't know what you meant by that!?
My english might be the problem, but if You could be kind enough to explain to me what exactly do You mean, and what is this about.

 

[ivorcuk]

That's the one right here!!!

 

[Argonought]

I'm talking about sunglasses or shades. These would almost certainly make it worse but you can buy other types of glasses which enhance contrast and may make the LCD display easier to read.

It's only an idea

 

[ivorcuk]

HEH....Well, cute answer mate You have made my day ;-)...funny (NO OFFEND REALY)
...but I'd rather have this problem solved in described way-if it can be done.
When I put my regular sunglasses it only gets worse.
If You have dashboard like mine You should know what I'm talking about.
I only wonder can I cut this ONE?? wire to avoid dimming!?

 

[Stu DemonD]

I will have a look at this later, once sat back in the car - but can't say I have ever had issues reading the MFD :chin:

 

[ivorcuk]

thNx in advance!
Don't know if you drive at daytime with headlights on (I have to-it's the law in my country), but if You try - You should understand my problem.
It's still bearly readable (but readable) if it's not sunny day-but if it is-you would like to have your shades on (yet, then it's totaly unreadable even without them)

 

[Stu DemonD]

Ok, I have sussed it this morning!

I sat in the car, and whether I had my lights ON or OFF, my matrix was still bright :chin: so then I played with the dimming buttons [Up and Down] - it seems that this can be set TWICE - once with the lights on, and again with the lights off - in my case, they were both set to MAX, which is why I saw no difference.

 

[ivorcuk]

Yes; I know you can set this twice: when lights are on-it's separate setting than when lights are out.
Maybe it's my LCD-I'm not sure about that :-(
Mine, both ON/OFF settings are also set to MAX, but still my problem is present-when I turn my lights ON-it darkens itself at least 50-60% !?!?!?
(Any idea?)
I should take a picture of my MFD while lights are turned ON (and OFF) at sunny weather condition & post it up here, so You could get an impression of what i'm talking about and see the difference.
I'll repeat again-my both ON/OFF Dimming Settings are set to the MAX!
thNx anyway....I'll keep on trying to solve this!

 

[Stu DemonD]

Hmmm :chin:

Well, I have no trouble reading it - even put my lights on yesterday on way home, and the display didn't dim or anything.

 

[ivorcuk]

OK...thNx 4 Your trouble....
I should maybe mantion that my Stilo is December 2001 edition (which means-one of the 1st one editions) so is it possible that this just might be an software issue!?!?

 

[Rich]

Sounds like a dimming circuit issue, think the same has completely gone on mine; my brother (the non-Stilo owning one) is an electronics engineer and he says the transformer looks to have blown and possibly a fuse.

Here is the data sheet which shows the dimmer controller; don't think they are available separately though.

 

[ivorcuk]

I've said that I would post pics of my Display with lights OFF [1st pic] and with lights ON [2nd pic]; so here it is.....
Now You can see what I'm talking about... I hope someone would find a solution for my problem...thNx in advance m8s

 

[Rich]

Try turning the lights ON then putting the dimming to MAX. If that doesn't work, I'd guess that the transformer on the dimming circuit is damaged; this has blown completely on mine and now I have no display at all!

 

[Argonought]

...this has blown completely on mine and now I have no display at all!

Is this purely down to bad luck or have you been experimenting

 

[ivorcuk]

Yes; I know you can set that twice: when lights are on-it's separate setting than when lights are off.
Mine, both ON/OFF settings are set to MAX, but still my problem is present-as You can see.
If indeed-the transformer on the dimming circuit is damaged, can it be repaired!?!?
I should check that option at my Local Fiat Service.

 

[Rich]

Is this purely down to bad luck or have you been experimenting

Bad luck unfortunately, for once!

The transformer unit can't be repaired unfortunately, nor can it be bought separately; already tried!

 

[ivorcuk]

Bad luck unfortunately, for once!

The transformer unit can't be repaired unfortunately, nor can it be bought separately; already tried!

But, is there anything than can be done on this matter!?!?

 

[Rich]

Well now that I've got a replacement cluster I can look into getting the LCD one fixed . . . a project for after my uni exams .