2nd Generation Ford Explorer Message Center (DIC) tear down

[MuscleJunkie]

So picked up a donor message center from a 98+ 2nd Generation Ford Explorer. The purpose was I was thinking to possibly take some donor pieces from this module to use with my new boost gauge that I’m embedding under the instrument cluster for my supercharger installation. Specifically the green coated lens Is what I was interested in. Also was interested to see how this thing was constructed. What I found is a bit different than what I expected.

The outer lenses is a thin piece of smoked plastic that is peg mounted with the ends of the pegs melted to hold it into place

Inside with the main display

The main display board consist of several 5 x 7 LEDs. This being 1990s technology I’m not sure if that’s what they were called then or if they work the same way as current LED displays. I’m sure there is another proper technical term for this type of display board. But it’s not LCD.

The main board is covered with a real glass box. And it’s not thin glass but actually very thick. The top cover of the glass box is a green coated piece of glass that again is very thick and not what I was expecting

Now need to figure out if it’s possible to separate these pieces of glass. It looks like that they are glued. Honestly I was hoping this was going to be a thin piece of coated plastic as I think the glass is entirely too thick to use for embedding on the new display. I wonder why they used glass for this module and why the glass is so thick?

 

[MuscleJunkie]

Here is the back of the second board of the display for anybody who might be interested. Have no idea the purpose of these chips but here they are for future reference. In case anybody cares this is the same display used in the Lincoln Mark VIII (Mark 8) You’ll see on the display board there are numbers for a clock that are not used in the Explorer but are used on the Lincoln.

Also on the older second Generation Explorers - the glass is coated with a blue coating instead of the green coating seen on this display found in the 98 and newer vehicles.

 

[MuscleJunkie]

One more shot of the upper board that shows all of the chips for reference.

 

[CDW6212R]

That is interesting. The glass would be very hard to get apart unless it's only attached at small areas like the corners.

The rear electronic board may be separate functions than the front part. Maybe the front is just for the display and the back is for the rest of the functions.

 

[CDW6212R]

Those are great pictures, and is that a 95-97 display(blue), or the later green 98-01 version?

 

[MuscleJunkie]

Those are great pictures, and is that a 95-97 display(blue), or the later green 98-01 version?

This one is the green coated one for the 1998+ 2nd Generation Ford Explorer

 

[MuscleJunkie]

The top piece of glass that is coated with the green is 1/8 in thick (3.18mm)

 

[MuscleJunkie]

Here are a few pictures of the controls for the message center. It appears that the bulbs are actual green bulbs that shine through the see-through word indicators - similar design to the way gauge faces are made. Surprised to see actual green light bulbs in here instead of the clear ones seen on the gauge cluster.

 

[MuscleJunkie]

Here is a picture of the controls assembly disassembled. The light bulbs are very easy to change but not sure what type they are.

 

[MuscleJunkie]

Well I tried temperatures incrementally up to 1350° to soften up what appears to be some sort of adhesive holding the glass pieces together and nothing at all. Whatever it is that they’re using is pretty strong and I do not see any way to get the pieces to separate. Oh well.

 

[CDW6212R]

Well that was a good try to soften it up, I guess force is out of the question, it's glass.

 

[MuscleJunkie]

Well that was a good try to soften it up, I guess force is out of the question, it's glass.

Yes and fairly soft. Test a light pry on a bottom piece and it seems soft.

 

[MuscleJunkie]

Another interesting item. The light bulbs for the message center controls are actually clear bulbs with a removable green rubber cap.

 

[TedJ]

The display is a vacuum fluorescent type and works kinda like a CRT. The big caps, transformer, and power transistor below the display are a high voltage power supply needed to run the display. The whole thing is a well sealed assembly with the air vacuumed out. It's unlikely you're going to get it apart without it just shattering. You could get a piece of glass cut the right size at a local glass place for a few bucks and try window tint film or colored lighting gels commonly made by lee or rosco for the theater / movie industry to get the effect you want.

 

[MuscleJunkie]

The display is a vacuum fluorescent type and works kinda like a CRT. The big caps, transformer, and power transistor below the display are a high voltage power supply needed to run the display. The whole thing is a well sealed assembly with the air vacuumed out. It's unlikely you're going to get it apart without it just shattering. You could get a piece of glass cut the right size at a local glass place for a few bucks and try window tint film or colored lighting gels commonly made by lee or rosco for the theater / movie industry to get the effect you want.

Thanks for the info on this display type I had no idea - just thought it was weird that so much thick glass was used - never occurred to me this was some type of CRT technology. Wonder why they chose this versus some other type of display board (like LCD or whatever else was available in the mid 1990's)? Seems as though it might have been cheaper than this type of display that was using so much glass.

 

[TedJ]

VFD is quite common in automotive applications. It combines high brightness and good sunlight readability with the ability to dim and be pleasant for night viewing as well. High brightness LED, especially in a display format, didn't exist in the 90's. LCD displays of the era could be used but they didn't look nearly as good and aren't great in bright sun. They also tend to suffer from delamination issues after may years especially in hot environments. Ford used the green VFD in many places including the factory radios and the climate control panels so it made sense to stick with them. It's not the cheapest thing but I do think it was the best choice at the time and they tend to hold up well.

 

[MuscleJunkie]

VFD is quite common in automotive applications. It combines high brightness and good sunlight readability with the ability to dim and be pleasant for night viewing as well. High brightness LED, especially in a display format, didn't exist in the 90's. LCD displays of the era could be used but they didn't look nearly as good and aren't great in bright sun. They also tend to suffer from delamination issues after may years especially in hot environments. Ford used the green VFD in many places including the factory radios and the climate control panels so it made sense to stick with them. It's not the cheapest thing but I do think it was the best choice at the time and they tend to hold up well.

I haven't had a chance to take apart a ceiling center console (with the temp/compass) display. Does anyone know if it uses the same type of technology with a glass display?

Thanks

 

[CDW6212R]

I have also had one of those open to the first level apart, again I'd say that one is plastic too. The screen is smaller and curved I think, but I'll leave it for you to tell me I guessed wrong again. I bought a NOS unit 15 years back as a spare, those electronics are an old age issue I learned about with my Mark VII's.

 

[TedJ]

The temp/compass display in mine is definitely a VFD. I added it; can't remember if it came out of a 1st gen limited or a 2nd gen. I think there was some internal design revisions on the dome light switches and sockets but they were widely cross-compatible physically and electrically. I still have some extras in storage if you need one.

 

[MuscleJunkie]

The temp/compass display in mine is definitely a VFD. I added it; can't remember if it came out of a 1st gen limited or a 2nd gen. I think there was some internal design revisions on the dome light switches and sockets but they were widely cross-compatible physically and electrically. I still have some extras in storage if you need one.

The part I am most interested in would be whatever piece (lens) that is coated green to give the display it's green color. Since the piece on the center console was thick glass - no use to me. But if the lens/piece on the ceiling center console is some sort of thinner plastic that has the factory green coating - it might be something that I can use to embed for my outer lens of the new display that will be mounted underneath the gauge cluster in the outer gauge surround trim as seen here in my mockup