How-To: Overhead Console Display Fix

[arco777]

Got a blank overhead console temperature/compass display? Here's how to fix one variant of the circuitry that is at fault. There are two different circuit boards commonly installed in the overhead console. Both tend to fail after so many years. The somewhat more common circuit board has a "510" resistor that burns out, and replacement of the resistor is documented in a different thread on this forum. Also check the FSB Forums (fullsize Bronco) as there is information on 510 resistor replacement there too. This thread shows repair of the other less common circuit board, which has a capacitor that leaks and causes the display to boot up after a long delay or not at all. If you get halfway through this guide and your circuit board does not match the pictures, search the forums for info on replacement of the 510 resistor.

Note that the console pictured is from a fullsize Bronco; the electronics are the same and the design is very similar. The circuit board pictured is actually from an Explorer.

Start by removing the overhead console from the vehicle. In an Explorer there are two screws that you will need to remove before it will drop down. See picture for screw locations circled in red.

 

[arco777]

With the screws removed, there is likely a press-in fastener or two at the front of the console depending on your year and design. They just pull out.

Once the console drops down, unplug the black electrical connector tethering it to the vehicle. There is a small black tab on the connector that you press down and the connector pulls apart.

Now remove the console electronics module from the console assembly. There will be a lot of screws holding it together. Again the console pictured is from a Bronco, so what you see may vary somewhat but it will be built very similar.

 

[arco777]

Work the electronic module out. Be gentle. You'll need to disconnect its electrical connector, just wiggle and pull. Then the module should slide out and come free, once the necessary screws are removed.

At this point, you have the module free, which is the important part and is the same between the Bronco and the Explorer.

 

[arco777]

You'll notice the module has two clips at the front and a hooked tab at the rear. Gently bend open the front clips and lift up the front, and slide the cover apart to remove the circuit board. Remove any static electricity from your body before touching the circuit board. When handling the circuit board, hold it by its outside edges.

 

[arco777]

Examine the circuit board. If you have the particular variant that has a failure-prone capacitor, it will look like this one. You're looking for the capacitor circled in red, and what looks like an oil spill at the base of it.

If this matches your board, notice the black stuff around the base of the capacitor. This is where the capacitor has leaked out its electrolytic solution. The capacitor ceases to function correctly or may not function at all. In some cases the leakage can actually damage the printed circuit and nearby components. For this reason, replacing the capacitor may not fix your display if the circuits are badly damaged. The circuit board pictured is not too bad; the capacitor still functioned a little bit, so after about 10 minutes of driving around the display would light up and work. Shut off the truck, and you had to wait for the delay again.

More pictures below of my board. If yours is badly damaged, such as the printed circuit being split or lifted off the board, you may want to find a replacement that is in better condition. The board that came on my Bronco was too badly damaged to work with a capacitor replacement, so I installed a junkyard board from a 1996 Explorer that was in better shape. This is the board that is pictured, and the capacitor replacement was successful.

If you do need to replace your board or want a spare, check Broncos and also 1991-1997 Explorers. In either 1998 or 1999 the design changed, and you can usually tell by the different connectors and sometimes white plastic.

 

[arco777]

Here's where you're going to need to have your supplies ready to fix this. You'll need a soldering iron: pictured is the 20w/40w Radio Shack model I used, which works great for smaller projects. It cost about $25. I don't recommend using a soldering gun with high wattage, as you can damage the circuit board and nearby components. Honestly, 20 watts should be sufficient.

You'll need some solder. Pictured is the kind I use, also available at Radio Shack, and it works awesome. Pictured next to the bad capacitor that is to blame for all this.

 

[arco777]

If you flip the circuit board over you'll see the base of the capacitor's pins. This is where you'll apply heat, melting the solder and pulling out the old capacitor for replacement of the new one.

 

[arco777]

Now the important bit, the new capacitor. It's got to be the right one for the job, not all capacitors are the same! Instead of throwing specs at you (that are printed on the capacitor body) I will suggest a specific part number.

The stock capacitor is usually a Nichicon brand A9531. It has since been discontinued. Good riddance, it clearly wasn't that great. However, I'm told Nichicon is a good manufacturer and so my replacement was another Nichicon and ordered it through Digi-Key, which is a great seller. Their site is a little tricky so just put in the part numbers and go that way.

Digi-Key part number: 493-11653-1-ND
Manufacturer part number: UPV0J121MFD1TD
This is one of Nichicon's long-life models, made for way more cycles than the standard line capacitors, and the size is almost identical to the original capacitor (a hair taller but fits fine). Overall it should be a much longer life unit.

My cost at the time was about 54 cents per capacitor, so why not splurge and get two? Just in case you lose one or something.

The capacitors come packaged as shown, just pull one off and trim the leads down short so it won't be sitting up high.

 

[arco777]

Before you remove the old capacitor and install the new one, note the polarity. All you have to do is make sure the white stripe on the new capacitor is in the same position as the old one was. THIS IS IMPORTANT!

 

[arco777]

You're simply going to melt the solder from the leads on the old capacitor (from the underside of the circuit board) and pull the old capacitor up and out while the solder is liquid. The new capacitor installs the same way, remember the polarity. You want the new capacitor to sit down on the board and not be sticking way up, which would cause the plastic module cover not to fit right. Keep heating up both leads and work the new capacitor down in. Take your time. Make sure not to get the capacitor itself too hot. If you are gently pushing the new capacitor down while heating the solder, the capacitor should NOT get hot enough to hurt your finger! You can kill it if it gets too hot so if you feel it getting real warm, let the solder and capacitor cool before continuing. Also, try not to let the leads of the capacitor touch each other during installation.

The new capacitor should sit down in place just like the old one. This picture shows how it should look (I know it's the old capacitor, I didn't have a picture of the new one installed).

 

[arco777]

Put it all back together. It's just the reverse of disassembly. Don't forget to connect the electrical connector to the display module, and the electrical connector to the overhead console.

If all goes well, your console display should light up very shortly after turning the ignition to RUN. If it does not immediately light up, don't freak out. Make sure your dimmer is turned up (rotate the headlight knob). Drive around for a little while and see if it lights up; a delayed light up means the capacitor is not functioning right, but the circuitry is still intact. You can always take it apart and try again.

This concludes the how-to. Questions and comments are welcome.

 

[racinjason68]

I have ordered the part eeu-fr1c121 since the previous item is now obsolete. Fingers crossed that the leaking cap is my only issue!