Tuscan2. Instrument pod black, no lights, nada!
Discussion
Hi
Well, I was planning to drive from Suffolk to Lake District for a week of relaxation. Thought it would be nice to have s decent run out in the Tuscan.
Last time it was used, a week ago it was just fine.
It has been outside for a few days (needed garage space for weekend. A barbecue for 45 people!)
We have had a bit of rain but not excessive and there are no tell tale damp carpet or water in the door ashtrays that might indicate water ingress, windows are not steamed up.
So, just started it up, for a short run round the block, prior to oil and coolest checks, etc
It started ok, have handbrake warning light, indicators, lights, main beam flash, etc. windows open and close.
But, no instrument pod lights, nothing, zilch, nada, just black.
There is a 10amp fuse (third from top on left side), which the manual designates as ignition to dash + door ucus, but that is fine.
I have read other similar topics, but none seem to cover this kind of instant total blackout.
Any ideas gratefully considered, please.
Car is due to go to Kerridges for some leather trim repairs Monday week, so they can look st it then, but I would rather deal with it myself if it is an easy answer.
Leaving it in garage for a week may dry out something, if damp is the problem. Otherwise I will look at it nest weekend.
Ho hum. Now got to go to Lake District in the 'family' car, C'eed. Works fine, but fun quotient is approaching zero 😔
Well, I was planning to drive from Suffolk to Lake District for a week of relaxation. Thought it would be nice to have s decent run out in the Tuscan.
Last time it was used, a week ago it was just fine.
It has been outside for a few days (needed garage space for weekend. A barbecue for 45 people!)
We have had a bit of rain but not excessive and there are no tell tale damp carpet or water in the door ashtrays that might indicate water ingress, windows are not steamed up.
So, just started it up, for a short run round the block, prior to oil and coolest checks, etc
It started ok, have handbrake warning light, indicators, lights, main beam flash, etc. windows open and close.
But, no instrument pod lights, nothing, zilch, nada, just black.
There is a 10amp fuse (third from top on left side), which the manual designates as ignition to dash + door ucus, but that is fine.
I have read other similar topics, but none seem to cover this kind of instant total blackout.
Any ideas gratefully considered, please.
Car is due to go to Kerridges for some leather trim repairs Monday week, so they can look st it then, but I would rather deal with it myself if it is an easy answer.
Leaving it in garage for a week may dry out something, if damp is the problem. Otherwise I will look at it nest weekend.
Ho hum. Now got to go to Lake District in the 'family' car, C'eed. Works fine, but fun quotient is approaching zero 😔
TVRinBFG said:
It's fairly common for the pod wiring to disconnect, especially if somebody has adjusted the steering column. Follow the wiring out the back, down into the steering column area, find the chocolate box connector and jiggle it.
Hopefully it will be this given the sudden change, try removing the top deflector and lower the steering column. Then feel behind the pod and push the connectors together (towards you).Mine does the same. It will dissapear completely, complete black screen, and will not reappear until the ignition is switched off and restarted. On occassions, it may not reappear at all, it could be several restarts later.
I have lived with it for the last 2 and a bit years, but would like to get it sorted.
I have lived with it for the last 2 and a bit years, but would like to get it sorted.
Jurgen Schmidt said:
Mine does the same. It will dissapear completely, complete black screen, and will not reappear until the ignition is switched off and restarted. On occassions, it may not reappear at all, it could be several restarts later.
I have lived with it for the last 2 and a bit years, but would like to get it sorted.
Sounds like it might be the circuit boards warping causing some of the connections to distort. Had mine all soldered to sort as was a total PITA until then. Next time you experience it, try removing the targa top to allow lots of light into the cabin (outside). Now check to see if you can see the data on the screen very faintly in the same way you normally see it. If so it's likely to be as suggested.I have lived with it for the last 2 and a bit years, but would like to get it sorted.
truck71 said:
Sounds like it might be the circuit boards warping causing some of the connections to distort. Had mine all soldered to sort as was a total PITA until then. Next time you experience it, try removing the targa top to allow lots of light into the cabin (outside). Now check to see if you can see the data on the screen very faintly in the same way you normally see it. If so it's likely to be as suggested.
IIRC, Andie Pandie on here had a similar problem.I believe he did something with the circuit board 'stack' in terms of putting spacers in/sorting movement of boards. Might be worth a search.
Nick
As Nick posted above I too had problems with my pod, display breaking up, going blank etc. and had removed it several times to try and sort, in fact it almost drove me to getting shot of the car.
Eventually I decided to get to the root of the problem. What I deduced was the boards were flexing, made worse in warmer weather, so fashioned some spacers from 3mm plastic sheet, IIRC 8mm x 11mm(?), to fit edgeways between the two boards, which are still just held in place with Duck tape, must do something permanent one day. Prior to fitting these I removed all the boards and tightened the screws to the pod, including the 'light source' board, before reassembly. In addition to that I made a short lightweight extension to the 25 way 'D' Type connector with no backshell on the board end. The other end I secured to the roof of the pod with the aid of cable tie mounts and connected the the heavier original cable there.
It's been running like that for over three years now, with only one occurrence of failure when the modular block connector worked loose which I reseated by dropping the steering column and sticking my hand in, so didn't need to remove the pod. I did think about sealing/glueing that one in place but thought that was a bit drastic.
If you've never had the pod off before, it's very simple process. Drop the steering column down and out towards the seat as far as it goes, remove the two dome nuts at the back and the two 3mm Allen head screws near the wheel, ease the pod clear of the bolts at the back, lift enough to disconnect the two electrical connectors and remove completely.
Eventually I decided to get to the root of the problem. What I deduced was the boards were flexing, made worse in warmer weather, so fashioned some spacers from 3mm plastic sheet, IIRC 8mm x 11mm(?), to fit edgeways between the two boards, which are still just held in place with Duck tape, must do something permanent one day. Prior to fitting these I removed all the boards and tightened the screws to the pod, including the 'light source' board, before reassembly. In addition to that I made a short lightweight extension to the 25 way 'D' Type connector with no backshell on the board end. The other end I secured to the roof of the pod with the aid of cable tie mounts and connected the the heavier original cable there.
It's been running like that for over three years now, with only one occurrence of failure when the modular block connector worked loose which I reseated by dropping the steering column and sticking my hand in, so didn't need to remove the pod. I did think about sealing/glueing that one in place but thought that was a bit drastic.
If you've never had the pod off before, it's very simple process. Drop the steering column down and out towards the seat as far as it goes, remove the two dome nuts at the back and the two 3mm Allen head screws near the wheel, ease the pod clear of the bolts at the back, lift enough to disconnect the two electrical connectors and remove completely.
Thanks for all the advice and suggestions. It did turn out to be the connector and I (temporarily) followed Andydvg's suggestion, loosened and jiggled the steering column.
So next thing to do is to take a proper look at the connector, clean it up, a touch of wd40, then tape it in position.
However, that will have to wait for a little while....
Now got to sand the picket fence prior to painting.
Then I have to go to work for a month (I work in Azerbaijan), so looks like it will be second week of October before I can do a proper fix....
Or, I could just do it now and leave the fence sanding. Hmmmm.....
So next thing to do is to take a proper look at the connector, clean it up, a touch of wd40, then tape it in position.
However, that will have to wait for a little while....
Now got to sand the picket fence prior to painting.
Then I have to go to work for a month (I work in Azerbaijan), so looks like it will be second week of October before I can do a proper fix....
Or, I could just do it now and leave the fence sanding. Hmmmm.....
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