[All] [Turbo] AVC-R Screen died

[Steve Horrocks]

Hi guys, another issue I need sorting, on my recent trip to the 'ring, on my last lap on the long straight to finish, my AVC-R screen started to flicker and went off.
I've still got power to the controller and using the buttons (which still light up) from memory, can swith settings between "Off", "A" & "B" so it's still working.
Does anyone have any idea why or what's up with it & whether there is an easy fix? OR is it new EBC time?
Cheers guys.

[Steve Horrocks]

Anybody?!

[Steve Horrocks]

Nobody seen this before then? Pooh.

[craig]

shot in the dark bud, loose wire/connection within the unit?

[Steve Horrocks]

Hmmm, not impossible I suppose. Can I fix that with a hammer?

[craig]

Can I fix that with a hammer?

hmmm, probably not

[paul port]

I think the screen on an AVCR is a Vacuum Fluorescent type, which means it needs a high voltage converter inside to drive it.

It's possible this PSU or the heater wire has failed inside the unit...
It's not going to be fixed by hammer though!

[Steve Horrocks]

Paul, the last bit I understood but didn't like, the first bit I didn't like & not sure what I can do about it! Lol

If it helps, just before it went off, the screen went a bit haywire flashing on/off for 2 or 3 secs then died. A bit like it'd crashed or something.

[paul port]

can you send it to me with a power cable of some kind??

Paul

[Steve Horrocks]

Paul, I've just taken the unit out and heard a rattling sound, so opened the back up & looks like there's a little chip that's "unsoldered" itself. I'll stick a photo up in a few mins when I get in house. The unit has a small loom coming off it, finishing at a plug. Will this be ok or do you need the other plug as well and try & fish the loom back out from where it goes through firewall and it's connected to my extention in the engine bay?
Cheers again!

[Steve Horrocks]

You can see below, the small chip, and the area that it looks like it came from. Also some "things" in bottom right hand of photo look like they are covered in a small blob of siliconeor something? Is that normal?

Also small dark area in top corner of screen, but this appears to be where connection go in, so may jus be where joints are soldered on or something?



Is it still worth sending?

[paul port]

Ok, YES it is still worth sending.
The thing that has fallen off is a resistor (Thankfully I can still read the value) Looking at the PCB underneath it, the resistor has blown open circuit.

The screen is definitely a vacuum fluorescent type - it's basically a TV tube in reverse... The dark patch you see is created during part of the manufacturing process as they remove the last traces of oxygen from the glass envelope.

Cable wise, the minimum I need is an accurate description of which cable colour goes to which pin on the back of the AVCR control unit.
EG, which pins on the AVCR go to the Engine ECU
Which pins go to the Pressure sensor
Which pins go to the Boost Solenoid

Unfortunately the AVCR only mentions wire colours AVCR >> Engine_ECU and does not give a pinout.

[Steve Horrocks]

Errrrrr, now i'm lost!
I've unplugged the loom plug from the AVC-R and then i've cut the rest of the loom where is passes through bulkhead (with enough length tosolder back on) from there it appears the loom splits in 3 for boost sensor/solenoid/ecu. I'll try & see what colours match the ones going to the sensor & solenoid then the other one, i've extended to meet ECU, so will try & trace back to them.
Only problem is i'm sorting packing stuff out today for hol in morning, so i'll try 7 get it packageed & posted, then if it's ok, trace wires next wed? Is that a problem?

Cheers again Paul.

[paul port]

not a problem....
I'll be on hols soon as well, but should have time to look over it before JAE

Paul

[paul port]

Looks like nothing intrinsically broken... It's just that resistor was getting rather hot and un-soldered it's self.

It would be worth you checking the car battery voltage when RPM > 1200 in case your alternator is over-charging. The voltage should be no more than ~14.5v DC. If it's much higher, then this could easily have caused the fault and could also be frying other electrics in your car.

I would like you to confirm the number on the component that came loose... I can't really make it out clearly but I think it says "220"

Paul.

PS - Packaging.... < Class >

[Steve Horrocks]

Genuinely top top man Paul!

[towser]

My friend had the same fault and took it to an electrition,, it had a burnt out resistor , he replaced it for pennies and presto AVCR working again.

[Steve Horrocks]

Yup, as simple as that, (when you know what you're doing eh Paul?!) lol