2001 Lancer - instrument cluster problem

[Louwai (Bryan)]

Eric,
I've read through the responses & I'm surprised that no one has offered what I would think to be an obvious fix to the problem.


BUY ANOTHER CAR !!!!!!!!!

[erick (Eric)]

Originally Posted by Louwai

BUY ANOTHER CAR !!!!!!!!!

What! I'm only up to 300,000 km - heaps of life in it yet!

[erick (Eric)]

Originally Posted by Outbackmanyep

Does the cluster have round connectors (ie: pins on the back of the dash) or flat plugs (ie: the printed circuit is flexible and has exposed copper connections that the plugs contact when pushed in) ?

It is the second.

I'm close to a solution. It won't be as the factory designed it - but I'm confident it will work. (Funny, the guy that said on another site some years ago - connect 12V to this screw head - he was onto something! But I'll be a bit more sophisticated than that - don't want the instrument cluster going up in a cloud of smoke and flames!)

That is if I cannot spot the power problem on the main board - I suspect the voltage regulator is playing up. If I can prove that, I will replace it. But a little further testing, and sleuthing to be done on how the circuit is supposed to work.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

I'm in agreement of the suggestion of 'Join a Lancer Forum'.

I joined the AMC: Australian Magna Club, and they have been amazingly helpful with tips, tricks and where to get parts really cheap.

Its like being in here but its all about Magna's instead of Telescopes.

Try a Lancer Forum.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Try this Lancer Forum Eric. I don't know anything about it, but may be worth a try.

http://www.miragelancer.com/index.php?p=1_2

Or this Mitsubishi Australia Forum: http://www.mitsubishiclubaustralia.com/forums/

[Outbackmanyep]

Have a closer look at the printed circuit and see that theres no hairline cracks, they sometimes occur particularly on the bend where the copper is insulated.
Other than that i'd take it to mitsubishi or an auto elec and get it checked out.

[erick (Eric)]

Thanks everyone, I have it working again. I made a mod to deal with the problem and all is fine. (in short, I have provided fused and regulated 12V to the place on the instrument cluster where it was going missing.)

And just in time to allow it to clock up 300,000 km (which it would have actually done a week ago, but it got recorded yesterday).

Outbackman, it's too old for me to spend other than small money on this problem - I save my maintenance money for tyres and routine maintenance on the mechanicals. Anything else I have to fix myself, if I can.

[Outbackmanyep]

Good to see you made a temporary fix, tis a shame you were so far away otherwise i'd be able to have a look at it for you!
It'd probably see the vehicle's life out!

Cheers!

[BobLancer (Bob)]

Eric,

I have the exact same heat-related problem with my Lancer. Do you have any details of your fix (photos etc maybe)?

[erick (Eric)]

Hi Bob

If you will send me your phone number in a Private Message, I'll give you a call. I will need to explain a few things. It has turned out to not be as simple as I thought.

Eric

[Nightshift]

Out of curiosity, what error codes (if any) are set in your ECM?

Dennis.

[erick (Eric)]

"ECM"

[erick (Eric)]

Originally Posted by Outbackmanyep

Have a closer look at the printed circuit and see that theres no hairline cracks, they sometimes occur particularly on the bend where the copper is insulated.
Other than that i'd take it to mitsubishi or an auto elec and get it checked out.

Guess what? Had my Mitsubishi workshop have the electrician have a look at it today during a service. The report is "a hairline crack in a circuit board". Can be fixed for a reasonable price. I've told them to go ahead. (UPDATE - report said "split in wire in cluster. replaced". All working fine now.)

So I not going to know where it was. Wish I did, because I inspected the whole cluster very closely. I don't like being defeated by inanimate objects!

Anyway, there you go! Outbackmanyep knows what he is talking about.

But I did delay spending the money for many months, which is good.

(Good day all round - oil spray was just a leaking hardened seal on the cap; brakes can wait until the next service; steering rack can wait until the next service. The worst they could find was wiper blades needing replacement! Nearly 316k km on the clock now!)