2004 XC70 Instrument Cluster Issues

Post by **BlackBart** » 23 Jul 2022, 21:12

DonnVa wrote: ↑23 Jul 2022, 05:38 Ace has this one. Weller is a quality brand name. It’s a pencil tip. See if its available at your local store. It looks like a normal stocking item for them.

Finally found them in the welding aisle, not electrical tools. This one is out of stock of course.......

Post by **BlackBart** » 26 Jul 2022, 13:33

Here's what I got at another Ace. Might be the same one but in a kit. 30W. Smallish pencil tip, plus a couple of chisel tips. Not sure what the black rubber pin tool is for.

: IMG_1186.JPG (509.34 KiB) Viewed 485 times

I went to a hobby shop that has trains and RC car parts. They had these, and no one to answer questions.
The Excel one has a brass point tip and then one that carries an Xacto blade......not for soldering but for hot cutting materials? No info on wattage, no help, I went to Ace.

: IMG_1184.JPG (516.55 KiB) Viewed 485 times

: IMG_1185.JPG (514.96 KiB) Viewed 485 times

Can you tell I'm afraid of this job?

My son and I were fixing something in his '86 BMW cluster. I touched two probes to the wrong places on the circuit board and POOF went a cloud of smoke and it was ruined, I fried it. I had to find a used matching cluster to replace it.

How long am I holding the iron to any one pin? Is it all visual - watch 'til it flows? Would I be able to look closely at these pins and see where there are cracks in the solder?

Post by **volvolugnut** » 26 Jul 2022, 14:08

Yes, soldering is visual. Watch for the solder to melt and flow. The right heat is key. When it starts to flow, reduce or stop the heat.
Go to your spare parts bin (or salvage yard) and get some relays or other things to practice with. Check out UTube videos for soldering electronics.
I understand your reluctance. I had the same fears when I needed to repair the clock on my 2001 Mercedes dash. I fixed the clock, but botched the temperature display. In that case it was replacing a small flexible circuit film.
volvolugnut

Post by **BlackBart** » 26 Jul 2022, 15:58

Thanks. Should I have some of that very fine wire solder as in the first video?

Post by **BlackBart** » 27 Jul 2022, 20:08

Gave up on finding anything in this town. Went to Digi-key and Mouser electronics websites. Unnecessarily complicated websites, but I got 1.0mm LEAD/tin solder and some liquid flux like our Australian video guy uses. A repair guy I called says the lead-free solder doesn’t flow the same, and is sometimes brittle. I think that’s a clue into the original failure maybe, as mass producers had to use lead-free for worker safety. I’m NOT a lead advocate in any setting, but he says the tiny bit you’re using is so minimal. Don’t breathe the smoke and don’t lick it.

Post by **abscate** » 28 Jul 2022, 17:22

Totally booted this.

Plan B

Find the local ham radio club and they will have a gal/ guy who does board level soldering. It is a skill and they will rip it off perfectly since they practice.

Buy them something nice

Post by **BlackBart** » 28 Jul 2022, 18:20

well, now that you say that..... there's this guy at a long-time electronics repair shop here in town who gave me the solder advice. I assume that's what he does. Also there's an old skool vintage stereo repair guy here.

<EDIT> I guess there's the issue of someone else frying a chip vs me frying my own chip, and then what?

Post by **br0dy519** » 28 Jul 2022, 19:13

Just fry your own chip already, the suspense is killing me!!!

Post by **DonnVa** » 28 Jul 2022, 19:27

br0dy519 wrote: ↑28 Jul 2022, 19:13 Just fry your own chip already, the suspense is killing me!!!

LMFAO

Post by **BlackBart** » 28 Jul 2022, 21:12

“FRY THE CHIP!!”
“FRY THE CHIP!!”
“FRY THE CHIP!!”

Alas, I must wait for the UPS man.

2004 XC70 Instrument Cluster Issues

Re: 2004 XC70 Instrument Cluster Issues