MatraSport Forum

Hello all  :),

Do you have any idea how to repair JE Dash Board. I've 2002 JE. We like the car!
2 days ago Dash Board started twinkling. I guess something should be wrong with
connections?
The easiest way is to buy new dasboard but I would like to save 1000€ if
possible.
 
Thanks and kind regards,
Boris

Do you mean how to get to it, or how to repair/diagnose the dashboard itself ?

Hello Lennart,

I mean how to repair the dashboard itself. Regarding how to get to it,
I have some notes/hints from the web.

Kind regards  :),
Boris

 

ok.
You sent me a picture in private email, which I upload here, so that other people might step in. I must admit I know very little about the workings of the JE dash. I have a 2002 2.2dci myself, so I'll definitely follow the thread though.  :-)

And the car drives normally?

PS: Can I point out that 288 km/h is really a decent speed - only the Esace-F1 will overtake you there ...  (not much comfort I know, but still :-) )

[attachment deleted by admin]

Thanks Lennart,
 ::)

Yes, the car drives normally!
Regular servis has been done 1 week ago:
air filter, fuel filter, oil change...

Boris

Hi again,

Some years ago I've dismantled few instrumentation LCD displays for fun.
There are some rubber connectors that are very sensitive.
Maybe this is the case here as well, because from time to time
my dash boards works perfect? (more time doesn't work though)

Kind regards  :P
Boris

heh - I was just browsing through the workshop manuals for the dashboard, and came across this sencence:  "It is strictly forbidden to repair this instrument panel. If a fault occurs, it must be replaced"

but of course, that applies to authorized garages, - not privateers.
However, it might not be the best documented part then :/

Yes, I know the flimsy rubber-connectors you talk about (also from taking other LCD displays apart), - but normally such connection problems would give weird readings or dead segments - not causing everything to light up.

However, It could still be worth a try to take the thing apart and clean, - but I would be super careful, as there are probably a LOT of conncetions that must match up.

/Lennart

I'll step in too... this look like a display test mode. In your picture, Boris, I find it intersting to note that the parking lights indicator is on. This light is controlled by the CAN bus interface from the computer in the fuse box. So if that works, the CAN connection works too.

So are the light indicators working or not?

Otherwise I woudl check the CAN bus connection.

I have never seen a diagram on the unit, and I doubt if any is available except if we can track down some electroncs engineer in the company that developed this part for Matra. Fortunately these CAN displays are quite often advertised used on eBay. Only problem buying a used one is that it stores the mileage of the car - the computer in the fuse box does to, but when the car starts, they negotiate the correct muleage - and picks the largest of the two.

Fortunately a Renault garage can set the mileage for you to any number you want (!)

I would not be afraid of taking the unit apart since it's not working anyway and I think the LCD is bonded to a seperate pcb in the unit.

Here's the inside of it (source http://www.espace-freunde.de/users/mustafa/bilder-datenbank/je/karosse-innen/Winnie-DT/off-im-display.htm (http://www.espace-freunde.de/users/mustafa/bilder-datenbank/je/karosse-innen/Winnie-DT/off-im-display.htm)):

(http://www.espace-freunde.de/users/mustafa/bilder-datenbank/je/karosse-innen/Winnie-DT/OffImDisplay1.jpg)

- Anders

Hi Anders,

Thanks for the message.
Light indicators are workin fine if you mean the little green light on the left.
Can be switched on and off separately.

Kind regards  ;),
Boris

Hi again,

Before I comletely dismantle the CAN display, can we track down the people
that developed this part for Matra?

Cheers  :P ,
Boris

Good question. My answer is: Most likely not. I don't know where to start!

Dear Anders,

I like your answer. It's not easy to pin pont someone who has worked
on the projects especially on this particular part. Do you have some friends
who worked for Matra? Do we know anyone who had problems with JE Dash Board?

Take care  ::),
Boris

Hello Boris

Personally, I know nobody who has worked for Matra - Matra is in france and was a very french company and I'm in Denmark... From the german www.espace-freunde.de (http://www.espace-freunde.de) forum I know of a couple of people who has had the display failing in different odd ways ;)

- Anders

I don't have any useable contacts for this either, but I have been in contact with one of the Matra people doing the design of the J63 dashboard. However, he left Matra before the JE was designed.

But isn't CAN-bus stuff mainly based on the same chipsets, and as such debuggable with standard CAN-bus debug tools ?

/Lennart

Hi again  :)

I will try to use my ecademy network http://www.ecademy.com/ (http://www.ecademy.com/) to find the people we are looking for.

Wish me luck,
Boris

Hello all!

Dashboard is working again!
What did I do? Nothing!
We drove to Toscana. In Pisa when we have stoped and parked
our Espace JE in front of the hotel, dasboard has started to work normally.
I guess the problem is in the key lock mechanism and contacts.

When I start the motor and moving too quickly from key position 1 to 3
the dasboard is not initialized correctly.
(I have diesel engine so OK status must shows up.)   

Kind regards  :),
Boris

I think Pisa made the difference, it's pure magic! Next time something is wrong with my car, I'll just take it there. Would be nice for me too!  8)

Seriously, your idea about the bad connection in the keylock is quite possible, though it can also be just plain bad connections.

Glad it works!

- Anders