Are they having a laugh?

[ash2020]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CITROEN-XM-SERIES ... 2a0d34b37f

Or is it just me that's a cheapskate?

[Dean]

Yes, dont be so damn tight!!! its only £212 for a dot matrix display ...............thats new old stock, and i believe the issue is not service hours but the age of the unit itself that kills them, so thats £212 and i may go belly up within a few months anyway.

Far better to spend the dosh on rebuilding yours and then get two tanks of fuel with whats left.

D

[ash2020]

That's right, they could be many years old and, as you say, the deterioration kills 'em.
I'm going to try again with mine.

[Dean]

Ive never tried it myself, i have heard its easy but a bit of a trial and error thing, how bad is yours? are you just missing a few lines?

D

[AlanN]

I saw that ages ago and I laughed! Where do you get a tank of (XM) fuel for £106 then?

[Dean]

well, £110 ish maybe, dont forget i run petrol and the near 6p/pl price difference helps a lot.

D

[davetherave]

I cant believe they have sold 2!
Yes its a PITA job, but with patience an old one can be restored!
Amazingly the one on the estate I bought is absolutly perfect-- perhaps I should swap it for a crap one and make myself some money

[Kit]

I am just about to try repairing one of mine, so I shall be able to console myself with the thought of how much money I am saving. It would make things easier if I could rig up a test rig. I have been looking for the pin outs, I am sure someone posted them, but can't I find the post.
Kit

[xmexclusive]

I have a few spare duff ones in the junk box.
Just got a variable temperature soldering iron to try repair without removing the ribbon cable.
Got some good results previously on one but the fixed temperature iron then started to melt the plastic of the ribbon cable.
The contact on the other side of the of the ribbon is just glued in place.
Enough pressure is applied to the contacts while the glue sets to give the electrical contacts.
Over time the glue ages and expands a bit. This will then break the electrical connection on individual contacts.
I think removing the ribbon completely to refit can damage the electrical contacts on the ribbon.
That makes repair more difficult.
I notice that the Chinese are now selling new XM ribbons for £8 each plus postage.
Will report on progress.

John

[Kit]

John, I did come across one site where the guy claimed success by the route you are using, the only difference was that he used a piece of cardboard between the soldering iron and the plastic strip, it may well help to generally warm the board first, ie. leave it in the sun for a couple of hours. I am going to make up a new pressure band, I am trying to decide whether to use silicone or neoprene, I think the existing is silicone but neoprene may be slightly firmer. If you want to try one let me know. Kit