Kawasaki Concours Forum

The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: stlheadake on July 13, 2011, 12:12:16 AM

Title: Dash LED darkening
Post by: stlheadake on July 13, 2011, 12:12:16 AM

OK, this has happened to me twice now on this trip.  Both times it has been in the sun WHILE I am riding. My Dash display has gone dark while I am riding.  Today while crossing the desert heading east into Las Vegas my entire dash started to darken up.  I have a photo (http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e185/stlheadake/DeathValleysortof195.jpg) of it browning out.  In all fairness, it was HOT!  We were crossing the desert from California to Las Vegas (NOT Death Valley proper, but close)

I noticed that after parking it, it is better.   Anyone else have this issue?

Title: Re: Dash LED darkening
Post by: CrashKLRtoConnie on July 13, 2011, 12:35:36 AM

Sounds like either a design defect (non robust thermal margin) or some variation in the LCD heat flow due to assembly error or piece part variation.

Could be a recall or warrantee item.

Mazda Similar Issue.

http://mazda3revolution.com/forums/2010-mazda-3-discussion/4174-info-screen-dimming-hot-weather-2.html (http://mazda3revolution.com/forums/2010-mazda-3-discussion/4174-info-screen-dimming-hot-weather-2.html)

Title: Re: Dash LED darkening
Post by: Shoe on July 13, 2011, 07:08:23 AM

stlheadake,

Actually its an LCD not an LED. I think this issue has been discussed before and it's heat related.  :)

Title: Re: Dash LED darkening
Post by: So Cal Joe on July 13, 2011, 07:18:40 AM

Heat will cause it to do that, noticed  it on mine a few months after I got it and it was parked in the sun while I was eating lunch. I made a shade for the dash out of an old trash can, some have used a GPS shade to put over the dash. I attached a piece of Velcro to the top of my shade and put my gloves on it so they cover the dash when I'm parked.
I used 2 way tape to hold it in place, the rag WAS used to hold it in place so the tape would stick
(http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0cc02b3127ccefbbb0afefb0d00000030O01CcNWzly0Yg9vPhw/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/)
(http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0cc02b3127ccefbba941bdbeb00000030O01CcNWzly0Yg9vPhw/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/)

Title: Re: Dash LED darkening
Post by: SVonhof on July 13, 2011, 07:22:45 AM

On my previous bikes, it was all analog and I would go out and spend the $3 for a cheap digital LCD clock that I would stick onto the dash. You know, those 1" diameter cheap plastic clocks. Well, every time that thing is exposed to the sun when it's above about 70 outside, it would do the same thing and I had it go totally black so you couldn't read it at all. Allow it to get out of the sun and heat and it would be fine.

Oh, and So Cal Joe, is that a metal trash can you used a section of?

Title: Re: Dash LED darkening
Post by: stlheadake on July 13, 2011, 07:40:51 AM

Thanks, so far it has returned to normal.  I wasn't too concerned as long as it was a temporary thing. 

Title: Re: Dash LED darkening
Post by: Conrad on July 13, 2011, 09:57:04 AM

Yep, been there done that. It's normal for a LCD readout. As soon as it cools off a bit it returns to normal.

http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=2540.0 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=2540.0)