The Driver Information Module (DIM) a.k.a. Instrument Cluster in my 2003 Volvo XC70 seems to be on the fritz.
Since buying the car in June of 2010, the system information display always showed the infamous SRS warning (despite the car having been looked over twice with no problems found in the airbag system).
The SRS warning—always present—but can be dismissed by pressing the reset button on the end of the turn signal control stalk:
Then, yesterday, it started the "scan line" behaviour shown in this video. Later the same day, all of the readouts on the dash were scrambled. You can see this at the very beginning of the video up until 00:03. At that point the gas gauge jumps back to a proper reading and the rest of the display gets back to normal.
At present, the system information display functions normally for the first minute or two after the car is started, then reverts to the scan line behaviour. I haven't seen the scrambled digits or jumping gas gauge again...yet.
Tapping—okay—thumping the DIM can restore normal function or make it shift to another malfunctioning display mode/
My Questions:
- This is a DIM problem, right? Or is there some other issue I should rule out before sending my DIM to Xemodex?
- Can the car be driven while the DIM is out? I am guessing not, but would love to hear differently.
- Does Xemodex clear the SRS code, or is that something the dealer must do?
Update:
Things have gotten sketchier.
- Sometimes the gauges work, sometime they don't.
- Sometimes none of the digital LED displays are lit.
- Sometimes the clock will display, but not the odometer.
- Sometimes they are completely scrambled, meaning every LED segment is illuminated.
- Sometimes the display is legible, but certain segments that should be lit, are not.
I took it out. The wire harness looked like this:
The harness was mashed between the back of the DIM and the dash! I got a little excited, thinking it might be a straightforward short circuit due to some missing insulation, but a superficial inspection revealed no exposed conductors.
I removed the back of the DIM to inspect the circuit board. There was nothing of note, at least, not to my untrained eye, but something must be out of whack.
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