[jfxavier]

I wanted to find out the opinions of the experts/ experienced in this matter.
I am facing a question of trying to repair my car's instrument console, or pay 1.5 Lakh for a replacement.
I am inclined towards the earlier option as I believe, in case I fail I can renew it.
What are the realistic options that we have in India.
I see xemodex, clusterrepairs , and various workshops are there if you live abroad. Is there anyone in India doing this kind of jobs?
If someone can help it will mean a lot to me.

[Jeroen]

I really cant help you for specifics in the Indian context. But as you suggested in other parts of the world it is very much a viable concept to have your instrument cluster or any car electronics for that matter repaired rather then replaced.

In Europe and in the USA I know and have used a bunch of different specialized workshops that have repaired anything from an instrument cluster, to an ECU to an atmospheric pressure sensor. Bearing in mind that labour in these regions, compared to India, is hugely expensive and it still makes sense to get your bits repaired rather then replaced.

Some of these firms also offer refurbished replacement units. So you can buy a refurbished unit and usually when you also send in your old unit you get a discount, or something similar.

Jeroen

[jfxavier]

Originally Posted by Jeroen

I really cant help you for specifics in the Indian context. But as you suggested in other parts of the world it is very much a viable concept to have your instrument cluster or any car electronics for that matter repaired rather then replaced.

In Europe and in the USA I know and have used a bunch of different specialized workshops that have repaired anything from an instrument cluster, to an ECU to an atmospheric pressure sensor. Bearing in mind that labour in these regions, compared to India, is hugely expensive and it still makes sense to get your bits repaired rather then replaced.

Some of these firms also offer refurbished replacement units. So you can buy a refurbished unit and usually when you also send in your old unit you get a discount, or something similar.

Jeroen

I am confused as to how the sound output is given from the DIM.
Is it direct from the DIM or through the audio system?
Anyone who is familiar with these units on a volvo could give me some details, I could start focusing on the particular area.
Thanks again for your input.

Sorry, I forgot to mention the exact nature of the problem.
I think I had written it in another thread and so overlooked it.
My car's (Volvo S60 2011MY) DIM has stopped giving the audio alarms.
All the visual indications and functions are OK.
The ASS wants me to renew the DIM for a cool 1.5L.
However I would like to get to the core of the issue before parting with that kind of money.

[Jeroen]

Originally Posted by jfxavier

However I would like to get to the core of the issue before parting with that kind of money.

Sound approach. You might want to check the speaker first. You need to figure out where it is and do a simple resistor test with a multimeter. Who knows, you might find a loose wire. Could be as simple as that. If you find the wires to the speaker you can also check the output of the instrument cluster, so at least you have some idea of direction where to go.

Couple of years ago, the same thing happened to me on my Jaguar. No alarms, no sounds. I checked on the various Jaguar forums and quickly learned this is actually a familiar problem. So opened up the dashboard, and sure enough, found the little speaker simply kaput. Rocked up to the nearest Jaguar dealer and bought a new one and installed it, all in the space of less then two hours.

Jeroen

[ajmat]

Originally Posted by Jeroen

Sound approach. You might want to check the speaker first. You need to figure out where it is and do a simple resistor test with a multimeter. Who knows, you might find a loose wire. Could be as simple as that. If you find the wires to the speaker you can also check the output of the instrument cluster, so at least you have some idea of direction where to go.

Couple of years ago, the same thing happened to me on my Jaguar. No alarms, no sounds. I checked on the various Jaguar forums and quickly learned this is actually a familiar problem. So opened up the dashboard, and sure enough, found the little speaker simply kaput. Rocked up to the nearest Jaguar dealer and bought a new one and installed it, all in the space of less then two hours.

Jeroen

Considering both cars have Ford genes, this could be a likely situation

[jfxavier]

Originally Posted by Jeroen

Sound approach. You might want to check the speaker first. You need to figure out where it is and do a simple resistor test with a multimeter. Who knows, you might find a loose wire. Could be as simple as that. If you find the wires to the speaker you can also check the output of the instrument cluster, so at least you have some idea of direction where to go.
Jeroen

Thanks.
That's my plan as well.
If any drawings/ diagrams were available, it would have been great.

[jfxavier]

Originally Posted by Jeroen

Couple of years ago, the same thing happened to me on my Jaguar. No alarms, no sounds. I checked on the various Jaguar forums and quickly learned this is actually a familiar problem. So opened up the dashboard, and sure enough, found the little speaker simply kaput. Rocked up to the nearest Jaguar dealer and bought a new one and installed it, all in the space of less then two hours.

Jeroen

Thanks Jeroen
On your Jaguar, was the speaker separate from the cluster PCB or was it embedded as part of the card.
Anyone who has a good idea of the layout will be of a great help now.
My friend has had a look already and he says he cannot locate the speaker.
I am away at sea now and have to remotely manage the situation.
Hopefully I might get some photos to see.

[Jeroen]

Originally Posted by jfxavier

Thanks Jeroen
On your Jaguar, was the speaker separate from the cluster PCB or was it embedded as part of the card.
Anyone who has a good idea of the layout will be of a great help now.

On my Jaguar the (alarm) speaker is mounted completely separate. It actually sits underneath the steering column. In order to get at it I had to remove one panel underneath the dashboard and the panels around the bottom half of the steering column.

you really need to find a specific diagram for your car/type/model and maybe even year built. Because it could be all different. Try and find some of the (international) car/type forums. On most there will be people who have access to all documentation or can point you in the right direction. Somebody should know where the speaker is located on those forums

When I started asking question on JagLovers forum within a few days I was mailed all the electrical manuals and diagrams! Hope you will get lucky too

And by the way, my Jaguar predates the Ford era, so I can honestly say its a proper Jaguar, not a Ford! Nothing wrong with Fords. I have and still own a whole string of Fiesta's and I have had one Ford Siera, one Focus and two Mondeo's in the past. Nice cars, great chassis. But it aint no Jaguar!

Jeroen

[jfxavier]

I had already posted in a few international forums along with tBHP.
Some of the people who repairs the DIM has told me that the speaker is supposed to be inside the instrument cluster itself.
Apparently there are holes for the sound to be heard outside.
we were looking inside the dashboard, not inside the DIM.
There is always something new to learn. Next time the plan is to go for the DIM itself and try a surgery and see what the internals are like.

[lurker]

If you want to get this repaired in India, I guess it will have to be a risk because surely there can be no Volvo specific techs here because of low numbers.

OTH if you indeed want to take a risk, then any company that deals in medical equipment or digital speedometer repairs and equipped with an electronics bench could surely take a look, and if it is indeed some marginal issue like loose contact or moisture ingress then they could repair it for you as well.

Or else better ship the DIM to some company who specializes in this (most likely in UK) and wait for them to do a good job.

[jfxavier]

Originally Posted by lurker

If you want to get this repaired in India, I guess it will have to be a risk because surely there can be no Volvo specific techs here because of low numbers.

OTH if you indeed want to take a risk, then any company that deals in medical equipment or digital speedometer repairs and equipped with an electronics bench could surely take a look, and if it is indeed some marginal issue like loose contact or moisture ingress then they could repair it for you as well.

Or else better ship the DIM to some company who specializes in this (most likely in UK) and wait for them to do a good job.

Thanks Lurker
That's exactly my plan.
If it is the speaker or the wire, will get it done by the friendly neighbourhood electronic wizard.
Otherwise it has to be clusterrepairs, volvodiagnostic etc. in uk or xemodex in canada or something.
When we had the cluster in hand we were looking at it the wrong way.
We should have been looking at the back side of the DIM, instead of admiring the beauty of the front side.

[Sutripta]

Originally Posted by lurker

Or else better ship the DIM to some company who specializes in this (most likely in UK) and wait for them to do a good job.

+1
Can be repaired, but normally not by the FNG. (Much like auto boxes).
Requires specialised knowledge, setup, and spares support. (In other countries there are laws regarding spares support for third parties. No such luck in India.)

Regards
Sutripta

PS. @Lurker: Tura, as in ML08?

[lurker]

yes, if it comes to chip/module replacement or programming then an Indian company may not be able to help. But I have doubt if the problem would be so deep.

check these guys. They may be able to help.

http://www.repairandreturn.in/contact-us.html

Sutripta da, I was there for a few years. Now in South India.

btw was it you or SS-Traveler who repaired an XC-90, if I remember the thread.

[Sutripta]

^^^
Not me.

Regards
Sutripta

[jfxavier]

Originally Posted by lurker

yes, if it comes to chip/module replacement or programming then an Indian company may not be able to help. But I have doubt if the problem would be so deep.

check these guys. They may be able to help.

http://www.repairandreturn.in/contact-us.html

Sutripta da, I was there for a few years. Now in South India.

btw was it you or SS-Traveler who repaired an XC-90, if I remember the thread.

Thank you very much.
have sent a mail to them.
Will see what they say.
Good to know that there are professionals who believe in the environmentally responsible way to maintain things, rather than just replace & forget.