Lex-tech
G’day Morley. I’ve just read t he article about a Lexus wit h electronic dash failure. When I was in t he electronics business (now retired) I repaired a couple of Lexus electronic dashes. They had surface mounted elect roly t ic capacitors t hat had dried out and failed.
When t hey fail, t he electroly te lea ks out and starts to corrode t he PCB. The capacitors must be removed and the PCB caref ully f lushed wit h water or suitable solvent to dissolve t he electroly te and clean t he board. After the PCB has dried, new Tanta lum t y pe surface mount capacitors of the same va lue can be soldered in place, obser v ing t he correct polarit y.
The plugs and sockets can a lso be intermittent because of minor corrosion of t he contacts. A ‘wipe’ of WD40 solves t his problem. Both car dashes were working perfect ly at least t wo years af ter I did t he repairs.
The problem of failed elect roly t ic capacitors was widespread in the electronics industr y and af fected a ll manner of equipment. Most electronic workshops should be able to do t he repairs. Any competent person who can solder should a lso be able to do t he repairs.
Be caref ul to obser ve t he polarit y markings of Tanta lum capacitors. They can burn up the PCB if insta l led incorrect ly.
Failed elect roly t ic capacitors are not restricted to dashes. They are f itted to most electronics. Hope t his info is of some benefit to keep car electronics ser v iceable.
Graham Lucke,
Bundaberg, QLD