Dashboard/Clocks Backlight Flickering

[ant66ant]

Hi, you all seem a knowledgable bunch so perhaps someone can help?

I just noticed that the backlight in the dashboard is flickering - it's only really noticable in low light conditions so don't know how long it has been flickering.

Can anybody tell me if their dash flickers, maybe i've just never noticed.

It only flickers when the engine is running but if i disconnect the stator from the reg/rec (brown connector) it stops flickering.

I took volt readings at 4000rpm: Dash reading 14.0-14.4V, at battery 14.0-14.4V, stator 75VAC. Checked reg/rec with a multimeter on ohms and it checked out OK as in the manual.

Battery connections are good, checked the earths on LHS and RHS of engine, pulled all fuses and checked, pulled the ign switch connector and checked resistance, was OK 0.1 ohm and repaired one dodgy terminal.

Checked voltage drop from reg/rec to battery while charging was about 2V so OK.

So where to go from here?

Cheers Tony

[Tifa]

...by "backlight" do you mean the backlight (the actual 3 led's) that illuminate the whole clocks, including the tacho...or just the backlight behind the square LCD screen that displays speed, temp, time etc..?

[ant66ant]

Tifa, thanks for your reply.

Just had a look, it's definately all the lights, neutral, tacho, and LCD although much more noticable on the LCD. With headlights disconnected the side lights look like they're flickering slightly but had to tell cos of vibration.

Since it only happens when engine running and stator connected, I think the charging circuit must have a problem. I have ordered a replacement reg/rec to see if it fixes the problem, since I pretty much checked all the connections.

FYI this is the second dash the one with the breather on the back and it still mists. up.

A question for you------Is a secondhand dash a straight swap? Is it a dealerjob? Do I need the keys that went with the secondhand dash. Do I need the pin code for a used dash.

Sorry so many questions, you are the expert on Aprilia clocks.

Cheers

[Dan M]

Flicker at all RPMs or just idle?

[Tifa]

...I too recon it could be a charging issue...a faulty rectifier could be causing "spikes" leading to your problem...

do not run the bike with the brown connector undone...

clocks fogging?? lol......yup...I'm on mt 4th set ...and I have the ones with the breather on the rear....thankfully it un-fogs pretty quickly though...
the dashes should come with a 5 digit setup code...if you have this, 9 times out of 10 it's a straightforward swap...however, I did a swap once ond my ecu had a bit of a piggy-on...and it was a tw@t to sort...it requred re-programming on the axone.
If you don't have the code, you're going to have to re-programme with the 2 keys as per your instruction manual..

[ant66ant]

Flicker at all RPMs or just idle?

All RPMs, more RPMs more flicker.

Let you know the result after I fit the new reg/rec.

Tifa, thanks for the info.

[_CD_]

The only time I had flicker was when my battery was weak. You said your voltage was fine so it would seem Tifa is onto something.

[ant66ant]

I tried a new aprilia reg/rec today and the dash still flickers. S'pose just wait now to see what happens. I'll just have to live with it, but I usually like to sort these problems before they become more serious.

I didnt realise how hot that reg/rec runs, no wonder stators are stressed to the max. After I bought the Aprilia reg/rec I think I found a supplier of cool running ones. This company is just down the road from me, see my other post.