Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Mileometer display problem.

Hi all,

Having a problem on my 2002 +8 with the mileometer display only working spasmodically. Sometimes it comes on, other times and I can barely see it and sometimes I get a complete nonsense reading. Due for its MOT next week and assuming that if they cannot see a mileage reading then it will be a fail. Anyone else had the same problem? Any thoughts would be most welcome.

Les, what's the humidity like in your garage ? as I recall some owners saying that as things warm up and dry out in the summer the display appears to cure itself of the fault

Garage is nice and dry, no problem with shiny bits going rusty. Have had the problem for the last 2 years and you are correct, as the the weather warms then it corrects itself. My problem is that my MOT is due early March. Have run the car today with the heater on in the cockpit, the fan on and pointing directly into the back of the dashboard to no avail.

It will take a long time for the heat to 'soak' through the speedo and into the circuits & display, I suspect you would have to heat the garage to a sustained level for 2 or 3 days prior to MOT day

Would a hair dryer to squirt warmth in more exacting manner work Les?

Electrically it sounds like you have slight contact corrosion somewhere exacerbated by humidity so causing unwanted and intermittent resistance. Any connectors involved could be broken and remade to provide self cleaning of contacts.

It is best to use a hair dryer.
A friend of mine with a 2001 4-4 had to go for a technical inspection (french MOT) and his VDO indicator only worked occasionally, if at all. He was saved by using a hair dryer regularly for a few days before his MOT.
Otherwise you can change the LCD display screen on these VDO meters, they are all the same and made in China of course. They cost less than 20 pounds on Aliexpress. A guy did it here in France with success, as a precaution I ordered one in advance for the day mine breaks down. Here is the link : VDO tacho LCD

My 1999 Plus 8 VDO exhibits the same symptoms in winter. I unplug it and unscrew the rear bezel and put it in the boiler cupboard for a day prior to MOT and that sorts it out if it's playing up.

I have the same problem with my 4/4 after a cold snap. It does clear itself but I am sure a hair dryer would speed up the process. It is definitely moisture vapour that causes the problem, as for a few days while it is drying out there is often water on the inside of the speedo glass which disappears over time - until the next frosty spell when it happens all over again.
In severe cold weather, sometimes the speedo itself also stops working, but always comes back on its own (so far).
I don't think a failed odometer is an MOT fail in the UK, not sure though. Mot is based on safety aspects and emissions only as far as I know.

Same problem here too on my Aero, definitely humidity related and a hair dryer sorts it. I've also found that driving with the sidelights on sometimes works, it must be the slight heat from the bulb.

The description says "Tachometer Screen...". I'm guessing it's a multi-purpose part?