Uploaded January 2017 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Description: 1999 to 2004 Intermittent, Dim or not working Overhead Display fix. Mine went dim and intermittent due to the Lead Free Solder joints going bad. This is how I fixed mine.
The Part Number for my display was: P/N: F81B-25519C44-A
If You don't have the skills you can get ManDigital on eBay to fix it for about $24.99 Here:
ebay.com/str/Digital-GM-Speedometer-Repair-Ser Just type in "Overhead Repair"
You can also try these guys as well; ebay.com/itm/263347605350
They have good feedback. I do NOT get any monetary or compensation for recommending them!
I recommended them solely on their feedback.
Music: End of Summer MP3, YouTube Free Music and standard License.
Parts Needed if your missing the resistors:
- 62 Ohm 1 Watt Ceramic SMT Resistor Vishay Dale P/N: CRCW251262R0JNEG here; digikey.com/en/products/category/resistors/2?s=N4IgTCBcDaIMICU4HUwFYCMYBsYEAYApAOQFEBxEAXQF8g
- 68 ohm 1 Watt Ceramic SMT Resistor Vishay Dale P/N: CRCW251268R0JNEG here; digikey.com/en/products/category/resistors/2?s=N4IgTCBcDaIMICU4HUwFYCMYBsAOBADAFIByAogOIgC6AvkA
Order them fromcommunity.element14.com or another vender like eBay or Digikey, Mouser etc.
- 15 Minute Epoxy, Optional.
Tools Used:
- Side Cutters.
- Acid Brush, cut short.
- Hobby Knife with pointed tip.
- Lab Glass or a plastic lid to mix 15min. Epoxy.
- Solder Iron.
- Safety Glasses.
- Electronics Repair Microscope (Optional).
Consumables Used:
- Solder, 60/40 or 70/30.
- Solder Wick/Braid.
- 90% or higher Isopropyl Alcohol.
- Liquid RMA Flux or Solder Paste.
Thanks for watching. I hope the video and slide show helped.
Please give me a thumbs up for my work and comment to share your knowledge or help others with the video.
If you'd like to help my channel please subscribe.
Best Wishes n Blessings. Keith
Why is Lead Free used?
Lead Free solder was designed to reduce the lead that ends up in the water table where our drinking water comes from. Lead makes its way there via landfills when electronic devices are no longer wanted and thrown into the trash. Some countries and State actually have Electronic Waste Laws.
In concept the idea seems valid, but in reality it actually makes the problem worse. Here's why, Lead free solder over time becomes brittle and through normal use of heating, cooling, vibration from the item being used in vehicles etc, the solder joints break down. When the item break we do one of two things; 1. Throw it in the trash which ends them up in the land fill, or 2. Repair it. It should be noted that there are other harmful chemicals in electronics that just lead.
Most people don't know how to repair them and the cost of repairing it is far more that the cost of buying a new one. So most people are forced to throw the item in the trash and buy a new one.
If the part had been assembled with lead solder that part would've broken so easily and would've ended up in a landfill for decades. When's the last time you saw an antique radio kept in a home or an old automotive radio fail from an old lead soldered joint. I have a radio from 1936 in my house and it works fine. Lead free Solder is so unreliable that it has been banned, except in specific items, from use in Military Aircraft Critical electronic devices like Flight Computers and Weapons Control Systems. In fact it's suspected to be directly involved in some aircraft crashes that have killed several people when the computer failed due to bad Lead Free solder joints.
Lead Free Solder is also the leading cause of automotive computer and automotive environmental control failures and may be linked to several deadly crashes when automotive engines shut down due to faulty Lead Free Solder joints. Items that use it are Automotive ECM's, PCM's, BCM's, ABS and TCM's. So if you want your device to work reliable for decades re-solder all your failing devices with leaded solder. Lead free solder, in "MY OPINION", is NOT good for the environment, but is good for electronic suppliers and the automotive industry. There are big bucks in replacing all those devices that will prematurely fail from normal use because of Lead Free Solder. If they really wanted to solve this problem, they should use Silver, it melts at a higher temperature, is none toxic to the water table.
Also people will want it to reclaim all that silver in it, just like the Gold in electronic IC Chips. With all that Silver in new electronics, newer broken electronic devices would become valuable replacement parts or scrap overnight. Thanks again. Keith
Description: 1999 to 2004 Intermittent, Dim or not working Overhead Display fix. Mine went dim and intermittent due to the Lead Free Solder joints going bad. This is how I fixed mine.
The Part Number for my display was: P/N: F81B-25519C44-A
If You don't have the skills you can get ManDigital on eBay to fix it for about $24.99 Here:
ebay.com/str/Digital-GM-Speedometer-Repair-Ser Just type in "Overhead Repair"
You can also try these guys as well; ebay.com/itm/263347605350
They have good feedback. I do NOT get any monetary or compensation for recommending them!
I recommended them solely on their feedback.
Music: End of Summer MP3, YouTube Free Music and standard License.
Parts Needed if your missing the resistors:
- 62 Ohm 1 Watt Ceramic SMT Resistor Vishay Dale P/N: CRCW251262R0JNEG here; digikey.com/en/products/category/resistors/2?s=N4IgTCBcDaIMICU4HUwFYCMYBsYEAYApAOQFEBxEAXQF8g
- 68 ohm 1 Watt Ceramic SMT Resistor Vishay Dale P/N: CRCW251268R0JNEG here; digikey.com/en/products/category/resistors/2?s=N4IgTCBcDaIMICU4HUwFYCMYBsAOBADAFIByAogOIgC6AvkA
Order them fromcommunity.element14.com or another vender like eBay or Digikey, Mouser etc.
- 15 Minute Epoxy, Optional.
Tools Used:
- Side Cutters.
- Acid Brush, cut short.
- Hobby Knife with pointed tip.
- Lab Glass or a plastic lid to mix 15min. Epoxy.
- Solder Iron.
- Safety Glasses.
- Electronics Repair Microscope (Optional).
Consumables Used:
- Solder, 60/40 or 70/30.
- Solder Wick/Braid.
- 90% or higher Isopropyl Alcohol.
- Liquid RMA Flux or Solder Paste.
Thanks for watching. I hope the video and slide show helped.
Please give me a thumbs up for my work and comment to share your knowledge or help others with the video.
If you'd like to help my channel please subscribe.
Best Wishes n Blessings. Keith
Why is Lead Free used?
Lead Free solder was designed to reduce the lead that ends up in the water table where our drinking water comes from. Lead makes its way there via landfills when electronic devices are no longer wanted and thrown into the trash. Some countries and State actually have Electronic Waste Laws.
In concept the idea seems valid, but in reality it actually makes the problem worse. Here's why, Lead free solder over time becomes brittle and through normal use of heating, cooling, vibration from the item being used in vehicles etc, the solder joints break down. When the item break we do one of two things; 1. Throw it in the trash which ends them up in the land fill, or 2. Repair it. It should be noted that there are other harmful chemicals in electronics that just lead.
Most people don't know how to repair them and the cost of repairing it is far more that the cost of buying a new one. So most people are forced to throw the item in the trash and buy a new one.
If the part had been assembled with lead solder that part would've broken so easily and would've ended up in a landfill for decades. When's the last time you saw an antique radio kept in a home or an old automotive radio fail from an old lead soldered joint. I have a radio from 1936 in my house and it works fine. Lead free Solder is so unreliable that it has been banned, except in specific items, from use in Military Aircraft Critical electronic devices like Flight Computers and Weapons Control Systems. In fact it's suspected to be directly involved in some aircraft crashes that have killed several people when the computer failed due to bad Lead Free solder joints.
Lead Free Solder is also the leading cause of automotive computer and automotive environmental control failures and may be linked to several deadly crashes when automotive engines shut down due to faulty Lead Free Solder joints. Items that use it are Automotive ECM's, PCM's, BCM's, ABS and TCM's. So if you want your device to work reliable for decades re-solder all your failing devices with leaded solder. Lead free solder, in "MY OPINION", is NOT good for the environment, but is good for electronic suppliers and the automotive industry. There are big bucks in replacing all those devices that will prematurely fail from normal use because of Lead Free Solder. If they really wanted to solve this problem, they should use Silver, it melts at a higher temperature, is none toxic to the water table.
Also people will want it to reclaim all that silver in it, just like the Gold in electronic IC Chips. With all that Silver in new electronics, newer broken electronic devices would become valuable replacement parts or scrap overnight. Thanks again. Keith
