LCD on sewing machine..why faint or flickering?

Chickenbrain2009

I have a middle range sewing machine which has an LCD display to tell me what stitch I have selected etc. I only use it about once a month. Its about two years old. Today, when I turned it on my LCD display was very feint. We wondered if it was the power point so changed it, and it did seem a bit better. We then tried another power point, no change. I noticed that the bottom quarter of the LCD has a slight flicker although the rest of the screen seems reasonably OK. Can anyone explain why this may have happened? I wondered if it was anything to do with being stored in my car, and perhaps being cold or damp? I checked all the leads of course, so don't think it was the connection, more something to do with the display itself. Sewing machines can cost quite a bit to repair, by the way. Any advice would be appreciated. It is out of warranty.:( Thanks

Strider590

How/where was it stored? LCDs are quite sensitive to low temperatures, humidity is always an issue too.
If it works other than the LCD, then ask yourself if the LCD really matters??

Chickenbrain2009

Thank you, yes it does matter! Without it I cannot see which stitch I am programming. Is this a permanent thing if it is in low temps or damp, or will it just correct itself? I stored in in the boot of my car as I travel to a group to use it. It never occurred to me that it would be bad for it. Grateful to you.

windup

apply light finger pressure

Chickenbrain2009

We tried that, but it is not a touch screen? Thanks

windup

The purpose wasn't to use a non-existent touch function

if finger pressure makes no difference, post a photo of the lcd

macman

The LCD may simply be failing, and storing it in a damp boot would not have helped.

Strider590

I think I know what it might be............

LCDs usually have little rubber contact strips that feed signal to the glass part of the display unit, these can get knocked about (vibration) and the contacts can become oxidised through damp/humidity.

They should be easy to fix, open the whole thing up, access the LCD, remove it, untwist the metal tabs, pull the LCD apart, clean the contacts and bang it back together, BUT they're a complete swine to get exactly lined up (the rubber contacts) and it almost never works.

If the LCD is the only thing thats not working, then it's almost certainly going to need replacing.

Chickenbrain2009

OK everyone thanks!
Pam

Strider590

http://p1repair.com/blog/lcd-repair-missing-lines/

Explains better than I have.

Chickenbrain2009

Thanks a lot