Navigation / Radio Screen issue
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Thats unfortunate. Haven't seen this before. I have normally only ever used the command knob for controlling the CMU and hardly never use the touch display. Sorry man.
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I had it. but on the top part. I had to change the whole head unite. I bought a second hand one on ebay for 200$
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This has been happening on my screen as well! It's in the exact same location and looks exactly like your picture.
I also have the same issue in the upper-right corner, which has now made it impossible to read the clock easily.
Just like higogo, I do not use the touchscreen. I only use the control knob. So it's definitely a defect, possibly happening due to temperature changes.
Alas, I have not asked a Mazda dealership about this, for fear they would laugh it off and blame me for it. But it's worth a shot.
Otherwise, the entire head unit will likely need to be replaced. Here's how to access and remove the stereo head unit:
youtu(dot)be/f4Ima1yqAJU
The process should be the same or similar for other variants.
For reference, I have a 2014 Mazda3 S GT Sedan
I also have the same issue in the upper-right corner, which has now made it impossible to read the clock easily.
Just like higogo, I do not use the touchscreen. I only use the control knob. So it's definitely a defect, possibly happening due to temperature changes.
Alas, I have not asked a Mazda dealership about this, for fear they would laugh it off and blame me for it. But it's worth a shot.
Otherwise, the entire head unit will likely need to be replaced. Here's how to access and remove the stereo head unit:
youtu(dot)be/f4Ima1yqAJU
The process should be the same or similar for other variants.
For reference, I have a 2014 Mazda3 S GT Sedan
Attachments
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2,620 Posts
Mazda is aware of these faulty displays and wrote a TSB for that problem:
View attachment TSB_MAZDA CONNECT CENTER DISPLAY CRACKING aka SPIDER CRACKING.pdf
You might ask your dealer if the display will be changed for free.
You might ask your dealer if the display will be changed for free.
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311 Posts
+1
nice shot , just i wounder why thy take so long years ... sad story and unfair from the samurai Mazda.
After contacting Mazda, they replaced the screen.
I was out of warranty, so they cover the part and I covered the labor ($120)
Mine started out like that about half a year or more after repairs from an accident in which I needed airbag replacement. I didn't put two and two together until way too late for me to hold the repair shop accountable. I'm trying to find a replacement screen because my cracks now cover 1/4 of the bottom right corner were your is, up the side to nearly 1/4 of the top right corner.
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I have the same problem. I will try to see how much to fix it...
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1 Posts
Just got in my mazda and have the same thing at the top
I called Mazda USA, they offered replacing it but had to pay for labor. I think was $105.
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Hi, I know this is 6 years late however hopefully this helps anyone else who happens to be needing help here in 2021. I had the "spider cracking" happen to me as well and was pretty disappointed about the whole thing. I tried looking at salvage yards, pricing out new head units and display. The prices for even used systems was way to high. However I didn't let that stop me. Turns out there's a way to fix this problem for no cost!
I'll start off my instructions after you have successfully disassembled your Mazda Connect System. For reference follow this tutorial to show the basic breakdown.
Pause at the 2:20 mark and follow along with me.
1. Unscrew the metal brackets from the circuit board. On the right and left sides of the metal bracket arms you'll see 4 clips. Carefully unlip those so that the seem comes loose.
2. Set the screen that's attached to the board by the side and let it be.
3. Looking at the touchscreen (the part with the spier cracking and the silver band around the edges. You'll want to remove the screen from the band.
I personally use a heat gun, however a hair dryer would also do the job. You want to carefully heat around the edge where the touchscreen is glued on, doing this melts the adhesive and makes it easier for removal.
4. Now that the display is warm to the touch and the adhesive is slowly melted use a credit card or dull knife to get underneath the surface in between the silver band and the front part of the touch screen. Carefully move the flat edge around the rim of the display it'll start cracking more but don't worry we're going to fix it. Eventually the display will come loose from the metal band. If it doesn't or if it's too hard keep heating it up but be careful not to melt the silver band.
5. Now you'll see the touch screen is removed and you'll see that there is a glass part and a plastic part with the black. Go ahead and separate the two, you might need to heat it up again but go ahead and remove it being careful not to break the plastic or the glass.
6. You'll see the spider cracking in between the displays but you'll notice that it looks kind of flaky almost like dried glue. Using your flat edge scrape off this glue-like substance. Using heat or alcohol to scrape off this usually helps.
I I personally scraped off the surface level and then submerged the two pieces and soapy water or alcohol with water for a few minutes. An hour or two would probably be better for a better clean.
7. Now you'll want to scrape off the remaining substance either using your flat edge or by running it under hot water and using the soft soft a sponge.
You you want to make sure that there is no sign of that substance anywhere. You may be disappointed because you have small scratches and scuffs on the piece of glass or even on the plastic, however keep in mind that by this time your car could be up to 6 years old and wear and tear does happen.
8. Using a soft rag or microfiber cloth dry off the displays. you may need to wash or scrape them to get the remaining spider crack substance off which is completely okay.
9. Now that the pieces are clean and you don't see the same cracking as you had before carefully place the glass back onto the plastic part. Use either electrical tape or some sort of tape or adhesive to mount the glass back onto the plastic like it was before.
10. Now we're going to glue the screen back to the silver band that we took it off from. I personally used super glue because that's what I had around my house. after doing this it should be nice and secure to that silver band.
11. All that's left after this is to reassemble the unit back together. Essentially follow the steps in complete reverse, this includes the instructions from the video that I linked above. once you have everything plugged up and reinstalled turn on your vehicle and you'll see that those annoying spider cracks that prevented you from seeing your screen are gone!
It it took me literally a year before I realized that this was even a solution. I know it's late, but hopefully someone in the future will see this and be able to not spend hundreds of dollars on new parts that you really don't need.
Be advised that doing this procedure will forever and always disable your touch screen. If that's a big deal breaker to you then I would advise purchasing a genuine part from Mazda themselves. However if you're like me and the touch screen was already not working and I had to disable it then this doesn't really do anything but allow you to see your screen.
I hope this helps!
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2 Posts
Hi, I know this is 6 years late however hopefully this helps anyone else who happens to be needing help here in 2021. I had the "spider cracking" happen to me as well and was pretty disappointed about the whole thing. I tried looking at salvage yards, pricing out new head units and display. The prices for even used systems was way to high. However I didn't let that stop me. Turns out there's a way to fix this problem for no cost!
I'll start off my instructions after you have successfully disassembled your Mazda Connect System. For reference follow this tutorial to show the basic breakdown.
Pause at the 2:20 mark and follow along with me.
1. Unscrew the metal brackets from the circuit board. On the right and left sides of the metal bracket arms you'll see 4 clips. Carefully unlip those so that the seem comes loose.
2. Set the screen that's attached to the board by the side and let it be.
3. Looking at the touchscreen (the part with the spier cracking and the silver band around the edges. You'll want to remove the screen from the band.
I personally use a heat gun, however a hair dryer would also do the job. You want to carefully heat around the edge where the touchscreen is glued on, doing this melts the adhesive and makes it easier for removal.
4. Now that the display is warm to the touch and the adhesive is slowly melted use a credit card or dull knife to get underneath the surface in between the silver band and the front part of the touch screen. Carefully move the flat edge around the rim of the display it'll start cracking more but don't worry we're going to fix it. Eventually the display will come loose from the metal band. If it doesn't or if it's too hard keep heating it up but be careful not to melt the silver band.
5. Now you'll see the touch screen is removed and you'll see that there is a glass part and a plastic part with the black. Go ahead and separate the two, you might need to heat it up again but go ahead and remove it being careful not to break the plastic or the glass.
6. You'll see the spider cracking in between the displays but you'll notice that it looks kind of flaky almost like dried glue. Using your flat edge scrape off this glue-like substance. Using heat or alcohol to scrape off this usually helps.
I I personally scraped off the surface level and then submerged the two pieces and soapy water or alcohol with water for a few minutes. An hour or two would probably be better for a better clean.
7. Now you'll want to scrape off the remaining substance either using your flat edge or by running it under hot water and using the soft soft a sponge.
You you want to make sure that there is no sign of that substance anywhere. You may be disappointed because you have small scratches and scuffs on the piece of glass or even on the plastic, however keep in mind that by this time your car could be up to 6 years old and wear and tear does happen.
8. Using a soft rag or microfiber cloth dry off the displays. you may need to wash or scrape them to get the remaining spider crack substance off which is completely okay.
9. Now that the pieces are clean and you don't see the same cracking as you had before carefully place the glass back onto the plastic part. Use either electrical tape or some sort of tape or adhesive to mount the glass back onto the plastic like it was before.
10. Now we're going to glue the screen back to the silver band that we took it off from. I personally used super glue because that's what I had around my house. after doing this it should be nice and secure to that silver band.
11. All that's left after this is to reassemble the unit back together. Essentially follow the steps in complete reverse, this includes the instructions from the video that I linked above. once you have everything plugged up and reinstalled turn on your vehicle and you'll see that those annoying spider cracks that prevented you from seeing your screen are gone!
It it took me literally a year before I realized that this was even a solution. I know it's late, but hopefully someone in the future will see this and be able to not spend hundreds of dollars on new parts that you really don't need.
Be advised that doing this procedure will forever and always disable your touch screen. If that's a big deal breaker to you then I would advise purchasing a genuine part from Mazda themselves. However if you're like me and the touch screen was already not working and I had to disable it then this doesn't really do anything but allow you to see your screen.
I hope this helps!
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1 Posts
Thanks for the post. I have a 2014 with this issue, and have been looking at salvage parts for replacement. Does the screen truly look cleaned up? Is it worth this approach? The car is in beautiful shape except for the screen. Appreciated.
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