La technological evolution It has been a turning point when it comes to designing the cabins of new vehicles. Now command connectivity and digitization, making practically all the cars that reach the market have generous screens. A couple of decades ago they were reserved for premium brands and their number of functions were very limited. However, today we can find them in the centers of the dashboards for the multimedia and navigation systems, instrument panels and even to control functions such as air conditioning.
However, the arrival of this type of screens to modern cars can cause big headaches for their owners. Especially if they break down or break, since we are talking about devices that, in the best of cases, it costs much more to repair than an iPhone or the latest generation and high-end mobile. Hence, the size is important since the more inches, the more expensive your fix will be. In addition, it is also good to know what are the components that make up a touch screen to use it carefully and thus avoid these breakdowns.
Touch screens have evolved in technology and size if we compare them with the original ones of the last century...
Input, all touch screens are made up of the same elements. Its surface can be made of glass or plastic, the first option being the best in terms of its resistance in terms of use and cleaning. under her goes the digitizer which is an almost transparent sheet that is responsible for detecting the pulsations. This element can be resistive (soft touch) or capacitive (hard touch, like a mobile). After him goes the liquid crystal sheet.
This is responsible for forming the images and is very sensitive to shock. In fact, if the digitizer is resistive it is very sensitive to finger pressure. Finally there is the backlight system. It is about white leds and a reflector that if they stay without power it seems that the screen is totally black. Now that you know the parts that make up a screen, we will explain some of the possible faults that can arise.
Most common faults in digital screens...
- There is one (or more) black spots. If we see any black spots, it means that the liquid crystal screen has broken. Such a failure is usually related to a strong blow with something sharp or sharp. The only solution to this problem is to replace the screen.
- Doesn't light up but is sensitive to touch. We would be facing a "black screen" or blinking, so the illuminator could have failed. This is appreciated when the elements that are controlled through it work, but the display does not return any image. This fault is the least expensive and we could even fix it ourselves, but it is best to buy the complete module.
- Does not feel touch but shows images. In this case the screen does not respond to touch, but it does respond to other physical controls, turns on and off normally, and does not respond with a delay. Therefore, we would be facing a failure of the digitizer that could be the consequence of an electrical fault or a physical blow in the case of resistive screens.
- Rare colors at extreme temperatures. Depending on the outside temperature, the screen may display distorted colors. This is possible because the passenger compartment is at an extreme temperature in which the display does not work correctly. As soon as it has a normal temperature, the image quality should recover and it should not present any anomalies.
- Shows weird lines. If strange lines are seen, it remains blank, frozen or does not respond even to physical buttons, it is most likely that the control unit that controls the screen has failed. If so, we could be facing a much more expensive breakdown than the replacement of the screen itself. Even so, there is also the possibility of a factory reset or software update, although for this we must go to an official network workshop.
How much does it cost to repair them...? Does car insurance cover the damage?
Bearing in mind that the cases can be many and varied, the following question may arise: Would the vehicle insurance cover a fault in the touch screen? Well, the answer is, in a large number of insurers and policies, no. That is. If the breakdown occurs by chance and due to normal use (or misuse) the insurance will decline to take charge. On the other hand, if it breaks down due to an accident (such as a collision with another vehicle due to a third party), it is the responsibility of the opposing insurer. In case of personal damage, the repair would be at the expense of our insurer and on this occasion it would only be feasible if the policy is fully comprehensive.
The last possibility is in a home repair. To do this, you will have to spend some time watch videos and tutorials on YouTube where they explain the steps to follow to open the monitor. You also have to have skill because it is most likely that part of the dashboard will have to be disassembled with the work involved. In addition, there is the option of purchasing the complete module on spare parts websites or digital commerce platforms, thus simplifying the work and cost of the repair.
Lastly, in case go to an official workshop the cost of repair varies greatly between different brands. Here, official prices range from 400 euros (plus VAT and labor) or more than 2.000 euros for a complete multimedia system in firms considered premium.
What will the future of screens be like...?
The use of touch screens to govern the infotainment systems or for the instrument panels could have their days numbered. The reason is based on use of augmented reality and the latest generation Head-Up Display. In fact, manufacturers such as BMW or Peugeot are already working in this direction and to show their work they have presented prototypes such as the and Vision Dee or Inception concept.
The question is how long these systems will take to reach the market and if their use will be extended to all cars and market segments. Amen to what its technical complexity is still in doubt and therefore, purchase cost and repair if it breaks down...
More information about this model
- Plazas 4 - 5
- Power 333 - 658 hp
- Consumer goods 17 - 21,6l/100km
- Assessment 4,8