Broken Navigation Digitizer Screen Fix (ONLY IF LCD IS INTACT) (1 Viewer)

[SquareOne]

This is another post on a repair I did awhile back. The knuckleheads who was detailing the truck put a chemical cleaner over the screen and destroyed it.

I recommend this option if the LCD is intact and just the digitizer is busted. The whole navigation screen costs a fortune. (Even at a scrap lot they go for $500!). The digitizer went for only $110 bucks including shipping.

You can follow this same process as well if you want to replace both the LCD and the digitizer. They do sell the whole set LCD/digitizer together.

To test if the LCD is intact just press the climate, audio, map, etc buttons to see if it changes screens and is clear (no dead pixels).

Basically you have to take the whole screen apart. I'm including some photos, but you can find this around the forum on how to take it apart. It's pretty straight forward.

Once you get to the LCD screen you need to also carefully take it apart. It has screws all around it. This is also searchable online on how to do that.

The black piece has to come out first with some screws on the side.

You then remove the radio at the bottom with the bracket. The screws are on the sides once again.

You finally end up with the Nav portion. You take this apart by removing the screws on the sides. You end up with the boards.

 

[SquareOne]

Once you reach this point. Remove the screws on the right to remove the small board. You then need to remove the metal frame around the screen.

Unfortunately I didn't take photos of this part. Basically you need to carefully remove each board until you get to the screen. You need to be careful since some of the connectors are the film ones that you have to lift up the metal tab to get them out.


You'll finally get these pieces after. (Disclaimer: these next two photos are from the website I ordered the digitizer from. I didn't take photos of this part.)

Here is the website I used to order the LCD screen and the digitizer or just the digitizer:

Tanin Auto Electronix

To remove the digitizer from the LCD screen you need to fold the metal tabs away from the screen at the center. Remove the tiny screw on the left. Gently just wedge out the LCD screen on the inside.

You'll end up with just the digitizer and the metal bracket. To get the digitizer off the metal bracket use a heat gun going around the edges and a thin razor to remove the screen off the bracket. Clean up the bracket with the razor and use a cotton ball with alcohol to clean the bracket for later.

You can see the water damage on the glass. It was terrible cleaning job. Never use chemical cleaners to clean LCD touch screens. Always stick with the basics like a little alcohol and water to get the dirt and grime out.

 

[SquareOne]

To put it back together with the new digitizer. you'll need thin 3M 1.5 mm double sided tape. The same tape they use to repair phone screens. Put it around the rim of metal bracket the digitizer was on. try to keep it off the edges of the rim so its cleaner.

Place the digitizer screen back on and hit it with the heat gun while gently pressing down on the edges to get a tight seal.

Replace the LCD screen back in the bracket with the tiny screw and the metal tabs folded in again.

Just hook everything back up, reversing the process. I would take pictures of where the screws were, connections, and the rest to keep track.

Make sure you hear those metal clips click when you put the film connectors back to where they were.

Like new!


Now you can use this same process if you want to replace the digitizer and the LCD screen. You would just swap out the whole set as opposed to removing the LCD from the bracket.


If you need help with this just shoot me a message.

 

[monteburns]

Great write-up! I'm thinking this will be a more common need as our vehicles continue to age. One question: does this digitizer part fit the LX470 as well? I can't imagine it not, but their website only lists the GX470 and Land Cruiser as a fit.

 

[SquareOne]

I believe it also fits the LX470, you can quickly find out by removing the head unit. You should see the same Toyota Denso Display and the part numbers will match.