I’m sure we all know the problems with the SAAB Information Display (SID)
Heres one free solution that can help, it’s worth a go for a few minutes of your time!
Remove SID Unit, I found by removing the 2 switch blanks next to SID I could push
panel out from behind
Press in plug retention clip as shown, and lift plug at a right angle
Pull cable plug to 90 degrees and remove
There are 4 Torx8 screws to be removed to gain access to the SID internals
Once you have removed the 4 screws, carefully pull up the connector housing cover
There are now 4 press tabs to be released around the units fascia, carefully push
these down using a small flat blade screwdriver, at the same time applying
pressure to remove the units back housing
The housing should pull cleanly off easily, if its tough, check all press tabs are released!
There are now another 3 screws to remove, once removed the actual LCD panel and
board can be separated from fascia
Now you will need to very carefully separate the LCD panel from the main PCB, there
is a plug on one corner, remove carefully so not to suddenly pull apart
and damage ribbon cable!
Now carefully lay the 2 parts apart on some anti static foam/mat, this will reveal the
ribbon cable, the most common cause of SID failures
Using something reasonably blunt (I found biro worked well) apply pressure along
each contact of the ribbon cable, this will hopefully realign any lost contact
Now once you’ve gone across all contacts, carefully reassemble the unit,
on re-assembly I also fitted a piece of card between the LCD panel/ribbon contacts and
main PCB.
Also ensure the PCB slides into the guides of the back cover.
And hopefully
the end result will look something like this!
© saab9-5.com
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This was an awesome fix!!! Though I struggled a little with putting some of the pictures in perspective, careful approach and attention to detail did the trick. Putting it back together was only a problem because I failed to notice that the Connector cover goes on AFTER replacing the housing. I was a little tentative in pressing down on the contacts and perhaps that’s why I still have one or two diodes not lit. No problem, now that I know how to do it and can pretty much tell which contacts to focus on. This saved me well over $60 in replacement by no doubt smart guys who know how to do this themselves and charge through the nose for fix and or replacement. Thanks a bunch!!
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I used the same repair method on my 9-3 SID display unit. Got all the pixels back first time. The photos and repair method explanation were excellent
Thanks
What year is your 9-3? I have a 2004 and am having reservations about removing my SID from the top of my dashboard.
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after all that, I found the ribbon to be detached from about a third of the contact strip.
Is that fatal?
thanks
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I’ve just used these instructions to fix the SID on my 03 95 2.3t Linear and they worked a treat. The instructions are very clear and even a total noob like me could follow them. The ballpoint pen idea was an epiphany. Thanks
Just fixed my SID in 15 mins using these instructions:
http://www.streamline-it-solutions.co.uk/SaabSIDFix.html#images/SID/P1010461.JPG
I only ironed mine for 3 mins and not 5 mins. Moved the iron slowly back and forth and just used the tip of the iron as shown.