Infotainment Screen Problems

[mthorman]

I am having issues with the infotainment screen on my 2018 Ram 2500. It is a factory 8.4" screen. The touch sensor works but there is no display...it is completely black. So you could guess your way through the radio or climate control but you don't really know what you are touching. I have read this is a common problem with this truck. So I bought a brand new display touch screen. I installed it but it still has the exact same issue....completely black. I have tried holding down all the various button for a soft reset without any help. I checked the inline radio fuse. It is fine, which makes sense because the radio does work. When I put the truck into reverse I don't have a backup camera either. So it seems like there is an input issue. My next thought was to replace the entire radio unit instead of just the display. But that is a bit more expensive AND I don't know that it will fix the problem. Any other thoughts or suggestions?

 

[SitKneelBend]

I am having issues with the infotainment screen on my 2018 Ram 2500. It is a factory 8.4" screen. The touch sensor works but there is no display...it is completely black. So you could guess your way through the radio or climate control but you don't really know what you are touching. I have read this is a common problem with this truck. So I bought a brand new display touch screen. I installed it but it still has the exact same issue....completely black. I have tried holding down all the various button for a soft reset without any help. I checked the inline radio fuse. It is fine, which makes sense because the radio does work. When I put the truck into reverse I don't have a backup camera either. So it seems like there is an input issue. My next thought was to replace the entire radio unit instead of just the display. But that is a bit more expensive AND I don't know that it will fix the problem. Any other thoughts or suggestions?

WHen replacing the screen, did you inspect the ribbon cable that foes from the screen to the main board?

 

[mthorman]

Yes I did. I didn't see anything super obvious. Is there something specific to look for other than cuts etc? I also took it all apart and verified a 2nd time that both ribbon cable connections were seated correctly.

 

[SitKneelBend]

Yes I did. I didn't see anything super obvious. Is there something specific to look for other than cuts etc? I also took it all apart and verified a 2nd time that both ribbon cable connections were seated correctly.

Nothing other than what it sounds like you've already done. I'm not sure if video gets routed elsewhere on the board, but it couldn't hurt to check all other connections while in there.

If you're within a return window, I'd return it. If not, I'd inspect the board your video ribbon plugs into and inspect it for part numbers. Put that in eBay and you'll probably find a relatively cheap replacement. Conversely, you can find parts only radios for cheap too and take from that .

 

[mthorman]

Thanks for the suggestions. It looks like I can get a radio with a damaged screen pretty cheap. Then I could just put the brand new screen on it. Hopefully that is the issue.

 

[SitKneelBend]

Thanks for the suggestions. It looks like I can get a radio with a damaged screen pretty cheap. Then I could just put the brand new screen on it. Hopefully that is the issue.

That too...good solution

 

[mthorman]

Well I found a used radio that had a damaged screen for like $350 at a local wrecking yard. They were nice enough to let me test it prior to buying since my truck was in the parking lot. It worked fine so I used the new screen on bought and replaced the damaged screen. So I am still not sure what exactly was wrong with the old radio but a new one fixed the problem.

 

[SitKneelBend]

Well I found a used radio that had a damaged screen for like $350 at a local wrecking yard. They were nice enough to let me test it prior to buying since my truck was in the parking lot. It worked fine so I used the new screen on bought and replaced the damaged screen. So I am still not sure what exactly was wrong with the old radio but a new one fixed the problem.

Sometimes it's better to move on...it's advice I should follow more often myself.