MMDC replacement

[dantrim]

The MMDC in our coach is in need of replacement, as you can no longer read it. I know it is supplied by Medallion Industries.
Is the swap out something that can be done yourself, or is it strictly a dealer job? Also either way, at what cost?

[Grimesy]

Are you sure it is the MMDC? When I spoke to Freightliner about my flickering instrument gauges, they said if the air gauges were accurate it was probably a short in the system and not the MMDC. Turned out they were right and it was a $700. job to find a $12.00 part. Thought I should be able to trace problem by having someone watch the gauges and someone shake the wires by the junction boxes back by the tranny. Didn't work.

Don, WIT 70041

[dantrim]

At Camp Freightliner, Mike Cody admitted there was a problem with the contrast on the display on some of them and Freightliner replaced them when the coach was under warranty, but mine is past that point.

[Grimesy]

I am sure you know where yours is located, but in case you don't mine was located in the left front cargo bin behind the panel. 2005 Itasca 40 AD. Good luck. When I called a couple of F L dealers the service manager didn't know what I was talking about.

Don, WIT 70041

[historyljc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grimesy I am sure you know where yours is located, but in case you don't mine was located in the left front cargo bin behind the panel. 2005 Itasca 40 AD. Good luck. When I called a couple of F L dealers the service manager didn't know what I was talking about. Don, WIT 70041

Really gives you a warm fuzzy feeling, doesn't it.

[cbeierl]

It sounds like you're talking about the display readout in the dash rather than the MMDC itself (which is a black box with air lines attached, possibly down in the left front compartment).

I changed out my display for the newer one with improved visibility when they first came out. It wasn't too hard to do, although I think I ended up drilling at least one access hole in the support structure inside the dash in order to get a screwdriver on one of the screws. I would open up your dash and take a look yourself.

[dantrim]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbeierl It sounds like you're talking about the display readout in the dash rather than the MMDC itself (which is a black box with air lines attached, possibly down in the left front compartment). I changed out my display for the newer one with improved visibility when they first came out. It wasn't too hard to do, although I think I ended up drilling at least one access hole in the support structure inside the dash in order to get a screwdriver on one of the screws. I would open up your dash and take a look yourself.

Chris-
You are correct. The display is so dim, it is almost impossible to read, even with the contrast set at 20.

[kokofriend]

Anybody know how much the new one costs? Mine is impossible to see while driving and hard to see when stopped.

[cbeierl]

Here are some pictures of John Canfield's install of the new display in his Horizon: The Improved Freightliner information center... I don't know the current price, but John's page indicates it may be in the $300 range.

On edit: If you do replace yours I seem to remember that it was important to set the contrast all the way up using the old display before installing the new one.

[cbeierl]

According to this page, as of 2/2/09 it was $199.50 from Ross Distributers: What's New: Information Center Display .

[Craig P.]

I replaced mine two years ago because of the same complaint. It cost me around $150. It is a Freightliner part. I ordered mine through a friend that worked at the Fleetwood MH plant in Riverside CA at the time. The plant of course is no longer there now.

Very easy to do yourself. There were two screws on the backside of the unit that allowed it to be removed from the dash.

I was told to increase the contrast/brightness of the old MMDC to maximum before removing it, as the settings may be too low for the replacement MMDC. This didn't make much sense, but I did it anyway just in case, I don't know if it made a difference or not. The new unit works great. Vast improvement, I can actually read it now! The old one was a piece of junk.

Craig

[JoeT]

I replaced mine back in Dec 2005 for $81.07. Medallion had a special for a while. Easy job. The only problem is the new display is so bright it interferes with night driving. I cut out a piece of windshield tint material to cover it on the rare occasion I drive at night.