LCD screen blank repair?

[joeygil]

It looks like my LCD screen suddenly went out on my XV-12.

I originally got the XV-11 from Hammacher. Unfortunately, Neato will no longer honor the lifetime gauarantee, since Hammacher no longer sells the Neato robot (Hammacher will send me out a Roomba as a replacement).

Has anyone had any experience fixing the display? I'm pretty handy with electronics. I'm hoping its something as simple as a loose wire.

[glnc222]

There are no wires to come loose, only highly integrated and modular digital electronics, designed for replacement of entire modules.

[vic7767]

It's possible that the ribbon cable that connects the UI to the PCBA has worked loose. Disassembly will be required to check the cable.

[tmnCA]

WHy not return the Neato for a refund, then buy the XV-14 at Costco?

[craigbla]

I've had my XV-11 for a few months but now the LCD has gone completely blank even though it's brightly lit. I can clean rooms by hitting the power button but I can't see anything on the display so I'm screwed for many operations.
I bought it from Costco so I can get my $200 back but they don't sell it anymore and I do like it even though it's not perfect. How easy is it to get to the ribbon cable if that's the most likely issue?

[glnc222]

You void the warranty if opening the case, and there's no repair to these integrated LCD's which are expensive.
I think these failures, reported before, are signs of mfg defect in the lcd module.

There can also be a fragile miniaturized ribbon cable on older units which cannot be messed with. The module has a ribbon cable with 16 tightly packed data lines to the cpu, nothing to play with. Be careful when unplugging that cable opening the case as older units have no strain relief on delicate surface mount soldering of the cable to the LCD module which can rip off, impossible to reattach without machines (common to cover with epoxy for more secure fastening whenever opening). Unhook wheel springs before separating the case parts on newer cases with the spring attached in the top cover.
You could try reseating the cable in the cpu board socket -- itself a bit delicate -- but unlikely to improve.
The cpu will not run without the LCD connected so unlikely a bad connection; more likely failure in the LCD module.

[edit] the LCD modules are no longer all the same, as some have a regular header plug on the cable and some have the old ribbon cable; you must match your cpu board connector. Sellers aren't specifying this, either, so inquire before buying.

[Mormegil]

I've had my XV-11 for a few months but now the LCD has gone completely blank even though it's brightly lit. I can clean rooms by hitting the power button but I can't see anything on the display so I'm screwed for many operations.
I bought it from Costco so I can get my $200 back but they don't sell it anymore and I do like it even though it's not perfect. How easy is it to get to the ribbon cable if that's the most likely issue?

Neato LCD is blank but lit.jpg

Call Neato Tech support. You're well within your warranty period, and they'll ship you a new robot S&H paid.

[Gourd]

Just got off the phone with Neato support an hour ago for this very problem. I'm a few days outside my warranty period, but they're going to send a new robot out to me, and ship the old robot back to them, for about 25 dollars.

A lot better service than I was expecting, honestly; I assumed they were going to tell me to just foot the price for a new robot entirely.

[JEfromCanada]

A lot better service than I was expecting, honestly; I assumed they were going to tell me to just foot the price for a new robot entirely.

Did you mention you frequent this forum? It might have been worth the good press to have you as a satisfied customer.

[Gourd]

A lot better service than I was expecting, honestly; I assumed they were going to tell me to just foot the price for a new robot entirely.

Did you mention you frequent this forum? It might have been worth the good press to have you as a satisfied customer.

I didn't, actually, and now I sort of wish I had since I find this site REALLY useful for my various robots and normally I just quietly lurk. Could have been good PR for the forums.

I basically called up, spoke to someone, explained that I had followed their reset procedure from the website, then I tried to be as polite as possible and didn't rush the tech. Had my serial number and an electronic copy of my receipt on hand. Tried to sound as nice as possible and have all my documents in order, since technically they owed me nothing.

[wildanimalpark]

Sadly, I must add my Neato XV-21 to the dead LCD list. It was only 15 months old but out of warranty so there is no help for my Neato. They suggest you contact a second party repair company who will charge $39 after you ship the bot to them to give you an estimate for the rthe repair. I would like to know the aproximate cost before the shipping expense and diagnostic fee is incurred. Why not say LCD repairs start at $150 for LCD replacement and can increase as other problems are detected?

My original Neato XV-11 is still going strong with a change of batteries and I expected the newer Neato XV-21 to be better. I now must decide to use it as a boat anchor or repair it will another LCD screen that will fail in 15 months.

Has anyone repaired the LCD?

[mfortuna]

You can replace it yourself with a used one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEATO-XV-21-VAC ... 2ed154f03f

Or you can forget scheduling/status and use the Neato without an LCD. That is how I use my XV-11 right now. I almost never look at the LCD.

[zzabur2]

I have / had the problem of Neato XV-15 LSC screen being dark, but the light around the start button is green, but does not respond when pressing start or other buttons. Also long pressing the orange start button didn't help, there's only slight flicker on the screen at some point it you look very closely.

It also does not response when charging, didn't know if it charges or not. Just showing the light green. I know that the batteries where in pretty bad condition, giving only 10-15 minutes of vacuum time between charges, when it still functioned.

Removing batteries for a longer time etc. didn't help.

I had both USB cable attached to Neato and it was attached to charging station. While long pressing the start button until the green light turned off, immediately hit the menu button several times and LCD turned on. Also the light started blinking in orange to indicate charging.

From settings selected 'New batteries' and now it's on and charging. I haven't been able to run it yet, so remains to be seen how it works, but I've also ordered new batteries for it.