9500ci and STi-R control modules are glued together...

[MEM-TEK]

Hi everyone,

Well, today I did something stupid. I have my 9500ci's control module attached to my dash with Velcro since I figured that I might want to relocate it at some point in the future. Anyway, I quickly pulled it loose but accidentally had my grip mostly on the module's front cover. Yep, the Velcro didn't give as easily as I thought it would and I pulled off the front cover! I also discovered that the front and rear covers are glued together rather than being snapped together. Its obvious that Escort uses a glue which isn't super strong or otherwise the display module halves would be permanently glued together and could never be serviced. They might be using plastic model glue.

I did the online chat thing with CS rep Mike. Its late in the day, but tomorrow he is going to check and find out what type of glue they use and get back to me so that I can carefully glue it again and make it just like new. I temporarily applied two thin strips of Velcro along outside of the control module to temporarily hold the front cover on. I now have a "fuzzy" control module due to the Velcro fabric!

On another note, the control module internals appear to be very well constructed. Some people have commented that the push buttons feel a bit flimsy since they rock and can move around slightly. It turns out that the push buttons are adhered atop a tinted light conducting membrane which rests atop the small circuit board. Thus the membrane and push buttons kind of float atop the circuit board, and this gives some the illusion that the control module may be flimsy. I am glad to have accidentally found out that it is not.

[WK446]

Thank you for the info Mem-Tek!

[MEM-TEK]

Today I got a reply email from Mike at Escort CS. He found out that the control module is ultrasonically welded -- no glue. Mike also told me not to use superglue since it will discolor the plastic parts. I think I will try some plastic model glue applied with a toothpick. But before doing this and since I now have the opportunity, I will remove my control module from my car and take some close-up internal photos for all who are curious.

[focalcivic]

Today I got a reply email from Mike at Escort CS. He found out that the control module is ultrasonically welded -- no glue. Mike also told me not to use superglue since it will discolor the plastic parts. I think I will try some plastic model glue applied with a toothpick. But before doing this and since I now have the opportunity, I will remove my control module from my car and take some close-up internal photos for all who are curious.

I have a better idea send it back under warranty.

This reminds me, recently I was taking off my lower dirvers side dash panel. I have a sunroof switch and a sideview mirror switch there. I went to unplug my mirror switch molex plug and the switch broken in half, it was not glued but it snapped together. Lucky for me the switch was not soldered inside, so I snapped it back and it works. But even before this happened, all the functions work except the drivers side will go left and right but not up and down, the passenger side works fine, strange.

[MEM-TEK]

I have a better idea send it back under warranty.

Are you kidding? There is no way I am going to be without my 9500ci for even a day! Besides, the repair is easy enough for me to do myself.

[TSi+WRX]

Yep, definitely do NOT user SuperGlue. Cyanoacrylate will discolor the plastic, if you get the least bit in exposed/visible areas, you'll , as it really will look rather nasty.

But if you wanted to re-finish the casing, it's definitely valid. Just be sure the run-off doesn't get into the buttons.

I'd honestly use two-part epoxy. Should do quite well, given the in-cabin temperatures that you're likely to see both summer and winter.

[focalcivic]

Are you kidding? There is no way I am going to be without my 9500ci for even a day! Besides, the repair is easy enough for me to do myself.

Come on Mem you have back up.

[swarga]

Hi everyone,

Well, today I did something stupid. I have my 9500ci's control module attached to my dash with Velcro since I figured that I might want to relocate it at some point in the future. Anyway, I quickly pulled it loose but accidentally had my grip mostly on the module's front cover. Yep, the Velcro didn't give as easily as I thought it would and I pulled off the front cover!

I temporarily applied two thin strips of Velcro along outside of the control module to temporarily hold the front cover on. I now have a "fuzzy" control module due to the Velcro fabric!

[MEM-TEK]

Come on Mem you have back up.

Only for my hard drive data! I use a virtually identical duplicate computer. Both of my computers have identical hardware, and have removable back-up hard drives. Thus all of my critical data gets backed up 3 times -- once to the removable drive in my main computer and then twice to the two drives in my identical "spare" computer. I've used this method ever since 15 years ago when I lost all of my data due to a direct lightning strike. Since then I haven't lost one byte of critical data.

I've decided to re-glue the case halves together with some very thinly applied streaks of Testors model glue. I haven't done this yet since I want to shoot photos of the controller module's internal guts.