Dutch Star Don
RVF Regular
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2019
- Messages
- 65
- Location
- Moorpark, Ca
- RV Year
- 2019
- RV Make
- Newmar
- RV Model
- Dutch Star 4018
- RV Length
- 40'
- Chassis
- Freightliner
- Engine
- 450 ISL
- TOW/TOAD
- 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali
- Fulltimer
- No
I'm getting old, but I don't think I posted this here.....
My 2019 DS dash started bubbling about two years ago. You can still read the dash, but it was annoying and getting worse. The bubbling is caused by heat. The glue under the screen gets hot and bubbles. Many of us made NTSB complaints hoping it would force Newmar or Freightliner into a repair. No such luck. A new digital dash is $6500.00 plus programing.
I found that a company called MTC Screens would repair the unit. They're in Florida and apparently made their name by repairing digital dashes for the boating industry. They have three prices, $1600.00 for a kit and you do your own repair. It's supposed to be very tedious. They will repair yours for $1900.00. You can swap yours for a rebuilt unit for $2400.00, but I believe since it's not from your coach, it needs to be programmed.
I elected to have mine repaired. My biggest concern was shipping it cross country and it getting lost. I talked to the owner a few times and found that for the $1900.00 price he pays for two day air both directions via UPS. He sends you a prepaid label.
Removing it is pretty simple. The faux wood dash cover is secured by four studs attached to the back of that cover. Lift the black plastic dash cover off and you can reach behind and feel the nuts and washers on the four studs. They're just finger tight. Once the faux wood cover is off, there are four torx screws that go through the dash, through the display and screw into a metal plate that is best described as looking like a license plate frame. It uses clip on nuts that stay in place on the frame. Once the screws are removed the unit can be lifted out the top or through the dash front hole. There is a telephone type connecter that you pinch and it releases.
I packaged mine up with a thin piece of wood panel over the display window. The company is known for quick repair and shipping. I shipped it out on a Monday morning and received it back the following Tuesday. It would have been Monday, but UPS delayed it a day.
I reinstalled the unit and it looks great. It's still a pricey repair, but my coach is still holding it's value and I don't want to have an accumulation of stuff that doesn't work.
My 2019 DS dash started bubbling about two years ago. You can still read the dash, but it was annoying and getting worse. The bubbling is caused by heat. The glue under the screen gets hot and bubbles. Many of us made NTSB complaints hoping it would force Newmar or Freightliner into a repair. No such luck. A new digital dash is $6500.00 plus programing.
I found that a company called MTC Screens would repair the unit. They're in Florida and apparently made their name by repairing digital dashes for the boating industry. They have three prices, $1600.00 for a kit and you do your own repair. It's supposed to be very tedious. They will repair yours for $1900.00. You can swap yours for a rebuilt unit for $2400.00, but I believe since it's not from your coach, it needs to be programmed.
I elected to have mine repaired. My biggest concern was shipping it cross country and it getting lost. I talked to the owner a few times and found that for the $1900.00 price he pays for two day air both directions via UPS. He sends you a prepaid label.
Removing it is pretty simple. The faux wood dash cover is secured by four studs attached to the back of that cover. Lift the black plastic dash cover off and you can reach behind and feel the nuts and washers on the four studs. They're just finger tight. Once the faux wood cover is off, there are four torx screws that go through the dash, through the display and screw into a metal plate that is best described as looking like a license plate frame. It uses clip on nuts that stay in place on the frame. Once the screws are removed the unit can be lifted out the top or through the dash front hole. There is a telephone type connecter that you pinch and it releases.
I packaged mine up with a thin piece of wood panel over the display window. The company is known for quick repair and shipping. I shipped it out on a Monday morning and received it back the following Tuesday. It would have been Monday, but UPS delayed it a day.
I reinstalled the unit and it looks great. It's still a pricey repair, but my coach is still holding it's value and I don't want to have an accumulation of stuff that doesn't work.
