GPS Touch Screen Digitizer Repair

How do you replace a cracked NAV-U touch screen digitizer? Usually the top glass layer is the digitizer, also known as the touch screen, which cracks easily from the slightest impact. Damaged GPS units often appear on eBay, and it is never certain whether it is the digitizer panel that is cracked or whether the damage is deeper with a cracked LCD panel also. If the crack is only to the digitizer panel, then there is a good chance that the repair may be cost effective, providing a replacement is cheap.

I contacted Sony for a replacement touch panel but I could not afford their quote. I then found a supplier in China and was able to get a replacement panel for a more realistic price of £8.00 including postage.

Usually, the top layer is made of extremely thin glass. Sometimes the glass remains in place, even when cracked, because it is stuck to other layers that are underneath it.

This digitizer panel is not a standard size and is slightly bigger than the actual LCD because of the two virtual touch buttons on the side of the screen.

There is a layer of plastic with buttons printed on them and a foam beading around the edge to maintain uniform pressure between the touch panel and the LCD panel. This layer usually separates away from the touch panel. I used a hair-dryer to soften the glue after which the plastic peeled away easily.

Replacing a digitizer layer is an easy job for the technically minded, however if you do not have the time and can afford to pay someone else to do it, then I would highly recommend some of the professional GPS repair firms that are listed on Google. Just use the search link below to search for "GPS repair" some of the top ones listed on Google are the best.

The printed plastic layer peels away easily when heated with a hair-dryer.

Like many typical touch panel digitizers, this one has four tracks on the ribbon cable.

The touch panel is made of two main layers consisting of glass and plastic. When the glass breaks, parts of it might separate away from the plastic layer as shown above.

Here is a new touch panel fitted back in its place. As you can see, there are plastic tabs / catches around the edges holding it in place. The LCD panel fits on top of this and occupies a smaller area marked out by the foam beading.

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