Infotainment Replacement Touch-Screen Details

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No need to buy a new radio!

photo courtesy of Trever Talbert

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Thanks to Pascal Lemée for providing a link to a replacement touch-screen (the glass screen cover and “digitizer” that overlays the LCD presentation screen), for those experiencing delamination caused by high temperatures within the unvented air cavity between the two screens. It can currently be procured for about $20, including S/H using the link below, but even if you source it elsewhere, this provides the necessary details for comparison purposes (7 Inch, 36 Pin, Glass Touch Screen TM070RDZ38).

https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/3256802049591210.html

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He also provided a link for an excellent repair guide (alternate google doc), written up with many photos, by Tyler Watthanaphand.

photo courtesy of Tyler Watthanaphand

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[added 11/9/2022]
Another alternative as of October 2022, is to order the screen assembly (complete with the glass touch-screen and “digitizer”, the LCD presentation screen, and the silver surround frame) from Mazda for around $80.  Warranty costs were mounting for replacing perfectly fine CMUs (at $1,000 to $2,000), simply because the screens were delaminating, so Mazda finally made screen-only replacements available to their dealers.

Although Mazda started using an improved version of the CMU (Connect 2.0 with better processor and shielding, higher-res LCD screens and 50-pin ribbon cables for the digitizer) in the MX-5 for MY 2018+, it is believed that all years of 124 Spiders used the same CMUs as the 2016 – 2017 MX-5 vehicles (Connect 1.0), so the part to order with the correct 36-pin ribbon cable for the digitizer, circuit board with smaller silicon chip at the bottom and lower- res LCD screen, should be Mazda part #  D0YP-61-1JZ.  Refer to an abbreviated version of TSB 09-136/22 for details.

Note:  If the new screens are subjected to the same high temperature conditions that originally resulted in delamination, since the design/process hasn’t changed, the same could happen once again.

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[added 4/22/2023]

Another alternative that was recently posted in the Miata forum by posts (go to post # 18), involved simply detaching the CMU screen and replacing it with a Wireless Apple Carplay / Android Auto, low-profile 9.26″ touch-screen Car Stereo with Bluetooth and built-in 4K dash cam/DVR available from Amazon for around $140 (plus another $20 off with the current coupon). It can also be ordered with a rear camera for an additional $20, but posts states that since installing that seems cumbersome, figuring out how to use the factory installed camera is preferred.

Posts even designed a 3D printed bracket specifically suited to the ND and the 124 Spider bezels for this unit (also covers up the hole that accommodate the original screen mounting; he wishes the mounting was sturdier though), although I don’t know how well the dash cam functions at the mounted height. His photo below shows the end result in his ND Miata (using 2 stainless steel 10-24 bolts/nuts – I think black plastic hardware would blend better). Rather than using the inadequate built-in speakers, he instead feeds the audio into the car’s Aux input with the included cable.