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Yamaha FZ V3 Sun Fade – Complete Restoration of a Fully Faded Meter at Gadi Garage

Mohammed Bilal Avatar

Mohammed Bilal

Published: November 26, 2025

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Yamaha FZ V3 Sun Fade Before & After

The Yamaha FZ V3 comes with a modern digital speedometer, but like many digital clusters, it is highly sensitive to long-term sun exposure. Over time, the display begins to lose clarity, the screen becomes white, and the readings turn almost invisible. This is exactly what happened when a customer recently walked into Gadi Garage with a completely sun-faded FZ V3 meter.

Before visiting us, he had tried multiple Yamaha showrooms to buy a new meter, but the price was extremely high. Instead of replacing the whole unit, he asked if we could restore it fully.
And the answer was simple: yes, we can.

Below is the complete restoration story.

In this simple blog, you will learn:

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Yamaha FZ V3 Sun Fade Display

Why the FZ V3 Meter Sun-Fades

The customer used the bike every day and parked it outdoors most of the time. Constant UV exposure caused:

  • Full LCD whitening
  • Very low daytime visibility
  • Numbers and icons barely readable
  • Weak brightness
  • Heat damage spreading across the display

This was not a partial fade. The entire display had become pale and washed out.
However, the internal board was still working, which allowed us to restore the meter completely.

Yamaha FZ V3 Sun Faded Display

The Customer’s Situation – New Meter Was Too Costly

Before coming to our shop, the customer visited multiple Yamaha showrooms to buy a brand new FZ V3 meter.

But the price shocked him.

New FZ V3 meters are extremely costly, and not everyone can afford such a big replacement—especially when the bike itself is in good condition.

He told us,

“The bike is running fine. Only the meter is gone. But the new one is too expensive. Can you restore this fully?”

We assured him: that we could restore the meter to near-new condition without replacing the entire unit.

Yamaha FZ-V3 Sun Faded Meter Display

Inspection at Gadi Garage

After opening the meter, we found:

  • Full-screen sun burn
  • Internal LCD clarity reduced heavily
  • Dust inside the meter
  • Connectors weakened from heat
  • Outer cover faded

The display was almost unreadable, but the electronics were still operational.
This made full restoration possible.

Yamaha FZ-V3 Meter Dismantle

How We Restored the Fully Sun-Faded FZ V3 Meter

1. Deep Internal Cleaning and Refresh

We opened the meter and removed dust, heat stains, and moisture marks.
This alone helped the meter regain some lost brightness.

2. Display Brightness and Clarity Correction

We restored the LCD by:

  • Correcting screen alignment
  • Improving contrast output
  • Refreshing display calibration

After this step:

  • Numbers became clear
  • Screen brightness improved
  • Daytime visibility returned

3. Repairing Heat-Damaged Connectors

Sun exposure also weakens internal connectors.
We strengthened all key points to ensure stable brightness and clear LCD output.

Yamaha FZ-V3 Display Changed

4. Exterior Restoration for a New Look

The customer wanted the meter to look visually new.
We:

  • Cleaned the outer housing
  • Polished the front layer
  • Removed fading marks
  • Restored the shine and appearance

The meter no longer looked old or burned by sunlight.

5. Waterproofing and Heat Protection

We resealed the meter using automotive-grade waterproof gel.
This prevents future issues such as:

  • Water entry
  • Moisture fog
  • Heat-related fading
Yamaha FZ-V3 Meter Restored

Final Result – A Meter That Looks Brand New

When the restoration was complete, the meter looked:

  • Clear
  • Bright
  • Sharp
  • Easy to read
  • Clean and uniform

The customer was genuinely surprised and said:

“This looks exactly like a new meter from the showroom.”

And most importantly — he saved a significant amount of money.

Why FZ V3 Sun Fade Repairs Are Important

If ignored, sun fade can lead to:

  • Very dull brightness
  • Weak visibility
  • Heat damage to connectors
  • LCD failure
  • Complete meter death

Restoring early can save thousands and extend the life of the meter.

Yamaha FZ-V3 Meter Final Look

If Your FZ V3 Meter Is Sun-Faded, We Can Restore It

Gadi Garage specializes in:

  • Full sun-fade restoration
  • Heat-damaged meter repair
  • Dull or white screen correction
  • Connectors and button repair
  • All digital bike speedometer repairs

Chennai Workshop
All India Courier Repair Available
Contact on Whatsapp: 98409 64204
Gadi Garage – Digital Meter Repair Experts

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Apache 160 Meter Looked Completely Dead After Water Damage — Here’s How We Saved It

Mohammed Bilal Avatar

Mohammed Bilal

Published: December 11, 2025

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Apache 160 meter Before And After

Today at Gadi Garage, we received an Apache 160 digital meter that looked completely dead after severe water damage. The customer arrived with a simple request:

“Bro, if you can save this meter, please do it. I don’t want to buy a new one.”

The older Apache 160 model uses a digital speedometer that is extremely sensitive to moisture. Once water enters the meter and stays inside, it can burn the internal circuits very quickly.

In this case, the meter wasn’t just affected — it was heavily damaged and several components on the motherboard were burnt.

Still, the customer wanted the original meter restored, and we decided to take up the challenge.

Apache 160 meter Before

How the Problem Started

The bike was left outside during heavy rain. The next morning, the meter stopped responding.

The customer noticed:

  • No display
  • No backlight
  • Meter not turning ON
  • Only a slight flicker before going completely dead

He didn’t know how bad things were inside — but once we opened it, the condition became clear.

Apache 160 meter Motherboard Damage

Inside the Meter: Severe Water Damage on Every Layer

When we dismantled the meter, we found:

  • Water traces throughout the display section
  • Burnt marks on multiple motherboard components
  • Shorted ICs
  • Corroded and loose connectors
  • Several broken circuit tracks

Water had stayed inside long enough to cause electrical burns and shorts across the board.

Many mechanics would call this meter “non-repairable,” but at Gadi Garage, we always attempt restoration before recommending replacement.

How We Restored the Apache 160’s Dead Meter

1. Removing All Water and Cleaning the Meter Internally

We started by completely removing moisture, rust, and corrosion from all internal parts.

2. Burnt Motherboard Component Repair

This was the most challenging part of the restoration.

We repaired:

  • Burnt resistors and capacitors
  • Shorted IC areas
  • Damaged power supply tracks
  • Broken copper lines

Several components had to be replaced and resoldered precisely.

Apache 160 meter Motherboard Damaged

3. Fixing Corroded Joints

Corrosion weakens signal flow, so we refreshed and rebuilt all damaged joints to stabilise the board.

4. Display and Backlight Revival

Once the motherboard repairs were complete, we powered up the meter.

The screen finally lit up again — confirming that the unit had been successfully revived.

5. Final Assembly + Proper Waterproofing

After restoring full functionality, we sealed the meter tightly using improved waterproofing methods to prevent future failures.

Final Result: A Completely Dead Meter Brought Back to Life

We successfully restored:

  • Full display clarity
  • Bright and even backlight
  • Accurate reading output
  • Smooth, stable functioning

When the customer saw the meter glowing again, he said:

Apache 160 meter Motherboard repaired

“I never thought this meter would work again. Thank you so much.”

The entire repair cost him far less than buying a new OEM meter, making the restoration even more meaningful.

Apache 160 meter After

Have a Similar Problem? We Can Repair It.

Whether your Apache meter is water-damaged, faded, dead, or shorted — we can restore it.

Contact us on – Click here >> (Instagram)
Chennai Workshop
All India Courier Repair Available

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