Hello, Malcolm;
you wrote:
All the posts are ok.
The connector type is almost like a millipede looking from top. Very fine gold connectors in half circles.
Two nuts holds the board down firmly over the connector.
That's good info. I have one of this millipede-like (mine haven't walked alway so far...) zebra connector. It's one of the best for connection, but it takes a lot of care to be kept in perfect shape. If yours is fine, better.
Are you saying the lcd module itself decides when to shut down the machine? Thats wierd. But if that's true then that would perfectly explain it. I was thinking the lcd module can't shut down the machine - therefore problem is not in display connector. - Wrong.
What really happens is that the calculator's CPU monitors the LCD state. When the LCD signs what I call "idle state", the CPU shoots itself down. There is a terminal used for this purpose, and as D.B., I sometimes cannot be confident about my bRAiM existing data. Anyway, if you slightly swing the calculator's case and and the display goes fine and the idle condition happens after about ten minutes instead of six seconds, than be sure you have a bad contact somewhere, and finding it is the major task.
I'd find someone with the skills to resolder the LCD's connections. One of our contributors in here resoldered the same terminals in his faulty HP41CX, and it's working fine.
The only precaution that must be taken is to connect battery terminals to the soldering iron's metal body while doing the job. You may remove the mainboard, the millipede connector (if you are not so confident, keep it in a closed box... kidding, I could not resist!) and take just the upper half of the calcualtor's case. Please, take care with a small plastic "stick" over the top of the LCD's assembly. It serves to keep it in place and to make things difficult to dust and dirt.
Hope this helps a bit more.
Success. and keep posting, so we can guide you better.
Luiz C. Vieira - Brazil