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What you are cleaning
The LCD sits on two elastomeric connectors (zebra strips). Those strips carry each segment from the board to the glass. Age, oxidation, and lost spring make segments drop out. Alcohol on the contact edges is the first test. If the display comes back, you confirmed the strips. Replacement kits on displayrepairkit.com are the lasting fix.
Cleaning is temporary. The original pink strips flatten. New gray strips in the matching kit are the long-term repair.
Kits do not include the LCD.
When a kit will not help
If every segment is visible but the whole display is evenly pale, the liquid crystal or polarizer is often worn out. Connector kits will not darken that kind of display. Use the series video and photos on the model page to compare.
Steps
- Disconnect inputs. Switch the meter off. Remove the 9 V battery. Older 20/70 cases hide the battery inside the shell.
- Remove the rear screws. Split the case from the bottom of the top half. Leave the rubber gasket on the bottom case.
- Note how the keypad and any shield sit. Lift the board only enough to reach the display stack.
- Pop off the plastic LCD mask. Lift the glass from an edge. The strips may stick to the glass — peel them off.
- Wipe the top and bottom edges of each strip and the matching LCD edges with 99% isopropyl alcohol. Do not flood the board.
- Let the parts dry. Set the strips back in their channels. Place the LCD digit-side up. Snap the mask on evenly.
- Reassemble, fit a fresh battery, and check every segment. If the fault returns, open the matching series page and order that kit.