The LCD screen in my 2002 miata's bose stereo system doesn't show the full display. When I push on the screen everything shows just fine...until I let go. I've seen this question listed on several forums but as of yet no one has an answer for how to fix it. I don't want to replace the unit itself if I don't have to. Any suggestions?

Yes, the problem is there are two pairs of white socket/connectors that connect the whole front panel of the unit, to the main unit. One side has two rows of 4 pins, & the other side has two rows of 5 pins. I found that these eventually wear out & lose there spring tension. Much like that of a wall outlet in your house...they held tight in the beginning, but eventually it doesn't take much to knock the cord out. So if you can find replacements then you'd be golden. Good luck. I haven't fixed mine yet b/c I havent found the connectors yet. Also make sure that you take out the screw on the back of the lcd circuit board that is screwed down at one edge of the cd slot, (identifiable by the fact that it is the only screw that holds down a metal tab.) The tab is what grounds the lcd shield & entire front panel & you must remove it, bend the tabs tighter, & then reassemble it. That alone may be your problem. Just expect to have to do it once a year to fix the display, as the metal is old & weak. Hope this helps someone.

This is a very common problem with the Bose head unit, BUT IT LIKELY CAN BE FIXED!

The issue is the solder joints on the rear of the front panel. Contact with the LCD from the front (such as while slipping off the shifter when attempting to shift into 1st/3rd/5th aggressively) has a tendency to break the solder connections on the back side of the board.

Resoldering the broken connections is relatively simple for the steady of hand and usually fixes this problem, but I recommend also soldering the twisted metal retaining tabs for the LCD directly to the pads on the circuit board as well, as that will greatly reduce any deflection of the display when contacted from the front, taking stress off of the actual electrical connections and hopefully preventing it from happening again.

Go to miata.net and search for "Bose Radio Display Panel Not Working" for a more information.