On my previous bikes, it was all analog and I would go out and spend the $3 for a cheap digital LCD clock that I would stick onto the dash. You know, those 1" diameter cheap plastic clocks. Well, every time that thing is exposed to the sun when it's above about 70 outside, it would do the same thing and I had it go totally black so you couldn't read it at all. Allow it to get out of the sun and heat and it would be fine.
Oh, and So Cal Joe, is that a metal trash can you used a section of?