Digital Dash
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 233
Likes: 1
From: Parkersburg WV
Digital Dash
I'm having problems with my digital dash. I have been banging on it for a while now to get it to come back on after it goes off and yesterday when it came back on the speedometer lighting was a little dim. I was thinking of getting the repair book by Gordon Killebrew and wondered if anybody has read it and if it is helpful, also if it tells you how to remove the dash. Thanks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,226
Likes: 9
From: Irvine Ca
I can't speak for the Killibrew deal.
I do know the Batee.com has a step by step repair procedure that will cure all your ills. The procedure takes a soldering iron and the proper size nut drivers and a Sunday night Football game on your garage TV.
The bulk of the time you will spend on resoldering or reflowing solder on the heavier components on three PC boards that make up your digital dash cluster.
What happens is the heavier components are hanging at a 90° angle.....the vibration and time cracks the solder and you lose ground points. once you reflow the solder, the connection is once again restored and your dash works correctly.
You should replace the bulbs while you are in there.
Takes about 2 hours or a one Football game. The only minus is that Madden is no longer there during the process.
I do know the Batee.com has a step by step repair procedure that will cure all your ills. The procedure takes a soldering iron and the proper size nut drivers and a Sunday night Football game on your garage TV.
The bulk of the time you will spend on resoldering or reflowing solder on the heavier components on three PC boards that make up your digital dash cluster.
What happens is the heavier components are hanging at a 90° angle.....the vibration and time cracks the solder and you lose ground points. once you reflow the solder, the connection is once again restored and your dash works correctly.
You should replace the bulbs while you are in there.
Takes about 2 hours or a one Football game. The only minus is that Madden is no longer there during the process.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
From: Concord, California
Or you could be a guy like me who doesn't have a garage or a good set of tools. Took the car to a shop and they checked all grounds to the cluster. Checked out fine. They removed the cluster, sent it into a shop that repairs the clusters, got it back from them and installed it for $600 total with parts/labor. If you don't like football and don't have the right tools, $400-$600 will get you a brand new digi dash that will last another 20 years.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,226
Likes: 9
From: Irvine Ca
LOL^^Damn Gabez $600 versus about $50 to buy all the bulbs and tools needed.....lemme see....such a hard choice...
Next time, for half Price send it to me..........LOL....OK for 1/3 the price....
Next time, for half Price send it to me..........LOL....OK for 1/3 the price....
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,800
Likes: 2,724
From: So. Cal.
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
dash
Or you could be a guy like me who doesn't have a garage or a good set of tools. Took the car to a shop and they checked all grounds to the cluster. Checked out fine. They removed the cluster, sent it into a shop that repairs the clusters, got it back from them and installed it for $600 total with parts/labor. If you don't like football and don't have the right tools, $400-$600 will get you a brand new digi dash that will last another 20 years.
Very easy fix. JMO................
Corvette Mike
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
From: Concord, California
Ha Ha!
jhammons01, I replaced the bulbs myself when the dash lights went out. Very easy fix, took about an hour in total. When my turn signals and bright light indicator came on about a year later, now thats another story. Thats when the shop did all the work for $600. Not bad out here in CA! BTW, your avatar reminds me of Warren Moon and the run-shoot offense. Love that helmet.
Corvettemike2004, your right, the cluster is not brand new, but damn does it look better than ever! Hopefully AstroMan1 just has bulb issues. Its an easy fix, even for a rookie like me.
Corvettemike2004, your right, the cluster is not brand new, but damn does it look better than ever! Hopefully AstroMan1 just has bulb issues. Its an easy fix, even for a rookie like me.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Chesterfield VA
I pulled the one out of my 86 last night. Once you get the cover off there are 4 screws holding the dash assy in. Then 2 plugs on the right side of the panel.
I didn't have spare bulbs, so I resoldered the plugs between the two PCB's in the dash panel. But the only reason I pulled the dash out was due to all 4 bulbs being bad and the speedo being intermittent.
I am pulling the dash from the 89 tonight to see if that fixes the speedo or if I have another problem.
I didn't have spare bulbs, so I resoldered the plugs between the two PCB's in the dash panel. But the only reason I pulled the dash out was due to all 4 bulbs being bad and the speedo being intermittent.
I am pulling the dash from the 89 tonight to see if that fixes the speedo or if I have another problem.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Chesterfield VA
You have to take the center cover off(radio/ info center). Then the cover over the dash assy (and the screws on the side with door open).
Then you can get to the four screws that hold the dash in.
I also saw a more detailed description somewhere by doing a google search on these. But I didn't find that till after I pulled mine.
Then you can get to the four screws that hold the dash in.
I also saw a more detailed description somewhere by doing a google search on these. But I didn't find that till after I pulled mine.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 600
Likes: 0
From: been there done that
I'm having problems with my digital dash. I have been banging on it for a while now to get it to come back on after it goes off and yesterday when it came back on the speedometer lighting was a little dim. I was thinking of getting the repair book by Gordon Killebrew and wondered if anybody has read it and if it is helpful, also if it tells you how to remove the dash. Thanks.
jk!
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,226
Likes: 9
From: Irvine Ca
Did you go there and look? It is kinda hard to find....you have to navigate his site as it is his personal site that contains all sorts of info including the page that you need.
Getting the Cluster out takes a little bit of finagling, but it should only take you about 10 minutes tops to have the cluster on the work bench......trust me.....It'll take you 45 minutes the first time because you are timid.... Once you see how to do it, you'll kick yourself for being timid.
Again, I urge you to go to the site and see for yourself. You are not the first to be reluctant to listen.......and since we have this discussion about three times per month every month on this board with new members....I'm sure you will not be the last either.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 3
From: Supreme Soviet Peace-Loving Pipple's Kollektive of Seattle Wa
The Batee.com site tells you tricks as to how to get the cluster out.
Did you go there and look? It is kinda hard to find....you have to navigate his site as it is his personal site that contains all sorts of info including the page that you need.
Getting the Cluster out takes a little bit of finagling, but it should only take you about 10 minutes tops to have the cluster on the work bench......trust me.....It'll take you 45 minutes the first time because you are timid.... Once you see how to do it, you'll kick yourself for being timid.
Again, I urge you to go to the site and see for yourself. You are not the first to be reluctant to listen.......and since we have this discussion about three times per month every month on this board with new members....I'm sure you will not be the last either.
Did you go there and look? It is kinda hard to find....you have to navigate his site as it is his personal site that contains all sorts of info including the page that you need.
Getting the Cluster out takes a little bit of finagling, but it should only take you about 10 minutes tops to have the cluster on the work bench......trust me.....It'll take you 45 minutes the first time because you are timid.... Once you see how to do it, you'll kick yourself for being timid.
Again, I urge you to go to the site and see for yourself. You are not the first to be reluctant to listen.......and since we have this discussion about three times per month every month on this board with new members....I'm sure you will not be the last either.
