Digital Dash Fail

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Nov 14, 2014 | 08:01 PM

MotorCity_87_C4

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From: Livonia Michigan

Digital Dash Fail

Went to pull the car out of the garage to get the snow shovels out of the attic, Dash is dead, with no back lighting, I switched on the headlights and I could faintly see the display, it was like all the led segment were randomly coming on then off.

I suspose I'll have to pull the dash and visit the Batee web site to make a test connector and start doing some troubleshooting.

Nov 14, 2014 | 09:04 PM

hcbph

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From: Minneapolis Mn

Dash

Quote:

Originally Posted by MotorCity_87_C4

Went to pull the car out of the garage to get the snow shovels out of the attic, Dash is dead, with no back lighting, I switched on the headlights and I could faintly see the display, it was like all the led segment were randomly coming on then off.

I supose I'll have to pull the dash and visit the Batee web site to make a test connector and start doing some troubleshooting.

I had pretty much the same thing happen last spring when it got rained on. In my case, once it dried off the display same back. I think something on a ground may have gotten wet and was the cause of my issue. I'm planning one of these days pulling every ground I can get to and clean them up. Once my display came back it hasn't happened again, but then again it hasn't gotten rained on again either.

Nov 15, 2014 | 02:57 AM

Cliff Harris

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From: Anaheim CA

Sounds like your photocell has a problem. That's what determines the brightness of the back lighting in the day time.

Dec 1, 2014 | 04:15 PM

MotorCity_87_C4

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From: Livonia Michigan

Ordered the PowerSupply kit from Batee.com on Friday and the parts arrived on Monday. I'll post the results when I get the PS soldered in and the dash put back together. I also ordered the Xenon bulb kit.

Dec 1, 2014 | 10:04 PM

kdf1986

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From: Lakeland Florida

The dash lights would go on and off intermittently in my 86. I finally decided to investigate and pulled the dash out. It wasnt too bad of a job. On the 86 getting the headlight **** off was kind of challenging. Corvette Forum search helped me find the hidden detent notch or tab for that.

The problem with my dash was the ribbon cable connections on the right side. Once these were pulled out and reseated, the dash operated fine. I did go ahead and replace the 4 dash bulbs since this was out. I could not find the original type bulbs with the leads on them, so I upgraded to a compatible socket type, and replaced all four. So far life is good again.

kdf

Dec 1, 2014 | 10:17 PM

gerardvg

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From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Quote:

Originally Posted by MotorCity_87_C4

As long as you have read the diagnosis pages thoroughly, i would recommend replacing the photocell sensor, board connectors, and power board repairs. Do it all together to be sure.

Batee has the common repair kits on ebay.
Usually a bad photocell does not affect the nightime illumination, use a flash light shine it at the photocell during daytime and it should get a little brighter. At night turn the headlight **** to adjust brightness.
Usually only one back light globe blows, not all at once.
Power supply board will be my guess.

For sure test it with the instrument cluster connected before refitting everything.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Backlight-Repair-Kit-Connector-C4-Corvette-Digital-Cluster-Gauge-Instrument-Dash-/111465020247?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item19f3d53b57
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Power-Supply-Repair-Kit-C4-Corvette-Digital-Cluster-Gauge-Instrument-Panel-Dash-/111519367146?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item19f7127fea
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Photocell-Repair-Kit-C4-Corvette-Digital-Cluster-Gauge-Instrument-Panel-Dash-/121494295309?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c499fd30d

Dec 2, 2014 | 07:24 PM

MotorCity_87_C4

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From: Livonia Michigan

No discolorization of the connector pins. I had the dash out about 5 yrs ago to replace a couple of bulbs, the pins looked good then. The photo-cell has been working good, but the fog light switch was broken so "while I'm in there" I'll replace that switch.

Dec 13, 2014 | 12:47 PM

MotorCity_87_C4

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From: Livonia Michigan

Update:
Thanks for all the help. The new dash power supply that I got from batee.com fixed the problem.

Now I just need to figure out how to replace the fog light switch. looks kind of tight in there.