dash cluster
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: Simi Valley ca
dash cluster
Hi All,
I have a cluster question. Mine is having some difficulties and has the usual symptoms of going off and on when hitting a bump in the road. Has anyone every experienced this and found the fix to be only reseating the cables like reseating the boards in a PC. Just wondering if this always means the cluster itself needs repair.
thanks
joe
I have a cluster question. Mine is having some difficulties and has the usual symptoms of going off and on when hitting a bump in the road. Has anyone every experienced this and found the fix to be only reseating the cables like reseating the boards in a PC. Just wondering if this always means the cluster itself needs repair.
thanks
joe
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,160
Likes: 1,733
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Re: dash cluster (jvesalga)
Its caused by a loose connection inside the dash unit usually. You must remove the unit entirely and resolder the connections inside, and the problem should disappear.
And you may as well replace the 4 bulbs in the unit while youre in there, they are Sylvania 882s.
And you may as well replace the 4 bulbs in the unit while youre in there, they are Sylvania 882s.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: dash cluster (jvesalga)
There are two circuit boards in your cluster and they plug together with a single row of pins on the forward board into a socket on the rear board. The pin closest to the center of the board carries the lamp current and this current flowing through an age relaxed spring on the socket causes heat to the point where the pin unsolders itself and causes the intermittent condition.
Resoldering the pin will not cure the problem, replacement of the socket is required, or, a permenant fix which I did to my 87 dash is to solder a short insulated small piece of hookup wire from the rear board pin to the front board socket.
Resoldering the pin will not cure the problem, replacement of the socket is required, or, a permenant fix which I did to my 87 dash is to solder a short insulated small piece of hookup wire from the rear board pin to the front board socket.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: NORTH WALES PA
Re: dash cluster (jfb)
I have the exact same problem. Is it that simple? I was contemplating wheather I should send it to a repair place or buy a new one, but since we have someone who's done this before, I will take the opportunity to give it a shot myself.
Is there any particular soldering wire needed and where would you buy the socket. I'm assuming in a radio shack. Please let me know. I will attempt to do this in the next few days. I hope you don't mind if I send pics of stuff to get me by. :yesnod:
Is there any particular soldering wire needed and where would you buy the socket. I'm assuming in a radio shack. Please let me know. I will attempt to do this in the next few days. I hope you don't mind if I send pics of stuff to get me by. :yesnod:
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Union Ky
Re: dash cluster (jvesalga)
You might want to check out this link:
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/1999...ash/dashp1.asp
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/1999...ash/dashp1.asp
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 3,868
Likes: 1
From: Chino Hills CA
Cruise-In III & VI Veteran
Re: dash cluster (jfb)
I agree with jfb. My 87 had the same problem and resolding the pin lasted about 6 months before I had to take it apart again. For some good pictures and info on how to take the cluster apart you can also check out this site. http://www.batee.com/corvette/
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