dash cluster

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Nov 14, 2002 | 06:59 PM

jvesalga

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Jan 2002

Posts: 330

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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

Nov 14, 2002 | 07:38 PM

GoodbyeGirl

Safety Car

Joined: Jul 1999

Posts: 4,833

Likes: 1

From: Castle Rock CO

Cruise-In III Veteran

Re: dash cluster (jvesalga)

You might want to post this in the Tech/Performance section. You'll probably get more responses :)

Nov 14, 2002 | 10:20 PM

vader86

Team Owner

Joined: Sep 2001

Posts: 62,119

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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.

Nov 14, 2002 | 11:06 PM

jfb

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.

Nov 14, 2002 | 11:49 PM

RUSS105

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:

Nov 15, 2002 | 11:14 AM

jmh63

Instructor

Joined: Aug 2000

Posts: 118

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From: Union Ky

Re: dash cluster (jvesalga)

You might want to check out this link:
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/1999...ash/dashp1.asp

Nov 15, 2002 | 12:34 PM

chucks00

Safety Car

Joined: Aug 1999

Posts: 3,868

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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/