Dash cluster

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jan 21, 2003 | 01:30 PM

insanegt1

Thread Starter

Advanced

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 54

Likes: 0

From: Clifton co

Dash cluster

Does anyone know the difference in the dash pods from an 84 to 86? My winks out on hiting bumps and ebay has some darn cheap. Or should I just send mine in to a rebuilder?

Jan 22, 2003 | 10:19 AM

hz900

Melting Slicks

Joined: Feb 2002

Posts: 2,699

Likes: 2

From: The Black Hole LA

Re: Dash cluster (insanegt1)

84-85 are the same as far as fit go. 86-89 are the same as far as fit go. I think any year model will plug in and work fine though. The font changed from 84-85 and then again in 86 I believe. The reason for the firment issue is in 86 GM changed the bezel that goes around the cluster. I am positive when I say that the 84-85 will not fit quite right in an 86-69 and vice versa, I currently have an 84 cluster in my 86, it looks like it sits to low by about 1/4 inch.

Jan 22, 2003 | 02:27 PM

dgoodhue

Safety Car

Joined: Dec 1999

Posts: 4,691

Likes: 1

From: Framingham MA

Re: Dash cluster (hz900)

They are all interchangable. The 84 are the most noticably different because of the graphics. 84-85 shown the tach speed below as two digite, ie 640 rpm would display '64' and 86-89 show this as '6'. In Mid 86-88 the upshift-light was added to the tach panel moved from the middle panel. 89 their was another slight change (Sorry I can't remeber exactly what it was).

[Modified by dgoodhue, 2:28 PM 1/22/2003]

Jan 22, 2003 | 02:29 PM

vettmech

Drifting

Joined: Feb 2000

Posts: 1,994

Likes: 0

From: Charleston, WV

Re: Dash cluster (insanegt1)

does the whole cluster go out? or does the lighting change? If the whole cluster goes out and back on you may have a bad ground connection at the belhousing. it's the second bolt from the bottom on the driver's side and the wire goes to it and is black. I beleive there are two wires in one connector. Mine is going out and coming back altogether . the bolt's tight so I am thinking the wire may be damaged but that's where to look first before pulling the cluster. you can get to it by jacking the car

Jan 22, 2003 | 03:42 PM

hz900

Melting Slicks

Joined: Feb 2002

Posts: 2,699

Likes: 2

From: The Black Hole LA

Re: Dash cluster (insanegt1)

When it winks out do the blinker and bright light indicators come on and stay on, if so you do have a bad ground, but it is in the cluster. One of the metal pins connecting the two circuit boards has come loose and needs to be resoldered. It is a common problem, I have read that it was a design flaw that wasn't caught until 88 or 89. The pin carries to much load and the solder connection gets to hot and breaks down over time.

If you take it apart you will see what I am talking about. If you are not good with a solder gun then I would take the board to an electronics repair shop. Shouldn't cost that much, they can probably do it in about 15 min.

[Modified by hz900, 9:55 AM 1/23/2003]

Jan 22, 2003 | 04:18 PM

insanegt1

Thread Starter

Advanced

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 54

Likes: 0

From: Clifton co

Re: Dash cluster (hz900)

Bad ground?? I have had this cluster out eight ten times. Have taken it apart compleatly. Cleaned and checked-- it seams every solder joint and still haven't found the break. I have got to be missing it. I'll take it apart again and look closer with a glass. When you rap the side of the dash you can see the blinker and bright light indacator blink a few times and then the dash will come back on so maybe your right the solder joint must be bad. Thing is I just got and email from a tect that says it is not a ground and needs to be sent in to him to be repaired. Wonderrrrrrr??? Why??

Jan 22, 2003 | 06:25 PM

Wiggy

Advanced

Joined: Jul 2001

Posts: 83

Likes: 0

fix your clusters is very easy

once you pull it apart, you see a connector that connects one board to the next it has 11 or something pins (use a magnify glass and look for discoloration and cracks on the joints), DESOLDER all of these and resoder using electronic solder (a ratio of 63:37 is optimal and can be found at your local electronic stores, or at radio shack---watch out for these guys they'll try and sell you a cell phone, or batteries, or they'll think your building a computer)
The solder they used back in the day was in a bad ratio and as a result often results in "cold solder joints" which cause lots of havac.

Have a nice day (time to go do lab work and stop playing online)

joe a.k.a WiGgY

Jan 23, 2003 | 02:57 PM

insanegt1

Thread Starter

Advanced

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 54

Likes: 0

From: Clifton co

Re: fix your clusters is very easy (Wiggy)

joe

Well I think I needed to respond to your addvise and pull the cluster apart. Now mind you I have had a number of tects advise me on the repair of these clusters. I don't think any of them even owns a Vett. After takeing the dash apart at least ten times and run a number of new grounds from the trans and door piller. I figured what the hell one more time won't matter. WEll you were right on the money Joe. There were three pins with solder cracked. I took the solder iron and went to work melting the old solder back to the pin and put a cap of new on top. Guess what?? It works like it was new. That dash had me pissed off for a year now and you fixed it in an hour. I thank you for the advise and the knowhow. Oh and there are 12 pins.