I'd like my dash scrambled, please.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 69
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From: Central Valley CA
I'd like my dash scrambled, please.
Quick question guys...
The dash in my '87 is becoming intermittent, the backlight and the LCD. Sometimes I'll start the car the the backlight will be out and the LCD on, other times they will both be out. Sometimes when driving the LCD will illuminate all the possibilities, and other times it will scramble and show a mishmash of data. Sometimes just the backlights will go out, then come back on. When it does go out (either the LCD or the backlights) driving for another few minutes (and hitting some reflectors in the road to jostle things) returns it to normal.
As recommended, I have run an extra ground from the black/white striped wire at ambient temp sensor to a good ground, and while it improved things a bit it still has issues.
Suggestions? My thoughts are the grounds on the back of the block. Any other pointers?
I'm trying to sell the car right now, and the last thing I want to do while giving someone a test ride/drive is for it to go dead.
Thanks,
Troy
The dash in my '87 is becoming intermittent, the backlight and the LCD. Sometimes I'll start the car the the backlight will be out and the LCD on, other times they will both be out. Sometimes when driving the LCD will illuminate all the possibilities, and other times it will scramble and show a mishmash of data. Sometimes just the backlights will go out, then come back on. When it does go out (either the LCD or the backlights) driving for another few minutes (and hitting some reflectors in the road to jostle things) returns it to normal.
As recommended, I have run an extra ground from the black/white striped wire at ambient temp sensor to a good ground, and while it improved things a bit it still has issues.
Suggestions? My thoughts are the grounds on the back of the block. Any other pointers?
I'm trying to sell the car right now, and the last thing I want to do while giving someone a test ride/drive is for it to go dead.
Thanks,
Troy
Last edited by Banana_Z52; Apr 5, 2005 at 10:10 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
The cluster has two circuit boards which plug together with a single row of pins on the front board (as driver sees them) into a socket on the rear board. The end pin nearest the center of the board carries the lamp current and an age relaxed spring on the socket causes connection resistance and the lamp current causes so much heat that it unsolders the pin and causes unreliable lamps. The easiest permanent fix is to solder a short insulated wire from the pin to the socket which is what I did on my 87. The scrambled LCD presentation may be some defective solder joints on the circuit board since a jolt returns it to normal. It could be that repairing the lamps may fix the LCD scramble since you will have to unplug the two connectors on the cluster and re-plug them upon reinstall and if a poor connector connection is the cause , this may correct it.
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
Likes: 71
From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Perhaps this guy can help you out....
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1057107
Perchance you're not a shapely blond, are you?
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1057107
Perchance you're not a shapely blond, are you?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
Originally Posted by jfb
The cluster has two circuit boards which plug together with a single row of pins on the front board (as driver sees them) into a socket on the rear board. The end pin nearest the center of the board carries the lamp current and an age relaxed spring on the socket causes connection resistance and the lamp current causes so much heat that it unsolders the pin and causes unreliable lamps. The easiest permanent fix is to solder a short insulated wire from the pin to the socket which is what I did on my 87. The scrambled LCD presentation may be some defective solder joints on the circuit board since a jolt returns it to normal. It could be that repairing the lamps may fix the LCD scramble since you will have to unplug the two connectors on the cluster and re-plug them upon reinstall and if a poor connector connection is the cause , this may correct it.
I've been in the market for a new dash for a while for the same dark problem.
Jake
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,130
Likes: 2
From: seattle WA
Still at it huh Jake. No you don't have to seperate the boards! Especially since you've been in yours several times-cleaning and adding the piggy back ground. All there doing is adding a short piece of wire to the ground pin, more or less bypassing the pin connection-routing that piece of wire past the connection and splicing it into the ground wire after the connection.In essence a jumper wire-bypassing the connection.
