Anyone had this dash problem
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: australia
Anyone had this dash problem
Hi guys, i have this problem with the dash in my 86, Dash works fine all gauges and functions work perfectly(ie.. distance to empty+ all the others..etc..etc)and the dash is bright with no missing or broken digits......The problem is that quite oftenly it seems to go out all together and i cant see how high the temp goes or even what speed im doing, it might not work for hours then all of a sudden, BANG on it comes and then it works perfectly but then i,ll hit the brakes or something and it goes off again and wont come on againfor who knows how long, its really pissing me off.
Anybody else have this problem before and if so could you please put me out of my misery and tell me whats the deal....Thanks guys.....THUNDER :sad: :sad:
Anybody else have this problem before and if so could you please put me out of my misery and tell me whats the deal....Thanks guys.....THUNDER :sad: :sad:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 765
Likes: 11
Cruise-In I Veteran
Re: Anyone had this dash problem (thunder_down_under)
I've heard this problem is pretty common to the digital "disco" dash. I've heard that there is a ground point solder that cracks and loses contact, which causes your gauges to go out, and then come back as it contacts the ground again later. As the car rides pretty rough, I guess its prone to happen eventually. You'll have to remove the dash cluster and find the problem in the circuit board, or send the dash out to get it repaired.
Now my car hasn't done that yet, but that could be because its a base suspension convert' car, so it rides pretty soft to begin with. Maybe someone else could shed some better light on this. This is just all hear-say for me...Good luck.
Now my car hasn't done that yet, but that could be because its a base suspension convert' car, so it rides pretty soft to begin with. Maybe someone else could shed some better light on this. This is just all hear-say for me...Good luck.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 666
Likes: 0
From: Richmond TX
Re: Anyone had this dash problem (thunder_down_under)
yep, you got the dreaded grouning problem. I fixed mine by following the instructions on banatee's site. Put in the extra grounding wire as described...extra insurance for not having to pull the cluster again....at least not for that problem. :seeya
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: Anyone had this dash problem (thunder_down_under)
If it is the 4 panel lamps going out, then you most likely have the pin that carries the lamp current being unsoldered. Age relaxed spring tension on the socket causes higher contact resistance and the lamp current makes it hotter which relaxes the spring some more and this cycle winds up unsoldering the pin on the lower circuit board. There is a single row of pins that plug into a socket on the upper circuit board and the pin closest to the center of the boards carries the lamp current. Resoldering isn't a cure because you need to replace the socket. I soldered a short piece of hookup wire (#24) between these pins and I will never see that problem again. See http://www.batee@umr.edu
for a good description of removal and repair.
for a good description of removal and repair.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: Tacoma WA
Re: Anyone had this dash problem (thunder_down_under)
I have an '86 and I had a similar problem. Everything would work great, then al of a sudden, my tach, two digits of my water temperature, and two digtits of my average miles per gallon would go dark. My problem turned out to be the laminations on the mother board were separating after the board would heat up from use. I could drive about 1-2 hours before it would get warm enough to happen...........then, bam, it would go dark. If I turned the ignition off for about 20-30 minutes, it would cool enough and everything was fine for another 1-2 hours. Mine was definitely heat related.........not a bad ground, or a loose connection. I had the whole unit rebuilt and refurbished. It's just fine now. Hope this helps.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 4
From: Calgary, Alberta
Re: Anyone had this dash problem (thunder_down_under)
I guess I'm lucky so far, only had to replace the dash bulbs. Mind you that was no fun at all. :yesnod: :confused: :confused:
Knock on wood... :smash:
Knock on wood... :smash:
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: australia
Re: Anyone had this dash problem (cdnguyred88)
Thanx guys, i Will take it out and check out if thats the problem, at least i have a rough idea of what to look at........BTW could somebody post up that BATEE dash repair site again, as the link didnt work.......Thanx again.....THUNDER :flag :flag
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 11,259
Likes: 6
From: dfw TX
Moderatrix
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Re: Anyone had this dash problem (thunder_down_under)
My 85 has a "G" spot. Ever since we took the dash apart to replace the bulbs it does this as well. I think that we did not tighten the plastic face tight enough because I told my hubby not to tighten too much since Scorp508 broke his shortly before we did this. In my case I don't think it's the solder since my hubby cleaned and serviced the whole things when we had it apart.
Here's what works with mine though, maybe it will help you. Do NOT hit the dash, this can blow your bulbs, instead I found the place to use slight pressure right about where the high beam indicator is. If this doesn't help it's probably the solder.
Here's what works with mine though, maybe it will help you. Do NOT hit the dash, this can blow your bulbs, instead I found the place to use slight pressure right about where the high beam indicator is. If this doesn't help it's probably the solder.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 0
From: Puyallup Washington
Re: Anyone had this dash problem (thunder_down_under)
Here is the link: http://batee.cc.umr.edu/corvette/
