Electical Problems

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Nov 10, 2007 | 06:53 PM

SlowRacer

Thread Starter

4th Gear

Joined: Oct 2007

Posts: 4

Likes: 0

Electical Problems

My Display on my 85' cuts out when i hit bumps. I need some advice on what it might be, and what ways i can fix it. Thanks

Nov 11, 2007 | 12:26 AM

CorvetteMike2024

Corvette Enthusiast

Joined: Oct 2007

Posts: 6,787

Likes: 2,690

From: So. Cal.

2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified

2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified

2023 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified

digi dash

Lights or everything? I swapped mine out for a rebuild a while ago. My dash gauges still worked but the lighting system had died. I think I paid around 325 dollars exchange. I have realy enjoyed my new digi dash since replacement.

Nov 11, 2007 | 08:28 AM

badabing9

Instructor

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 231

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlowRacer

My Display on my 85' cuts out when i hit bumps. I need some advice on what it might be, and what ways i can fix it. Thanks

i would remive it and check, clean, and reinstall the unit and see what happens before shopping for a replacement.

Nov 11, 2007 | 10:36 AM

Sam Lam

Melting Slicks

Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 2,118

Likes: 0

From: St. Charles, MO Route 66 Corvette Club

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlowRacer

My Display on my 85' cuts out when i hit bumps. I need some advice on what it might be, and what ways i can fix it. Thanks

There is a firewall connection directly behind the battery that goes to the instrument cluster. This connection has about 20 wires in it and supplies voltage to the instument cluster and its gauges. The connector is in an area where water can drain onto it and corrosion can be created. Remove the battery, open the connection, clean all contact areas with a pencil eraser, apply some OxiGuard to the connections and reconnect. Do this before you start buying or repairing. This will cost you very little, except for some time. It may solve your problem.....and it may not solve it. I'll bet a cold Bud Lite that you may be happy after you do the process

Nov 11, 2007 | 11:37 AM

jfb

Team Owner

Joined: Mar 2001

Posts: 54,124

Likes: 30

From: Cincinnati, Oh USA

If only the backlights go out when you hit a bump, then you have an unsoldered pin on the front circuit board. The cluster has two circuit boards that plug into each other from a single row of pins on the front board into a socket on the rear board. The end pin closest to the center of the circuit board carries the lamp current and an age relaxed spring on the socket causes connection resistance. The lamp current flowing through this resistance gets so hot it unsolders the pin. Resoldering the pin will not cure this problem. I soldered a short insulated piece of hookup wire from the pin to the socket while the boards were plugged together and I haven't had any problems since (about 7 years ago).