Dashboard Display
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
Dashboard Display
Hello all,
I recently picked up an older vette {86}, with a blown head gasket {and warped heads} I replaced the heads, and got it running pretty well. I knew when i bought it, it was going to be a project car, so there were no real supprises with regard to its condition. still needs an exhaust system, and some work on its interior. I will post some pics as soon as i figure out how. The reason for this post though, is a question i have regarding the dashboard display. It is very dim, visible during the day, but at night...nothing. Has anyone else encountered this? if so, any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
I recently picked up an older vette {86}, with a blown head gasket {and warped heads} I replaced the heads, and got it running pretty well. I knew when i bought it, it was going to be a project car, so there were no real supprises with regard to its condition. still needs an exhaust system, and some work on its interior. I will post some pics as soon as i figure out how. The reason for this post though, is a question i have regarding the dashboard display. It is very dim, visible during the day, but at night...nothing. Has anyone else encountered this? if so, any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,381
Likes: 87
From: Boston, MA
There are 4 bulbs in the dash that sometimes blow out. They're not too hard to replace if you have a semi-steady hand. Does the whole thing look dim or is one quadrant lit up while the others are dark? If they're all out there may be a grounding issue.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 411
From: WV
Here are the instructions for replacing the bulbs if that is your problem, its either the bulbs or your light sensor in the cluster has gone bad..WW
http://www.batee.com/corvette/dcrg/lightbulb.shtml
If you find you have to remove the cluster, here are directions for that...
http://www.batee.com/corvette/dcrg/repair.htm
http://www.batee.com/corvette/dcrg/lightbulb.shtml
If you find you have to remove the cluster, here are directions for that...
http://www.batee.com/corvette/dcrg/repair.htm
Last edited by WW7; Jul 7, 2009 at 05:59 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 125
From: Dunstable MA
St. Jude Donor '05
You say dim during the day and nothing at night. If "at night" means with the headlights on, then you may only have to turn the headlight **** to "undim" the dash lights. If that's not it, Battee.com has a chapter on the digital dash fix, and if you google, you will find a Corvette Mag article online that details it as well.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
Hello Scorp508,
Thanks for you're reply. I don't think there are bulbs, i think it's LCD. As i said before, during the day it looks OK, a little dim, but OK. But at night, you cannot see the display at all. It's like none of it gets bright enough to see. The indicators WITH bulbs, like the brake light, coolant level, etc. are visible. But the speedometer, tach, gas gauge, and all of the other liquid crystal display gauges need help.
Thanks for you're reply. I don't think there are bulbs, i think it's LCD. As i said before, during the day it looks OK, a little dim, but OK. But at night, you cannot see the display at all. It's like none of it gets bright enough to see. The indicators WITH bulbs, like the brake light, coolant level, etc. are visible. But the speedometer, tach, gas gauge, and all of the other liquid crystal display gauges need help.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,381
Likes: 87
From: Boston, MA
The display is LCD, but it is kind of backwards from what you'd expect an LCD display to do. In the C4 display the LCDs are 'black' when no current is going through them, preventing you from seeing the light those 4 bulbs give off shining through the colored film behind the actual LCD panes. The car then 'turns on' LCDs as necessary to make them clear so you can see the colored parts of the display.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every Model vs Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,226
Likes: 9
From: Irvine Ca
Blastoff, you aren't listening.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...r-problem.html
This question comes up three times per week on this forum. Trust....trust....
I'm not sure you went to Batee.com like WW posted. If you did you'd see what we are talking about.....4 bulbs
LCD=Liquid crystal display...the crystals are in a liquid....when you excite them with a voltage they move aside and allow a backlight to shine through a colored lens. So when you think the pretty green part has gone dark.....the green part stayed the same...some black liquid just covered it up.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 824
Likes: 30
From: San Pablo California
I'll be more direct
Blastoff, you aren't listening.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...r-problem.html
This question comes up three times per week on this forum. Trust....trust....
I'm not sure you went to Batee.com like WW posted. If you did you'd see what we are talking about.....4 bulbs
LCD=Liquid crystal display...the crystals are in a liquid....when you excite them with a voltage they move aside and allow a backlight to shine through a colored lens. So when you think the pretty green part has gone dark.....the green part stayed the same...some black liquid just covered it up.
Blastoff, you aren't listening.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...r-problem.html
This question comes up three times per week on this forum. Trust....trust....
I'm not sure you went to Batee.com like WW posted. If you did you'd see what we are talking about.....4 bulbs
LCD=Liquid crystal display...the crystals are in a liquid....when you excite them with a voltage they move aside and allow a backlight to shine through a colored lens. So when you think the pretty green part has gone dark.....the green part stayed the same...some black liquid just covered it up.
A few weeks ago I had a similiar problem and he put me in the right direction with the light cluster problem that I had.
If you have to replace the 4 little lights, go with the Xenon. They burn much cooler and will not burn your circuit board.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
Hello jhammons01,
I am listening, and i did check out Batee.com, it was very helpful. I have not had a chance to pull it apart yet. When i went back out to the car yesterday, i encountered a more pressing issue, my main fan is not working. When i first bought the car about a month ago, i replaced the radiator, thermostat, and fan motor. I am not getting any voltage at the fan, so i'm guessing it might be a problem with the relay. I let it run until the coolant temp reached 215 degrees. The secondary fan kicked in, but the main fan did not. I have a copy of chiltons corvette repair manuel, but theres not much info regarding the fan, or it's control circuitry. If anyone can direct me to the location of the relay, it would be very helpful. BTW, it's a relief to hear that my dash problems might be nothing more than burnt out bulbs. I'll let you know how it turns out. Thanks.
I am listening, and i did check out Batee.com, it was very helpful. I have not had a chance to pull it apart yet. When i went back out to the car yesterday, i encountered a more pressing issue, my main fan is not working. When i first bought the car about a month ago, i replaced the radiator, thermostat, and fan motor. I am not getting any voltage at the fan, so i'm guessing it might be a problem with the relay. I let it run until the coolant temp reached 215 degrees. The secondary fan kicked in, but the main fan did not. I have a copy of chiltons corvette repair manuel, but theres not much info regarding the fan, or it's control circuitry. If anyone can direct me to the location of the relay, it would be very helpful. BTW, it's a relief to hear that my dash problems might be nothing more than burnt out bulbs. I'll let you know how it turns out. Thanks.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
Thanks Scorp. Ill let you know how it turns out. I just posted two photos, their in the "non" corvette catagory. I'm new at this. If anyone is interested, i took a bunch of photos while changing the heads. Thanks again.
Last edited by Blastoff; Jul 8, 2009 at 11:49 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
The fan has dual programming.
1. with air conditioning off, the main fan comes on at 225, and goes off at 215.
2. with air conditioning on, the fan comes on at 220, and goes off at 210
I have an 86, so I know the concern.
BTW,
on the dash bulbs, you have to pull the dash overlay from off the display, and under it, there are 4 shiny metal covers.
you pull the metal covers, and there's a bulb in each hole
1. with air conditioning off, the main fan comes on at 225, and goes off at 215.
2. with air conditioning on, the fan comes on at 220, and goes off at 210
I have an 86, so I know the concern.
BTW,
on the dash bulbs, you have to pull the dash overlay from off the display, and under it, there are 4 shiny metal covers.
you pull the metal covers, and there's a bulb in each hole
Last edited by coupeguy2001; Jul 8, 2009 at 03:34 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,286
Likes: 6
From: Palm Beach
????? Are you saying the fan does not come immediately on a cold engine with AC on?
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,939
Likes: 1
From: Vero Beach Florida
I was wondering about that myself on my 87 with A/C on at idle the fan comes on once pressure is built up in system. I don’t recall the actual numbers but it comes on very fast. Also over a certain speed I believe the fan goes off but not sure I thought it's something like 35mph. It's all controled through the ECM and the sensor input.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,356
Likes: 2
From: No HOA, New Hampshire
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09
Hello jhammons01,
I am listening, and i did check out Batee.com, it was very helpful. I have not had a chance to pull it apart yet. When i went back out to the car yesterday, i encountered a more pressing issue, my main fan is not working. When i first bought the car about a month ago, i replaced the radiator, thermostat, and fan motor. I am not getting any voltage at the fan, so i'm guessing it might be a problem with the relay. I let it run until the coolant temp reached 215 degrees. The secondary fan kicked in, but the main fan did not. I have a copy of chiltons corvette repair manuel, but theres not much info regarding the fan, or it's control circuitry. If anyone can direct me to the location of the relay, it would be very helpful. BTW, it's a relief to hear that my dash problems might be nothing more than burnt out bulbs. I'll let you know how it turns out. Thanks.
I am listening, and i did check out Batee.com, it was very helpful. I have not had a chance to pull it apart yet. When i went back out to the car yesterday, i encountered a more pressing issue, my main fan is not working. When i first bought the car about a month ago, i replaced the radiator, thermostat, and fan motor. I am not getting any voltage at the fan, so i'm guessing it might be a problem with the relay. I let it run until the coolant temp reached 215 degrees. The secondary fan kicked in, but the main fan did not. I have a copy of chiltons corvette repair manuel, but theres not much info regarding the fan, or it's control circuitry. If anyone can direct me to the location of the relay, it would be very helpful. BTW, it's a relief to hear that my dash problems might be nothing more than burnt out bulbs. I'll let you know how it turns out. Thanks.