C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

dash gauges

Old Mar 3, 2010 | 02:27 PM
  #1  
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Default dash gauges

I can but hardly see my gauges in my 84 C4 where should i start before i buy a new on I see they can be sun faded or the bulb or lcd what should i do first before replacing or how can I check it Thanks I am new and can ask 1000000 questions Thanks to all have so much to learn.
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Old Mar 3, 2010 | 02:41 PM
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just replace the bulbs, they're like $7 bucks a pop though, kinda pricey but you only do it once.
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Old Mar 3, 2010 | 03:04 PM
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Hardly see.....better description needed.

Are they blacked out...as in you can't see anything unless you shine a light in there or the sun shines into the lens??

Are your Turn signals and high beam indicators illuminated?
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Old Mar 3, 2010 | 04:55 PM
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I can not see them when it is dark, i can see a little when when the light was shining in on the panell.I could see all the gauges but if it is dark I cant see anything
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Old Mar 3, 2010 | 04:56 PM
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Default pannel

also I can not see turn signal lights I have not tried hazzards Thanks John
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Old Mar 3, 2010 | 05:48 PM
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Default pannel

I was wrong and dont think this is good,I went to look at the gauges I can see evrything all the gauges when the key is not in there.so does this mean the led is bad I was going to order bulbs will that light it up at all or is the gauges shot Thanks John
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Old Mar 3, 2010 | 05:50 PM
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Originally Posted by jhammons01
Hardly see.....better description needed.

Are they blacked out...as in you can't see anything unless you shine a light in there or the sun shines into the lens??

Are your Turn signals and high beam indicators illuminated?
i was wrong I can see all the gauges speedo and gas so on when no key is in will bulbs help or is the cluster bad if so do i need a led or a new cluster Thanks John
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Old Mar 3, 2010 | 05:55 PM
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Make sure the headlight switch is twisted. Then put a flashlight up to the photodiode (the little square opening to the upper left) and see if the lights get brighter.
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Old Mar 4, 2010 | 06:54 PM
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Originally Posted by jhammons01
Hardly see.....better description needed.

Are they blacked out...as in you can't see anything unless you shine a light in there or the sun shines into the lens??

Are your Turn signals and high beam indicators illuminated?


OK I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEN BUT ON MINE THE TURN SIGNALS & HIGH BEAN LIGHT I CAN SEE THEM WHAT DOES THIS MEAN...?

DOES THE CENTER INFO PANEL IS DISCONECTED WILL THIS NOT LET THE CLUSTER WORK.....?

THANKS GUYS....!
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Old Mar 5, 2010 | 02:55 PM
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Default dash lights

I can see everything but not lit up even when the car is off it does not change when I turn it on or turn the ****.I put a flashlight up to the square and it did not change,should i try replacing the bulbs or is the gauges bad I hope it is just the bulbs wishfull thinking
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Old Mar 5, 2010 | 03:10 PM
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John, I think your bulbs are bad

Batman, you need to go to Batee.com and look through it. It is just a guys private webspace....but He has posted the most comprehensive DIY fix for these clusters. Your cure is only 3 hours away if you follow directions correctly.

Just make sure you have the correct "Nutdriver" that he post and a soldering iron. Other than that, just basic tools.
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Old Mar 5, 2010 | 03:30 PM
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Originally Posted by jhammons01
John, I think your bulbs are bad

Batman, you need to go to Batee.com and look through it. It is just a guys private webspace....but He has posted the most comprehensive DIY fix for these clusters. Your cure is only 3 hours away if you follow directions correctly.

Just make sure you have the correct "Nutdriver" that he post and a soldering iron. Other than that, just basic tools.
Thanks I hope thats it That would be great Thanks so much I am new on here and new with auto.Own a small construction company and traded a older ski boat for the car.love it but times are tough to dump a ton of money.I need all new interior,exterior is mint and motor and trans have 20,000 so it will be a nice car in time any way Thanks
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Old Mar 5, 2010 | 04:09 PM
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Originally Posted by johnnoah3rd
I was wrong and dont think this is good,I went to look at the gauges I can see evrything all the gauges when the key is not in there.so does this mean the led is bad I was going to order bulbs will that light it up at all or is the gauges shot Thanks John
Based on seeing everything with no key in it, to me it sounds like your cluster is sunburned, With the key and lights off you should see nothing on your cluster. I have the same problem and I found a guy on that auction site that repairs/replaces clusters feedback was good and price seemed fair.
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Old Mar 8, 2010 | 07:39 PM
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Originally Posted by HdRider04
Based on seeing everything with no key in it, to me it sounds like your cluster is sunburned, With the key and lights off you should see nothing on your cluster. I have the same problem and I found a guy on that auction site that repairs/replaces clusters feedback was good and price seemed fair.
do you recall his name? im in the market for some new lcds. i used to have to use the rpms to know how fast i was going and now i have to use my gps
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Old Mar 8, 2010 | 08:00 PM
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Originally Posted by HdRider04
Based on seeing everything with no key in it, to me it sounds like your cluster is sunburned, With the key and lights off you should see nothing on your cluster. I have the same problem and I found a guy on that auction site that repairs/replaces clusters feedback was good and price seemed fair.
OK guys......LCD 101 is now in session.

These black "liquid crystals" are shadowing the back light until an electro-magnetic signal pulls the liquid crystals to one side and that allows the back light to shine threw a "colored" lens.

If you shine a light into it with the key off or no power...you'll see the colors....they don't go anywhere.......That is how an LCD works.

I'm not sure how this sunburn thing works.

If the bulbs in the back are not shining.....there is a reason why.....and the most common reason is that they are burned out...next common reason (when all four go out at the same time or all four flicker) is that one of the large components hanging on a 90° mounted ~25 year old PC board have vibrated enough to crack the old a$$ solder, causing a short.

Per batee.com , All you have to do is take the board apart, and using a 15.99 Soldering iron from Radio Shack, you heat that solder back up and "RE-Flow" the solder.

It is a simple fix. Please go to Batee.com before you send your Cluster to anyone for a repair that you could do yourself.

Last edited by jhammons01; Mar 8, 2010 at 10:17 PM.
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Old Mar 8, 2010 | 10:02 PM
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Originally Posted by jhammons01
Please go to Batee.com before you send your Cluster to anyone for a repair that you could do yourself.

http://www.batee.com/corvette/dcrg/problems.shtml

http://www.batee.com/corvette/dcrg/r...den/index.html

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...135-post1.html

Last edited by rodj; Mar 8, 2010 at 10:05 PM.
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Old Jun 24, 2010 | 03:54 PM
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Am on it man thanks for the info will work on it this week end and will get back to you guys.....!
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To dash gauges

Old Jun 24, 2010 | 06:06 PM
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Rodj, all those links are gone now....too bad.....I am not sure what we would do without the following....

http://batee.com/corvette/index.htm
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Old Jun 25, 2010 | 01:15 AM
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My dash is very dim following an engine rebuild and the temp gauge is reading high. Batee.com indicates it might be a missing/bad cluster ground; since I have a missing tach filter ground I suspect the cluster has the same issue.

Thanks for the link...
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Old Jul 1, 2010 | 12:15 PM
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from what ive read there are three grounds to the dash, does anybody know where they are located on the car
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