Digital dash dead
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 362
Likes: 0
From: Morristown Tn
Digital dash dead
My dash cluster went dead and I assumed it was the cluster. Took it out and sent it off to be rebuilt. Got it back today. Plugged it up and the thing is still dead. Doing the same thing it did when I sent it off. You can see what seems like a current going thru it for a split second. Never completely lights up. What else can it be?? Changed my spark plugs a few days before, but it had been flickering for a couple years so I figured it had just had it. I called the company that rebuilt it and he said it worked fine on his bench for at least 3 hours, but he has seen a few clusters that would work on the bench but not in the car.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Whenever you post about problems, always include the year vette.
Check the LCD, CLSTR. INST and TAIL fuses with an ohmeter and the quality of their clips in the fuse block. I would even wipe the fuse blades with some contact cleaner like CAIG Deoxid D5 (good stuff). I would also spray the contacts in the two connectors that plug into your cluster. Next, measure the voltage on the pins, D5, C16, D16, C6 and C9 with the ign sw in run,(should be the same as your battery voltage) and use your ohmeter to check for a low resistance to ground on D1. If everything checks ok but your cluster is still dark, I would examine with a 5X loupe, the condition of all the connector clips in each connector, you may have some that are splayed and not making contact with the pins in the cluster sockets.
Check the LCD, CLSTR. INST and TAIL fuses with an ohmeter and the quality of their clips in the fuse block. I would even wipe the fuse blades with some contact cleaner like CAIG Deoxid D5 (good stuff). I would also spray the contacts in the two connectors that plug into your cluster. Next, measure the voltage on the pins, D5, C16, D16, C6 and C9 with the ign sw in run,(should be the same as your battery voltage) and use your ohmeter to check for a low resistance to ground on D1. If everything checks ok but your cluster is still dark, I would examine with a 5X loupe, the condition of all the connector clips in each connector, you may have some that are splayed and not making contact with the pins in the cluster sockets.
Last edited by jfb; Oct 21, 2010 at 10:28 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,082
Likes: 3
From: Conowingo Maryland
Did he find anything wrong with it or did he just charge you a standard fee and found nothing so he did nothing? If he did his job and it worked on the bench I would find it hard to think it would not work in your car. You need to test the positives and the grounds that go to the dash for it to lite up. There are a couple of grounds. Check your gauge fuse. Also check out batee.com good site for dash problems.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 362
Likes: 0
From: Morristown Tn
Let's just say you guys are waaaayyyy more advanced in knowledge about trouble shooting than I am. But I will take this advice to a good tech I know. Chevy tech for 20 years. Just has'nt worked on alot of corvettes
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 362
Likes: 0
From: Morristown Tn
Did he find anything wrong with it or did he just charge you a standard fee and found nothing so he did nothing? If he did his job and it worked on the bench I would find it hard to think it would not work in your car. You need to test the positives and the grounds that go to the dash for it to lite up. There are a couple of grounds. Check your gauge fuse. Also check out batee.com good site for dash problems.
When he called me after he got the unit he said the power supply needed replaced and I assumed that was the problem with the cluster.
Last edited by jjgkdg; Oct 21, 2010 at 10:08 PM. Reason: New/ old problems not mentioned
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 362
Likes: 0
From: Morristown Tn
I have a vacuum issue too. The heater won't change to spacific positions either and my cruise control quit. Noticed the heater issue right after plug change. Heard a click in the center stack/upper/ cruise quit then the dash tanked.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,341
Likes: 2
From: Perth Western Australia
St. Jude Donor '10
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 362
Likes: 0
From: Morristown Tn
Found it!
Dash is alive and well. It was as simple as a blown fuse. It was not easily seen as blown just a small crack. A tech friend of mine started trouble shooting the fuses and found it. Thanks to all the guys at Taber Corvette parts for thier patience and support! The rebuilt unit looks and works as good as new. Also solved the cruise control problem!
Highly recommend those guys!
Highly recommend those guys!