1985 c4
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Sherman Texas
1985 c4
Just purchased my first vette 2 months ago a 1985 black with silver interior.I've fixed most of the bugs but the dash is kickn my rear!I have done everything on batee,checked all ground points,ran another ground to the frame,checked fuse etc.This weekend I lost my reverse lights when diagnosing this I found that I have no power at the fuse box for the cluster or brake fuses but even without power to this fuse I am getting 6 volts to the power plug at the cluster. The things that work,turn signals,brake lights,headlights,interior lights hatch release windshield wipers.Things that don't, dash(will show partial display but shows no info at all and will not light the bulbs)cooling fans,reverse lights. For some odd reason the dash worked on the 4th and functioned 100% correct but I still had no power at the fuse and after 2 hrs it went out again.The car only has 33,000 miles and sat under a tarp for 16 yrs. until I rescued it,any help I can get would be appreciated.
p.s. Hello every one I am new to the site
p.s. Hello every one I am new to the site
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,765
Likes: 5
Just purchased my first vette 2 months ago a 1985 black with silver interior.I've fixed most of the bugs but the dash is kickn my rear!I have done everything on batee,checked all ground points,ran another ground to the frame,checked fuse etc.This weekend I lost my reverse lights when diagnosing this I found that I have no power at the fuse box for the cluster or brake fuses but even without power to this fuse I am getting 6 volts to the power plug at the cluster. The things that work,turn signals,brake lights,headlights,interior lights hatch release windshield wipers.Things that don't, dash(will show partial display but shows no info at all and will not light the bulbs)cooling fans,reverse lights. For some odd reason the dash worked on the 4th and functioned 100% correct but I still had no power at the fuse and after 2 hrs it went out again.The car only has 33,000 miles and sat under a tarp for 16 yrs. until I rescued it,any help I can get would be appreciated.
p.s. Hello every one I am new to the site
p.s. Hello every one I am new to the site
Brian
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Sherman Texas
I did resolder the original joints but I just found a post about adding a jumper wire between the 2 boards,will try that this weekend. I'm still confused on the no power to or from the fuse fuse box to the cluster but I have 6 volts at the cluster terminal!
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 7
From: Chewelah Wa
Try running a known good 12v source to the cluster temporarily and see if it works. If it does, you need to find out the source of the voltage drop (think high resistance connection or splice). Crimp type connectors come to mind.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Sherman Texas
Tore the dash pad out this weekend,found a break in the wire for the instrument at the fuse box but this did not solve my problem.I pulled the cluster checked voltage on all circuits and they were correct,I rerouted the ground on the engine bell housing to the frame for easier access and ran a ground strap from the frame back to the original ground position at the bell housing,no luck!Was running a quick errand for my wife to the store and the dash mysteriously came to life. Now I'm really frustrated because try as I mite it wont go back off and I don't know what fixed it but I do know it's not permanent.
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Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Sherman Texas
maybe,pads still off so I'll look over it again.All I have to go by is a Chiltons and though it's not bad I've had better luck here and on the net with the wiring diagrams.
update: got up this morning to do some errands and the only thing that came on was the speedometer,I knew it wouldn't last.will try tomorrow adding the jumper wire in the cluster at the power pin
update: got up this morning to do some errands and the only thing that came on was the speedometer,I knew it wouldn't last.will try tomorrow adding the jumper wire in the cluster at the power pin
Last edited by bassn1968; Jul 18, 2011 at 06:36 PM. Reason: more info
