'88 Digi dash/electrical problems...help please
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
'88 Digi dash/electrical problems...help please
I've been having trouble with the dash going very dim/out and the turn signal ligs coming on==symptom of grounding issues.
I've opened the dash, cleaned conenctions, examined both PCBs, insatlled new bulbs & sockets, etc. Still the problem persists.
I just ohmed out the D1,D2,D3 connections to batt gnd and get 4-5 Ohms resistance. I think I should see 0.1 Ohm or so; anyone with experience here have an opinion??
I've opened the dash, cleaned conenctions, examined both PCBs, insatlled new bulbs & sockets, etc. Still the problem persists.
I just ohmed out the D1,D2,D3 connections to batt gnd and get 4-5 Ohms resistance. I think I should see 0.1 Ohm or so; anyone with experience here have an opinion??
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,704
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As usually, it comes usefull again Batee and his site http://www.batee.com/corvette/index.htm i think you know about it,my atary works fine for some months then goes dark for some months again,i performed all batee advices...no way, but i think, when it comes alive again,if now is alive then it isn't broken...i give 3 new ground wire to it,like batee explains,the same...
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
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From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
I'm rereading his advice and may do some of the soldering he recommends.
Regarding the three ground connections, I can do those but aren't satisfied with the ground points available under the dash??
Regarding the three ground connections, I can do those but aren't satisfied with the ground points available under the dash??
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
My attached facebook album has pics of when I had to fix my digi dash. I had to replace 2 grounding jumper wires and removes someone previous failed attempt at fixing it (the fuse).
Album
Bates is what I went off of too so you should find your problem without fail.
Album
Bates is what I went off of too so you should find your problem without fail.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,328
Likes: 15
From: Jacksonville FL
Your right the ground should read about nil. If your signal lights are constantly lit its a pretty good indicator of bad grounding. You can tie all three together and carry it to a known good ground. I drilled a 1/8" hole in the firewall next to the big harness connector in the left side footwell and carried the new ground wire to the frame to battery ground then dabbed silicone over the wire and hole.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
Your right the ground should read about nil. If your signal lights are constantly lit its a pretty good indicator of bad grounding. You can tie all three together and carry it to a known good ground. I drilled a 1/8" hole in the firewall next to the big harness connector in the left side footwell and carried the new ground wire to the frame to battery ground then dabbed silicone over the wire and hole.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
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From: Tampa Florida
If the interior of the car has been exposed to super high humidity conditions/levels (or it just got wet) give it a few days or a week to dry out on its own before you jump in and start to "fix" things....those connections inside the cabin are not the most electrically "sound" things.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: SE NY
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The good news is that I found one of the inter-board connectors a bit burned so I hit the pins with some new solder and the dash has been working solidly for over a day during several "test drives"...
I didn't run the new ground from battery through the firewall; at least not while the display is working well.
I'm now in the process of reassembling the dash; hope to wrap it for the season.
I didn't run the new ground from battery through the firewall; at least not while the display is working well.
I'm now in the process of reassembling the dash; hope to wrap it for the season.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 138
Likes: 1
I love the Atari Dash . One reason I love my 87 
IT is also a common thread here.
It is hard to believe, but the newest Atari dash is 22 years old now. Sheesh..
But I was lucky a couple of years back and found a guy local to fix mine. He had to do a lot of resoldering and replaced a couple of parts. But one thing he found were bad grounds.
Either later today or tomorrow, I have to replace one of the back lights in my dash. I know it isnt a hard job, just one that takes a bit of time.
IT is also a common thread here.It is hard to believe, but the newest Atari dash is 22 years old now. Sheesh..
But I was lucky a couple of years back and found a guy local to fix mine. He had to do a lot of resoldering and replaced a couple of parts. But one thing he found were bad grounds.
Either later today or tomorrow, I have to replace one of the back lights in my dash. I know it isnt a hard job, just one that takes a bit of time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
...I have to replace one of the back lights in my dash. I know it isnt a hard job, just one that takes a bit of time.
The reason I mention this is because they can go bad/intermitant and cause problems such as your describing.
Today I installed the dash pad, all bezels, the hush panel and retested the illumination...all is AOK...thanks to all again.
