information console and code pulling woes
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,463
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From: Everett Washington
information console and code pulling woes
when i bought the car the only lights that would illuminate on the info console were the hatch ajar and brake lights. then after awhile it stopped coming on. so is this lights or would i need a new panel? and when i had hooked up a obd1 scanner to the car it had no codes even though the car was carbed at the time and should have been throwing them left and right.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
It could be that a prior owner had removed some lights from the DIC when the carb conversion was done. There is a block behind the DIC screen that contains a number of lights (168 or 194 bulbs). The only bulbs in place should be those that were actually needed based on the options in the car.
It may also be that a custom chip was put into the ECM that would ignore any input from sensors. It may also be that some sensors were removed. Then the OBD1 reader would not see any stored codes.
It may also be that a custom chip was put into the ECM that would ignore any input from sensors. It may also be that some sensors were removed. Then the OBD1 reader would not see any stored codes.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,463
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From: Everett Washington
i have all the sensors in, and once i get the car to start i should then be able to pull codes if any exist? any way to tell for sure if the ecm had been tinkered with?
would the whole panel die in itself or is it more likely power got cut somewhere?
would the whole panel die in itself or is it more likely power got cut somewhere?
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
The DIC is nothing more than a number of light bulbs in a divided box with a lens cover containing lettering for specific warnings. There are a maximum of 12 lights although I think that for the '85, a few positions aren't used.
The ECM doesn't control all of the warning bulbs. Bulbs for things like door ajar, Security, hatch open, seat belts, and the brake light are controlled by those circuits. If those don't light up at some point, it's likely that the bulbs are burned out or something in that circuit is disconnected (bad connector, bad relay, broken wire, bad sensor, etc.)
When you turn on the ignition switch but don't start the engine, what lights up on the DIC?
The ECM doesn't control all of the warning bulbs. Bulbs for things like door ajar, Security, hatch open, seat belts, and the brake light are controlled by those circuits. If those don't light up at some point, it's likely that the bulbs are burned out or something in that circuit is disconnected (bad connector, bad relay, broken wire, bad sensor, etc.)
When you turn on the ignition switch but don't start the engine, what lights up on the DIC?
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
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Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,556
Likes: 13
