Dash Cluster
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 276
Likes: 5
From: Sarasota Florida
Dash Cluster
Hey there everyone!
I just installed my newly rebuilt dash cluster and everything seems to be working except two things. I can't switch it out of metric back to English. I have a feeling that's a fault with the information center. Also, when I switch it to "Average" or "Instant" MPG, either one will light up but for only a few seconds until they fade out again.
Is this all leading to the information center/switch combination?
Thanks in advance!
I just installed my newly rebuilt dash cluster and everything seems to be working except two things. I can't switch it out of metric back to English. I have a feeling that's a fault with the information center. Also, when I switch it to "Average" or "Instant" MPG, either one will light up but for only a few seconds until they fade out again.
Is this all leading to the information center/switch combination?
Thanks in advance!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 276
Likes: 5
From: Sarasota Florida
Bump.
I just had a sudden realization. The DIC basically tells the cluster what to do, correct? As i'm driving it around more I notice the "MPH" is lit up but it reads in KPH. The green bar and the numbers for MPH are lit up as well. So it thinks it's in KPH but the lights have not switched over? As for the center information everything reads in Metric. When I throw overdrive on the OD light doesn't turn on. Is this a faulty cluster or is the DIC at fault?
I just had a sudden realization. The DIC basically tells the cluster what to do, correct? As i'm driving it around more I notice the "MPH" is lit up but it reads in KPH. The green bar and the numbers for MPH are lit up as well. So it thinks it's in KPH but the lights have not switched over? As for the center information everything reads in Metric. When I throw overdrive on the OD light doesn't turn on. Is this a faulty cluster or is the DIC at fault?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
We need a year. The cluster changed completely in 1990, so advice might not apply to you.
It sounds from your description that you have a '84 to '89 cluster.
Do you have the C68 (electronic) HVAC system? If so, the temperature display should switch from English to metric with the DIC switch.
There are two versions of the center cluster display. One is English and the other is metric. You might have the wrong one.
There are two OD lights but I'm sensing that you're talking about the one in the DIC, in which case you must have a 4+3 trans. The bulb might be burned out, assuming that the trans in fact goes into OD, which would indicate that the OD switch is OK.
It sounds from your description that you have a '84 to '89 cluster.
Do you have the C68 (electronic) HVAC system? If so, the temperature display should switch from English to metric with the DIC switch.
There are two versions of the center cluster display. One is English and the other is metric. You might have the wrong one.
There are two OD lights but I'm sensing that you're talking about the one in the DIC, in which case you must have a 4+3 trans. The bulb might be burned out, assuming that the trans in fact goes into OD, which would indicate that the OD switch is OK.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 276
Likes: 5
From: Sarasota Florida
It is a 1987 cluster. I'm not sure in the HVAC system. All I know is before I switched out the cluster for this new one I could switch to English and metric and that it was reading in English. Is there a specific way to tell if it was an English or metric cluster? I think it was in English when we first turned it on but I switched it to metric to show my buddy that it's possible to do so and now it won't switch back. As for the OD, it does gear into OD and it is a 4+3. The OD light doesn't turn on on the DIC or the cluster.
Last edited by Stephenms; Nov 28, 2013 at 02:15 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
The metric clusters do not say UNLEADED FUEL ONLY in the middle.
The OD light (it's actually an upward pointing arrow with the word SHIFT under it -- some say UPSHIFT FOR BEST ECONOMY and there were other variations, depending on the year) in the upper left corner of the tach will come on if you drive in 4th for about a minute at more than about 40 MPH. [ EDIT ] I noticed something weird tonight. My dash says UPSHIFT FOR BEST ECONOMY but only the UPSHIFT part lights up. I never did see the rest of the message light up [ /EDIT ]
The OD light in the DIC is in the lower left corner. It is a D with a rounded square around it. It should come on when you're in OD (4+3 cars only). Here's a visual aid:
The OD light (it's actually an upward pointing arrow with the word SHIFT under it -- some say UPSHIFT FOR BEST ECONOMY and there were other variations, depending on the year) in the upper left corner of the tach will come on if you drive in 4th for about a minute at more than about 40 MPH. [ EDIT ] I noticed something weird tonight. My dash says UPSHIFT FOR BEST ECONOMY but only the UPSHIFT part lights up. I never did see the rest of the message light up [ /EDIT ]
The OD light in the DIC is in the lower left corner. It is a D with a rounded square around it. It should come on when you're in OD (4+3 cars only). Here's a visual aid:
Last edited by Cliff Harris; Dec 5, 2013 at 03:43 AM. Reason: Added note.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 276
Likes: 5
From: Sarasota Florida
My cluster does say Unleaded fuel only below the fuel reading. Most of the bulbs in my information cluster are bad. It does say Upshift for Best Economy but only the arrow and Upshift light up.
After driving it around a bit I get more and more confused with this thing. The green bar will read 40 but the numbers will say 80 to 85. If I convert that from metric to English 80KPH should be about 60mph. The MPH side is lit up only. I'm still not sure whether I got a faulty cluster or have a bad information center. The cluster can be exchanged because of the 1 year warranty but I'd like to figure out what it is that's causing this issue. I appreciate the responses!
After driving it around a bit I get more and more confused with this thing. The green bar will read 40 but the numbers will say 80 to 85. If I convert that from metric to English 80KPH should be about 60mph. The MPH side is lit up only. I'm still not sure whether I got a faulty cluster or have a bad information center. The cluster can be exchanged because of the 1 year warranty but I'd like to figure out what it is that's causing this issue. I appreciate the responses!
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,328
Likes: 15
From: Jacksonville FL
Cliff I dont know if you remember but I was having an issue very similar to this with my new center LCD. I wrote Witch City Engineering asking about the possibility of him sending a metric LCD and he said as far as he knew there was only one.
With all the issues I am having with the LCD it makes me wonder if I have a bad IC chip. Does one chip govern the center LCD or are functions spread across several of the chips? My symptoms include the metric range/trip and instant/average mileage display while in the English setting. My temp warning light comes on at 200* instead of *260. My gas reserve light is always on.
What do you think, Cliff?
With all the issues I am having with the LCD it makes me wonder if I have a bad IC chip. Does one chip govern the center LCD or are functions spread across several of the chips? My symptoms include the metric range/trip and instant/average mileage display while in the English setting. My temp warning light comes on at 200* instead of *260. My gas reserve light is always on.
What do you think, Cliff?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
My cluster does say Unleaded fuel only below the fuel reading. Most of the bulbs in my information cluster are bad. It does say Upshift for Best Economy but only the arrow and Upshift light up.
After driving it around a bit I get more and more confused with this thing. The green bar will read 40 but the numbers will say 80 to 85. If I convert that from metric to English 80KPH should be about 60mph. The MPH side is lit up only. I'm still not sure whether I got a faulty cluster or have a bad information center. The cluster can be exchanged because of the 1 year warranty but I'd like to figure out what it is that's causing this issue. I appreciate the responses!
After driving it around a bit I get more and more confused with this thing. The green bar will read 40 but the numbers will say 80 to 85. If I convert that from metric to English 80KPH should be about 60mph. The MPH side is lit up only. I'm still not sure whether I got a faulty cluster or have a bad information center. The cluster can be exchanged because of the 1 year warranty but I'd like to figure out what it is that's causing this issue. I appreciate the responses!
One easy way to check on the functioning of the LCD is to watch it when you first turn on the ignition. The cluster does a "lamp test" and turns on ALL the segments for about 2 seconds. This video will show you what to expect:
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
Does one chip govern the center LCD or are functions spread across several of the chips? My symptoms include the metric range/trip and instant/average mileage display while in the English setting. My temp warning light comes on at 200* instead of *260. My gas reserve light is always on.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,620
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
It's possible you've got problems with the pink conductive rubber blocks that connect the LCDs with the LCD driver board. If the contacts are not clean you can get missing segments and other problems.
One easy way to check on the functioning of the LCD is to watch it when you first turn on the ignition. The cluster does a "lamp test" and turns on ALL the segments for about 2 seconds. This video will show you what to expect:
One easy way to check on the functioning of the LCD is to watch it when you first turn on the ignition. The cluster does a "lamp test" and turns on ALL the segments for about 2 seconds. This video will show you what to expect:
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 276
Likes: 5
From: Sarasota Florida
I did the key on test and the MPH green bar went all the way up, normal numbers of 7 light bars/8/8 bars like the video explained. Then went to 63 to 3 to 0. Did the same numbers every time. Is there a way to factory reset these clusters? I'm probably just gonna disconnect all the wiring for it and let it sit over night and then in the morning reattach everything and see if it does a factory reset to English. If it doesn't fix it I'll send it back to the person who restores them. It's worth a shot. If I get another cluster that is doing the same thing I can only assume it's not the cluster.
Last edited by Stephenms; Nov 30, 2013 at 03:49 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 276
Likes: 5
From: Sarasota Florida
I reconnected the cluster and turned the key to on to check the cluster. It is still stuck in metric. I am still not sure what the issue is. Around town we have speed sensors that show you how fast you're going and flash telling you to slow down. They're fairly accurate and I used one today to compare just how far off these numbers are. At 10 MPH it reads 23 on the cluster. At 20 MPH it reads 30 on the cluster. The green bar is also at a different number other than the displayed number on the cluster. I have this strange feeling the cluster is not at fault here but what else could cause this?
EDIT: After messing around with the DIC more, the conversion still seems to work for the A/C. I notice my digital A/C numbers switch from English to metric still. 74F in English to 23C in Metric. Now I'm back to square one and confused yet again. It's tough love with this car lol.
EDIT: After messing around with the DIC more, the conversion still seems to work for the A/C. I notice my digital A/C numbers switch from English to metric still. 74F in English to 23C in Metric. Now I'm back to square one and confused yet again. It's tough love with this car lol.
Last edited by Stephenms; Dec 2, 2013 at 02:41 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
Sometimes switch contacts get dirty, corroded or oxidized. You could try switching the English/metric switch up and down a bunch of times to clean up the contacts.
The dash has power applied to it at all times to maintain the trip odometer and average fuel economy readings. You can reset the dash by pulling out the LCD fuse. It only takes a second or so to reset everything.
The dash has power applied to it at all times to maintain the trip odometer and average fuel economy readings. You can reset the dash by pulling out the LCD fuse. It only takes a second or so to reset everything.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 276
Likes: 5
From: Sarasota Florida
After frustration and curiosity getting the best of me I removed the "new" cluster and installed my old one. The old cluster does still switch from English to Metric. The new cluster is currently in a box waiting to be shipped back for an exchange.
I'm still baffled as to why the cluster wouldn't switch between English and metric.
I'm still baffled as to why the cluster wouldn't switch between English and metric.