1985 instrument panel
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1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2014
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1985 instrument panel
Just traded for a 85 and I am a first time owner of a vette and one of a few problems with the car is that the gauges are working but are very dim and can see them with shades on in the day but nothing at night ?? Any suggestions ??
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,583
Likes: 504
From: Indianapolis IN
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
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Are any of the cluster bulbs illuminating or is the whole panel in the dark at night? This will be obvious by lighter and darker areas across the gauge panel. (Even if all the lamps are out you will be able to read your gauges in sunlight...night tells all)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,141
Likes: 76
From: Santa Maria, CA
Sounds like your cluster is in need of a rebuild. It's a common problem.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
At night, turn your headlight ****. It adjusts the brightness. If the dash does not get bright, it's possible that the backlight bulbs are bad. The headlight **** also adjusts the brightness of the radio and HVAC controller lighting (at night only).
There are 4 bulbs that back light the dash. You need to take off the cluster bezel to see this:
The bulbs are located behind the round silver reflectors. You can see the light leaking out around the little thingies that hold the reflectors in the dash.
.
There are 4 bulbs that back light the dash. You need to take off the cluster bezel to see this:
The bulbs are located behind the round silver reflectors. You can see the light leaking out around the little thingies that hold the reflectors in the dash.
.
Last edited by Cliff Harris; Jun 15, 2014 at 03:26 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,141
Likes: 76
From: Santa Maria, CA
I copied these symptoms from the batee.com website. Batee has posted a lot of information about cluster problems and how to repair. He recently started a repair service.
Dark or Intermittently Working Cluster?
This is the most common repair required for the 1984 - 1989 Corvette Digital Cluster. Over time, the connector becomes oxidized and sometimes broken, and the solder joints can become cold.
Signs your cluster may need this repair
•The four bulbs which illuminate the cluster remain dark, even with the ignition on.
•When the ignition is on, the cluster remains dark and the info can't be seen
•The cluster is dark with the headlights off, but works with the headlights on.
•Sometimes, hitting the dash or hitting a bump causes the cluster to start working properly.
•Shining a flashlight on the cluster causes the information to appear.
•The cluster LCD panels are dark, but the turn signal and high beam indicators are on constantly.
•The backlight bulbs are bright at power-on, but are too dim after that.
•The backlight bulbs don't dim when they should.
•The cruise control won't set.
Dark or Intermittently Working Cluster?
This is the most common repair required for the 1984 - 1989 Corvette Digital Cluster. Over time, the connector becomes oxidized and sometimes broken, and the solder joints can become cold.
Signs your cluster may need this repair
•The four bulbs which illuminate the cluster remain dark, even with the ignition on.
•When the ignition is on, the cluster remains dark and the info can't be seen
•The cluster is dark with the headlights off, but works with the headlights on.
•Sometimes, hitting the dash or hitting a bump causes the cluster to start working properly.
•Shining a flashlight on the cluster causes the information to appear.
•The cluster LCD panels are dark, but the turn signal and high beam indicators are on constantly.
•The backlight bulbs are bright at power-on, but are too dim after that.
•The backlight bulbs don't dim when they should.
•The cruise control won't set.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 275
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Have a look at the link below, Batee has a lot of do it yourself parts at a reasonable price.
Have a look at Batee's website, there are many descriptions of common issues.
http://www.batee.com/corvette/dcrg/film/
http://www.batee.com/corvette/dcrg/services/lcdkit.html
