Digital Dash Problem
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 547
Likes: 5
From: Sauk Rapids MN
Digital Dash Problem
I was just driving the car home and decided to turn on the air. I moved the control from "off" to "max air" and turned the fan to high. No air came out and the fan didn't come on. The digital dash went completely dark and the "service engine soon" light came on. When I got home, I shut off the car and started it again. The engine light is no longer lit, but the dash is dark and the climate control fan doesn't work. I've got to tend to a couple of other things before I can mess with it, but I thought I'd get any suggestions you have for where to start looking when I can get at it. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 12,182
Likes: 1
From: Partying with the Cowboys cheerleaders in Mt. Olive, New Jersey
Re: Digital Dash Problem (SwampRat)
In checking electrical problems, always:
1. Check ALL the fuses.
2. Pull the SES codes to see what they indicate.
3. Then ask the forum for additional help!
Good luck.
1. Check ALL the fuses.
2. Pull the SES codes to see what they indicate.
3. Then ask the forum for additional help!
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 547
Likes: 5
From: Sauk Rapids MN
Re: Digital Dash Problem (SwampRat)
I haven't had time to mess with it further, but I did notice that when you start the car the dash will (sometimes) light up as the car is started and then die as soon as the car is running. I can't see how this is related, but the odometer isn't working either (I thought that it was strictly mechanical). I'm afraid I got so frustrated that I temporarily put the car into storage and I pulled my Camaro out. I'll have a look at the fuses and, please, keep your suggestions coming!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: Digital Dash Problem (SwampRat)
The odometer is solenoid operated, so if the cluster isn't getting power, then it will not work. Check the cluster fuse. The cluster illumination is intermittent most likely because of an unsoldered pin. There is a single row of pins on the forward (of the car) circuit board that plug into a socket on the rear circuit board. The pin closest to the center of the circuit board carries the lamp current and an age relaxed spring on the socket plus the lamp current makes heat and enough to unsolder the pin. Instead of resoldering the pin and trying to find a new socket, you can solder a short piece of insulated hookup wire from the rear of the pin to the front of the socket and you will never have this problem again.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 547
Likes: 5
From: Sauk Rapids MN
Re: Digital Dash Problem (SwampRat)
Well, I bought an assortment of fuses and went in and replaced anything that looked like it had anything to do with the dash. I looked at all of the fuses, including the ones I didn't replace. They all look OK. Still no dash and still no fan for climate control. Once in a while when you first start the car the dash will come on and then go dark almost immediately. I don't know what to try next, aside from taking it to the shop and shelling out more cash than I have. :cry :cry :cry :cry :cry :cry :cry
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,459
Likes: 41
From: Spring Branch, Texas
Re: Digital Dash Problem (SwampRat)
Swamp Rat,
Are both your turn signal indicators lit and your brights indicator lit? 2 green and one blue light on when the rest of the dash is dark? If so, your ground is bad. I have some experience with this one.
Are both your turn signal indicators lit and your brights indicator lit? 2 green and one blue light on when the rest of the dash is dark? If so, your ground is bad. I have some experience with this one.
- 1986 Original Owner -
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 3,193
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From: North Yorkshire, England
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Re: Digital Dash Problem (jfb)
The odometer is solenoid operated, so if the cluster isn't getting power, then it will not work.
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 547
Likes: 5
From: Sauk Rapids MN
Re: Digital Dash Problem (RamjetVette)
No, the signal lights aren't lit unless I use the signals and the same with the high beam indicator. Does anybody know if there's some fuse or switch that I'm missing here? I could see if I had blown fuses, but I don't and yet there doesn't seem to be any power. The same with the climate control fan. No blown fuse and no power. :confused:
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 547
Likes: 5
From: Sauk Rapids MN
Re: Digital Dash Problem
I stopped in at the local Chevrolet dealer this afternoon and they told me that the dash itself is $350, not including labor. My concern (and thank you jfb for looking in the service manual for me :) ) is that the climate control had something to do with this. From the time I got the car, it's been kind of flaky. Whenever the climate control is moved to any position other than "off", the water temperature would rise drastically and the oil pressure would drop. Also, the gas gauge would drop about a quarter tank. As soon as the control was moved back to "off", the readings would promptly return to normal. I'm just afraid that I would have them replace the dash and the problem would recur. There has got to be some sort of connection. Thanks again for any input you can provide and thanks to jfb for the information already provided!
