1996 Corvette no start/no digital dash
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 6
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1996 Corvette no start/no digital dash
1996 Corvette will not crank and has no digital dash at all. It ran fine last time I had it out. Parked it for the winter now will not crank and has no digital dash. All other lights work. I replaced battery, cleaned cables, put in new cable bolts. OBD II shows no codes. I have no security light flashing, but not sure if it even works. Car has been treated pretty rough before I bought it. I am in the process of restoring it. However I need it to start so I can get it to the paint shop. This as me puzzled. Anyone else had a similar issue? Thanks
Last edited by bradtgolfer; Apr 28, 2020 at 01:50 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,925
Likes: 610
From: Orange, CA
The Digital Dash and the VATS are controlled by the CCM. If the CCM has failed or the wiring to the CCM has failed, it will not come up on the OBDII (the CCM doesn't use OBDII), and it will mean your dash will not work and VATS won't send the signal to the PCM to start the car.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,925
Likes: 610
From: Orange, CA
Sadly the only way I know of would be to have another one to test with, or to try to talk to it over the old ALDL bus (you can't use an OBDII cable to do this). You can do this with a Tech 2, or with a USB-to-ALDL cable and free software. Basically if you connect to the old bus and can't communicate with the CCM, then it's probably dead, or again, some of the wiring to it is shot.
However, if every single thing on the car works properly--including interior lights, dash lights, door chimes, etc--then your problem may not be with the CCM (as it also controls these). It may be in the dash area, since that's where the circuit for the VATS is (that orange wire under the steering column), and it's also where the circuity for the digital dash is.
Sorry I can't be more help--the service manual doesn't actually have any concrete diagnostic procedures for the CCM. I assume since if the CCM fails, a whole bunch of stuff won't work.
However, if every single thing on the car works properly--including interior lights, dash lights, door chimes, etc--then your problem may not be with the CCM (as it also controls these). It may be in the dash area, since that's where the circuit for the VATS is (that orange wire under the steering column), and it's also where the circuity for the digital dash is.
Sorry I can't be more help--the service manual doesn't actually have any concrete diagnostic procedures for the CCM. I assume since if the CCM fails, a whole bunch of stuff won't work.
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 6
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I was afraid there would not be any real way to test it. Yes all other lights work. Headlights work, horn works, radio works. It is just the digital part of the dash, and when I turn the key I get absolutely nothing. I am going to try to start tracking down wires tomorrow. It just has me completely stumped at this point. Thanks for your help. At least it gives me another possibility.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,214
Likes: 101
From: Decatur, Alabama
Sadly the only way I know of would be to have another one to test with, or to try to talk to it over the old ALDL bus (you can't use an OBDII cable to do this). You can do this with a Tech 2, or with a USB-to-ALDL cable and free software. Basically if you connect to the old bus and can't communicate with the CCM, then it's probably dead, or again, some of the wiring to it is shot.
However, if every single thing on the car works properly--including interior lights, dash lights, door chimes, etc--then your problem may not be with the CCM (as it also controls these). It may be in the dash area, since that's where the circuit for the VATS is (that orange wire under the steering column), and it's also where the circuity for the digital dash is.
Sorry I can't be more help--the service manual doesn't actually have any concrete diagnostic procedures for the CCM. I assume since if the CCM fails, a whole bunch of stuff won't work.
However, if every single thing on the car works properly--including interior lights, dash lights, door chimes, etc--then your problem may not be with the CCM (as it also controls these). It may be in the dash area, since that's where the circuit for the VATS is (that orange wire under the steering column), and it's also where the circuity for the digital dash is.
Sorry I can't be more help--the service manual doesn't actually have any concrete diagnostic procedures for the CCM. I assume since if the CCM fails, a whole bunch of stuff won't work.
Last edited by corvette95; Apr 29, 2020 at 01:43 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,925
Likes: 610
From: Orange, CA
All the things you just said don't work are controlled by the CCM. Sounds like your CCM is shot. Time to inspect it as well as the wiring going to it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,214
Likes: 101
From: Decatur, Alabama
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,925
Likes: 610
From: Orange, CA
I agree he should check his battery, his grounds, and the fusible links as part of any basic electrical troubleshooting just to get them out of the way. But I'm still going to toss my chip in with the CCM.
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2020
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Yes horn works, headlights work, Windows work, radio works. All dash warning lights work except the digital dash and it won't crank, and inside door lights don't work. Other than that everything else seems to work fine.
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2020
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Thanks everyone.
It turned out to be the CCM. Once I figured that out I took to a local shop to have it replaced as I don't have the tools to program it. The shop ordered a new CCM and installed it. That fixed the problem however now the miles reverted back to 0. The guy there is telling me not to worry about it because the car is more than 10 years old. However as I understand it this could be considered as odometer fraud unless you jump thru hoops with the DMV. Plus more than 1 person has told me it hurts the cars value as people are leary of buying cars with incorrect mileage. I called the local gm dealer who said yes the CCM needs to be programmed with the correct mileage as well as some other info. They said they can do it no problem just need the old CCM. I called the shop that repaired it and asked him for my old CCM he told me that he sent the old CCM to the company that he purchased the new CCM from and that it was supposed to be programmed with all the info and it was not his problem it wasn't. So he is refusing to help me at all. So is there another place besides the CCM that the mileage is stored? Thanks in advance.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,925
Likes: 610
From: Orange, CA
It turned out to be the CCM. Once I figured that out I took to a local shop to have it replaced as I don't have the tools to program it. The shop ordered a new CCM and installed it. That fixed the problem however now the miles reverted back to 0. The guy there is telling me not to worry about it because the car is more than 10 years old. However as I understand it this could be considered as odometer fraud unless you jump thru hoops with the DMV. Plus more than 1 person has told me it hurts the cars value as people are leary of buying cars with incorrect mileage. I called the local gm dealer who said yes the CCM needs to be programmed with the correct mileage as well as some other info. They said they can do it no problem just need the old CCM. I called the shop that repaired it and asked him for my old CCM he told me that he sent the old CCM to the company that he purchased the new CCM from and that it was supposed to be programmed with all the info and it was not his problem it wasn't. So he is refusing to help me at all. So is there another place besides the CCM that the mileage is stored? Thanks in advance.
Also, it just occurred to me, but if it hasn't been programmed to match the old unit (which it sounds like they didn't, since it displays 0 miles, and part of the programming process is moving the mileage over from the old unit), then you will find yourself stranded with a non-operational car when your "new" odometer hits 100 miles. Just an FYI. If they literally just physically replaced the unit, you are in for a very unpleasant surprise.
Last edited by Nomake Wan; Aug 15, 2020 at 11:46 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,925
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From: Orange, CA
It can be accessed by pulling down a flap of carpet on the driver's side of the center console and removing some bracket bits. Check out the photos here: https://www.justanswer.com/chevy/3qk...94-corvet.html