Digital Instrument Cluster Question?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 21
From: Denville NJ
Digital Instrument Cluster Question?
A section of my '86 Digital Instrument Cluster is not lighting up. Are there bulbs that can be replaced? If so, how difficult is the removal of the instrument cluster. If not, can someone recommend a repair facility? Thanks for any help.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,160
Likes: 1,733
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Re: Digital Instrument Cluster Question? (CG77VETTE)
You can do this yourself, you need 4 Sylvania 882 bulbs.
Remove the plastic bezel covering the unit, this will require removing about 6-7 screws if i remember. Two or three on the face and some more are facing the door on the side. Then wiggle the whole bezel off and youll see 4 silver tabs on the dash unit, twist and remove them. The bulbs are underneath.
You must be careful not to touch the new bulbs when you put them in though, finger oils cause them to get too hot and they blow earlier.
Remove the plastic bezel covering the unit, this will require removing about 6-7 screws if i remember. Two or three on the face and some more are facing the door on the side. Then wiggle the whole bezel off and youll see 4 silver tabs on the dash unit, twist and remove them. The bulbs are underneath.
You must be careful not to touch the new bulbs when you put them in though, finger oils cause them to get too hot and they blow earlier.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 21
From: Denville NJ
Re: Digital Instrument Cluster Question? (vader86)
Thanks a million for your reply Vader. Does the cluster have to come out or are the bulbs replaced from the front? Also, do you have to remove the headlight **** in order to remove the dash bezel? This sounds like such an easy fix. What do these services do for a few hundred dollars? I guess that is if the display is not visible at all. Mine is visible but it is just not lit in one section near the oil pressure guage and the top of the speedo.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 755
Likes: 0
From: Patterson CA
Re: Digital Instrument Cluster Question? (CG77VETTE)
Those services usually replace circuit boards and such inside the cluster.
You don't have to pull the cluster, just do like Vader described. To get the bulbs out and back in, I used a piece of rubber hose that fit snuggly on the bulb, that way you can get it out without breaking it and put the new ones in without touching them directly.
Be careful not to break the bulbs in the sockets. Don't twist the bulbs, they just pull straight out but sometimes over time they can be pretty tight.
Just take your time. :cheers:
You don't have to pull the cluster, just do like Vader described. To get the bulbs out and back in, I used a piece of rubber hose that fit snuggly on the bulb, that way you can get it out without breaking it and put the new ones in without touching them directly.
Be careful not to break the bulbs in the sockets. Don't twist the bulbs, they just pull straight out but sometimes over time they can be pretty tight.
Just take your time. :cheers:
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,160
Likes: 1,733
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Re: Digital Instrument Cluster Question? (CG77VETTE)
Does the cluster have to come out or are the bulbs replaced from the front?
[QUOTE] Also, do you have to remove the headlight **** in order to remove the dash bezel? [/quote}
Yes it pops off, take a good look at it.
This sounds like such an easy fix. What do these services do for a few hundred dollars? I guess that is if the display is not visible at all. Mine is visible but it is just not lit in one section near the oil pressure guage and the top of the speedo.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 8,540
Likes: 1
From: And on the fifth day, subpoenas were served to Obama senior staff
Re: Digital Instrument Cluster Question? (CG77VETTE)
Headlight **** has a spring like retainer behind it that needs to be depressed, away from the dash, then the **** slips right off easy.
You also must remove the tilt handle, it just screws out, normal threads.
The instrument cluster has 4 bulbs, each with a round slip in metalic cover that pulls out.
You have minimal room to use a needle nose plier to get the bulbs out, if they are not stuck from heat. I used a very skinny set of needle nose and had to put tape - inside out - on the blades to grip the bulps. I still broke two, but was able to get the bases out with the small pliers.
Suggest you replace all while you are in there.
I have some 882's I've been trying to give away for a while (I use different in the 89), and have the skinny needle nose pliers. Be happy to help if you get stuck.
It's really not a bad job at all, except what they charge you for the 882's.
Good Luck,
Pete
You also must remove the tilt handle, it just screws out, normal threads.
The instrument cluster has 4 bulbs, each with a round slip in metalic cover that pulls out.
You have minimal room to use a needle nose plier to get the bulbs out, if they are not stuck from heat. I used a very skinny set of needle nose and had to put tape - inside out - on the blades to grip the bulps. I still broke two, but was able to get the bases out with the small pliers.
Suggest you replace all while you are in there.
I have some 882's I've been trying to give away for a while (I use different in the 89), and have the skinny needle nose pliers. Be happy to help if you get stuck.
It's really not a bad job at all, except what they charge you for the 882's.
Good Luck,
Pete
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,261
Likes: 4
From: Middle River MD
Re: Digital Instrument Cluster Question? (PeteL)
Are you saying the 89 doesn't take 882's, or you chose to use something else? When I had mine apart I put in 194's I had laying around. It seems to be working o.k. I found out later that 882's were used stock.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 755
Likes: 0
From: Patterson CA
Re: Digital Instrument Cluster Question? (HeeHaw89)
Are you saying the 89 doesn't take 882's, or you chose to use something else? When I had mine apart I put in 194's I had laying around. It seems to be working o.k. I found out later that 882's were used stock.
882 - 12.8v/.352a/4.5w
194LL - 14v/.27a/3.78w
:thumbs:
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 931
Likes: 3
From: Portland OR
Re: Digital Instrument Cluster Question? (VetBoy89)
If all the lights are out at the same time then look for a bad ground first. And check to see if the bulbs really are burned out.
When you know the bulbs are good and it still doesn't work then head here and read up.
http://www.batee.com/corvette/dcrg/index.shtml
When you know the bulbs are good and it still doesn't work then head here and read up.
http://www.batee.com/corvette/dcrg/index.shtml