Digital dash mysteries
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 442
Likes: 0
From: Union ME
Digital dash mysteries
I have a 1984 Corvette with the typical ailments. Since I have owned the car, the digital dash has worked off and on. It will dim out to almost blank, sometimes for several days, then mysteriously work for weeks at a time. I have found that if I push on the left corner of the trim around the dash while it is dim, the dash will light up. Does anyone have any ideas about what I should try to fix this so it stays lit consistently?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 956
Likes: 0
From: Mesquite Nevada
It sounds like the infamous ground problem that many of us have experianced. Although I don't have all the technical info readily available, there have been several threads just recently on this you should be able to find by doing a search. I believe there is also some info on how to fix the problem in the tech tips section. Basically, there are two 'fixes' depending on your specific problem. One requires rerouting the ground wire, the other requires 'fixing' the pins between the two boards that make up your digi-dash.
If you can't locate the threads or tech info, I'm sure someone else here can provide the info you need. Good luck.
If you can't locate the threads or tech info, I'm sure someone else here can provide the info you need. Good luck.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 956
Likes: 0
From: Mesquite Nevada
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
the most comprehensive digital dash repair guide, i have found came through a previous forum link www.batee.com/corvette/dcrg/index.shtml
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 12,772
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis IN
Originally Posted by efweber
I have found that if I push on the left corner of the trim around the dash while it is dim, the dash will light up. Does anyone have any ideas about what I should try to fix this so it stays lit consistently?
I just got my Cluster back from Gene Taber, he replaced a crapped out power supply, checked and repaired solders and claend the entire boardfor $225.
http://www.corvettedashclusterservic...ectrepair.html
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
There are two circuit boards in the cluster and they plug together through a single row of pins. The pin nearest the center of the board carries the lamp current and the socket on the front board (front of car) gets an age relaxed spring which increases the connection resistance and the lamp current through this socket gets so hot that it unsolders the pin on the rear board and the lamps become intermittent or go out. The cure is to replace the socket and resolder the pin OR you can permanently fix this by soldering a short piece of small insulated hookup wire between the socket and the pin and you will never have that problem again. This is what I did and my dash has worked continuously for 6 years now. STOP pushing on the dash unless you want even more problems with the two circuit boards!
