ses86vette

can anyone tell me how to disconnect the wiring harness on the LCD unit on my 86 vette? The backlights on one half went out, I can still read the lcd during the day, but at night the left side can't be read. Someone told me that these units have 3 or 4 small light bulbs behind them and I needed to pull the unit out and replace the lightbulbs. I have the unit out and laying on the steering columm(?) but can't get the harness unplugged to pull it all the way out.

Thanks for any help
Steve

357L98

Place a cloth over your column, and lay the display face down on it. With the display face down, you should be able to see the release tabs which are on the back of the wiring harness connectors. It is not necessary to pull out the little colored plastic pins.

MrRenoman

I've used a screwdriver to assist in lifting the metal tab up from the cluster end of the connector, then pulling the connector from the cluster. The metal tab hooks onto the cluster.

MrNuke

Yeah, it sounds like one of your bulbs might have burned out.
I just replaced mine last week. Very easy to do.

Take out dash cluster-
Place on a soft cloth face down-
Remove bolts holding metal shielding in place and remove it-
Remove bolts holding top circuit board in place and remove it
CAREFULLY, and evenly on all sides.
You will see the small plastic clips holding the lcd backlights.
Remove the one that isn't working, go to PepBoys and pickup
the replacement bulb. (Generic bulb, don't ask them for an LCD
dash cluster bulb as they will look at you crosseyed). Show them
the bad bulb and they shoudl have it in stock. (Failry common,
and I paid $2.49 for 2 of them (Extended life).

CentralCoaster

I look for these bulbs at every parts store I go to. I've yet to see one. Sylvania 882. Nuke, are you sure you didn't put in 194s? I've been told they're lower wattage, but if they do in fact work, let us know.

#70SM2

I did the 4 bulbs awhile ago in my 86. I got them from Napa, they were like $60 vs $150 from Chevy dealer. They come in a plastic carrier. I took out the dash cluster, but couldn't get to 2 of them without separating the circuit boards. Then the light came on .. I didn't even need to remove the cluster. Just the little aluminum covers that are over the bulbs in the cluster. Pull the bulbs out with a needle nose, take the new bulbs out of they're plastic carriers / wear clean disposable gloves (the correct bulbs are halogen) and carefully stick them in the original socket/carrier. Can be done in a few minutes vs/ damaging the cluster

mikey whipreck

Where are you guys going that charge you so much for the bulbs?

#70SM2

I saw some cheap ones at pep boys & autozone, but they were not the correct ones.

CG77VETTE

I replaced all four of mine from the front by removing the round metal plugs and pulling the old bulbs out of the sockets. Using a small needle nose plier, I was able to insert the new bulbs in the old sockets. Took me about 15 minutes to do all four. Sure beats removing the cluster.

#70SM2

gh86E

I recall I wrapped one thickness of electrician's tape around the tips of the needlenose pliers, and this gave them more grip on the bulbs if you pull them out from the front. Don't touch the new bulb - use the tape-wrapped pliers to insert them as well. Very easy.

#70SM2

I used the finger tips of the disposable gloves on the pliers .. Don't touch the "Halogen Bulbs"

MrNuke

I'll get the part# of the ones I am using right now in my dash. Working great and was only $2.49 per 3piece set. I'll post them asap.

Ok. They are :
SYLVANIA 194LL (Long life Instrument / Side marker)

fits perfect, works perfect.

ps. I don't think they, or the originals even were halogen. They aren't nearly bright enough to be halogens I think. But I'm sure..

jfb

The 194LL is not the correct lamp for the cluster. The lamps are 882's.
The 882 lamp has two straight pins that go into a socket and the 194 uses a flattened wire loop that would have to be straightened away from the body of the lamp in order to attempt to plug them into the socket. Also, the 194 wire leads are not very stiff and it would be difficult to insert both wires into the socket, not to mention that the socket's springy contacts will not be spread and you will not have a reliable connection to the socket. The 194's are lower power lamps and won't hurt the cluster dimmer circuit. If they work and you don't mind that they can't get as bright, then you should be ok.

PS. If you do touch the 882 lamp installing them, just wipe them with a Q tip and alcohol to remove your skin oil.

#70SM2

MrNuke

Whoever is calling BS and saying it wont' fit. They ARE in there working. Go try them..

rick lambert

Thanks MRNuke-I for one will try them next go around-everytime I've paid the buc ks for the bulbs I feel I'm getting screwed. For that cost-if I don't like em I can throw em away.

Z51JEFF

............I always thought that these were Corvette only bulbs so when I needed mine I went to a Corvette shop and paid $70.00 for the set.Now that I know thats not the case,ill look else where if I need them again.

skybolt31

I tried 194's and it was a no go. I tried unwraping the wire and making straight prongs and that didn't work either as the wire was too thin. I have heard of others using 194s though, so I won't say BS. I am wondering if at some point the socket got changed to one that accepts the 194 bulb???

For anyone that uses a 194, did you have to unwrap the wires to make two little prongs or did you just slide them in?

MrNuke

Yeah, the 194LL bulbs fit perfectly. Didnt' have to bend anything. Popped into the plastic carrier, and is the same brightness as the other original bulbs..