My dash panel lights for the buttons on the right Fuel, Trip, Options etc- the top two- the lights on Fuel and the other one keep shorting out. It goes off and on- the remaining lights for trip, guages, options, reset etc all work.

Are the top two lights on a separate light? How do you check these?

Thanks for your help!!!

 

If I read the question right the answer is no. All the DIC lights are on the same circuit. That makes me think the problem must be on the IPC. Have you had the IPC out recently. Could you have pinched a wire or damaged a circuit?

Heres the wiring diagram:

 

Thanks for your reply- no I haven't had it out at all-it will stay on a minute or two and go out.

 

If you decide to pull the dash to take a look these instructions may help:

http://www.vetteessentials.com/instr...zel_howto.html

Heres the procedure for changing bulbs. The original has pics. I've included one of the back of the IPC so you can see how the bulbs fit. I'd be thinking wiring rather than bulbs though.

Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Indicator Lamp Replacement
Removal Procedure

Notice

Whenever the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) is removed from the vehicle, DO NOT set the IPC on its face for more than 15 minutes or damage to the fluid filled air core gages may result.


Object Number: 183243 Size: SH
.
1. Remove the instrument panel cluster (IPC) from the vehicle. Refer to Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Replacement .
2. Remove the ultra-violet (UV) inverter wiring covers; unsnap.

Object Number: 183245 Size: SH

3. Disconnect the UV inverter electrical connectors.
4. Remove the UV inverter mounting screws.
5. Remove the UV inverter.

Object Number: 183249 Size: SH

6. Disconnect the electrical connectors from the IPC printed circuit board.
7. Remove the IPC rear cover retaining screws.
8. Remove the rear cover; unsnap.



9. Disconnect the (side) electrical connector from the circuit board.
10. Remove the circuit board retaining screws.
11. Tilt the circuit board up slightly.
12. Unsnap the circuit board tabs and lift slowly.
13. Disconnect the chime connector from the circuit board.
14. Tilt the circuit board out of the way.
15. Tilt the board slowly and make sure the flat wires do not become kinked or loose. Twist to remove the appropriate bulb/socket from the IPC.

Installation Procedure


Object Number: 183253 Size: SH

1. Twist to install the bulb/socket to the IPC.
2. Tilt the circuit board back toward its mounting position.
3. Tilt the board slowly, and make sure the flat wires do not become kinked or loose. Connect the chime connector to the circuit board.
4. Tilt the circuit board the rest of the way to its mounting position.
5. Snap the circuit board tabs into place.
6. Install the circuit board retaining screws.
7. Connect the (side) electrical connector to the circuit board.

Object Number: 183249 Size: SH

8. Position the IPC rear cover.
9. Snap the IPC rear cover into place.

Notice

Use the correct fastener in the correct location. Replacement fasteners must be the correct part number for that application. Fasteners requiring replacement or fasteners requiring the use of thread locking compound or sealant are identified in the service procedure. Do not use paints, lubricants, or corrosion inhibitors on fasteners or fastener joint surfaces unless specified. These coatings affect fastener torque and joint clamping force and may damage the fastener. Use the correct tightening sequence and specifications when installing fasteners in order to avoid damage to parts and systems.
10. Install the IPC rear cover retaining screws.
Tighten

Tighten the IPC rear cover retaining screws to 0.7 N·m (6 lb in).
11. Connect the electrical connectors to the circuit board.

Object Number: 183245 Size: SH

12. Install the UV inverter to the IPC rear cover.
13. Align the UV inverter onto the rear cover alignment pins. Install the UV inverter mounting screws.
Tighten

Tighten the UV inverter mounting screws to 0.7 N·m (6 lb in).
14. Connect the UV inverter electrical connectors.

Object Number: 183243 Size: SH

15. Install the UV inverter wiring covers.
1. Align the covers on the alignment pins.
2. Snap the covers into place.
16. Install the IPC to the vehicle. Refer to Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Replacement .

 

DeeGee thanks so much- you guys are a wealth of corvette knowledge- so the only way to find the problem is to pull the dash huh? Gee, what a pain! I am a mechanical dunce-so I will need to find a corvette experienced person to do that-don't want any shade tree mechanic pulling my dash!

 

Thats a tough call. Must admit I'm no pro and access to the books can be a dangerous thing

I have to say though, I can't think of anything upstream that would cause 2 out of 6 lights to pop a fuse. I'd say it has to be localized.

All that said, don't shoot me when you pull the dash and find out I'm wrong

 

Just another thought. When you say its shorting, is it blowing the fuse or just going on and off? If its the latter it could just be a loose bulb.

I also just realized I posted the bulb change procedure for the main display lights. I'll try to dig out the one for the DIC bulbs

Edit:

I took a look through the manual and it doesn't show the bulb change procedure for the DIC switches; just the main IPC lights.

Some of the guys have fitted HUDs from scratch and may be more familiar with how those switches are lit. Hopefully they'll chime in.

 

Yes it is just going off and on!

 

In that case I'd post a question as to how the switches on the DIC are lit. If its a bulb behind those two it may just be a case of reseating it or changing the bulb.

The only thing thats worrying is you may have to strip down the dash to get to the bulbs. Again worth asking one of the members who's fitted/serviced the HUD.

Try this thread. A couple of the HUD experts posted there. They may be able to help

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...-and-down.html

Also the RadioFlyer is the Forum guru on LED lights. I'd bet money he's replaced those with LEDs at some stage.

 

DeeGee thanks a bunch- you have helped tremendously- I will get on it right away and contact him.
Thanks again- when you get to beautiful TN- get in touch and dinner on me!

 

No trouble at all

 

The top two buttons on my DIC display to the right of the IP just started doing the same thing a while back. I believe it is just the bulb going bad. I could tap the dash near the top two buttons and the light would come on. Then after a while it would go off. Now it's pretty much off all the time. I believe the DIC buttons are lit by three bulbs, one for every two buttons. At least that is how I read it in my service manuals. I had planned to pull the IP later this summer and install aluminum gauge bezels so I will be replacing at least that bulb if not all three (maybe all the dash lamps, since it is such a job to pull the IP). My gear shift selecter lamp also went out recently so I will be killing several birds while doing the bezel instillation.

 

If my memory serves me, the DIC buttons are lit by three or four bulbs. You have to pull the gauge pod to change them. Stock bulbs are incandescent, so if they're flickering or working sometimes and not others, I'd guess they have poor contact. If the filament burned out, they wouldn't work at all. They are housed in simple twist-to-lock plastic bases, so maybe some of yours are loose.
This website shows how to remove the gauge pod and how to change the bulbs. http://www.spdkilz.com/techtipleddic.html

Get some replacement bulbs and give it a try!

 

Yep, three bulbs in the DIC switch, each bulb lights two buttons.

 

I reccomend removing the bulb from the plastic base and soldering them into place. Me sure you note the polarity of the LED in the circuitboard before soldering. I like to mark the ground on the LED and board with a black sharpie.

 

OK you guys are killing me...

Here's every bulb in our cars switches, The first two are the idiot light bulbs for the IPC,the third is the Trunk Release, Traction Control and DIC bulbs, the fourth is the Door switches, the fifth is the Dimmer bulb and the last one is the HUD bulbs.



The issue with a flickering stock bulb is that the bulb is making intermittant contact. This could be that the base isn't tightened down, one of the leads that wraps around the base is broken or loose ect. I'm afraid that you're going to have to take your DIC out to see what's going on... Follow these directions, it really isn't that bad at all.

http://www.vetteessentials.com/instr...zel_howto.html

Tim
Tim

 

I can't believe i'm saying this, but I agree. To find what's short, take your dic out.


.....i'm gonna get banned now

 

Yeah I was thinking that while I was typing....

Tim

 

I have pulled out my gauge cluster and its not that bad. I did it to install blue LED's. TSTAR has got me putting LED's in everything! lol!

 

Oh come one... You were in the closet, I just showed you the door handle!

Tim