I have owned this car only since early this year - still learning a few things.

I have 2 concerns:

1. Within the cluster, I apparently have 4 circular indicators , 2 on either side of the steering column. I have never seen them light up, not even when I firrst switch on ignition. Are these for options I don't have? They got my attention because of problem #2, which made me concerned about all cluster activity.

2. Since I got the car, I have been aware that DIC switch #2 (gauges) had an intermittant problem, sometimes freezing the display, sometimes causing it to scroll through the gauges, sometimes allowing normal operation - something that I was planning to attack after our Christmas road trip. Operation tended to change as a function of road surface, indicating a physically intermittant connection. NOW, a few days ago, the DIC went completely blank, except for vehicle generated messages ( pull key/wait 10, door ajar, brake before shift, etc). Also, it will not display the DIC codes. Is this all probably limited to the DIC swich panel or something that could affect other indicators (see #1 above). All gauges work, it appears that all indicators within the tach and speedo are working. If it is ONLY a DIC problem, I don't have any serious concerns about driving from Arizona to Florida this christmas.

Bob

 

Looks like the IPC motherboard is the problem. Worked on several of these issues. Never seen a bad DIC switch cause this yet.

With regard to the gauge lights, they are lit by a high voltage power supply that lights up two UV bulbs. Power supply may be bad. If you replace the IPC it will have another power supply with it.

If you want some more info on the IPC and removal here it is:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1570380674

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

 

Thanks for the reply. The DIC display did return today. Must be a mechanical fault in the electrical connections. Might still be a switch #2 problem, with the display freezing in the "blank" part of the display scroll.

Thanks for the links, but that project has to wait until we return form our trip.

But what about the four indicators I mentioned in my first post?

Bob

 

I addressed those 4 gauges in my 2nd sentence. The gauges are fluorescent and the UV lights make them bright.

 

I THINK that we are not communicating, but not sure. It sounds like you are describing the overall cluster backlight. My question concerns only the 4 round "dark spots" (maybe 3/4" diameter) on either side of the steering column. What funstions do they indicate?

Bob

 

Got it, My 2001 has 3 as non functional. The top right one if for airbag readiness. Check your owners manual. They are just lights and not gauges.

I checked my spare IPC from another year and it is the same.

 

Now we are communicating (getting flash back from Cool Hand Luke). Yes, I knew they were lights (indicators), but none of mine ever lit up. When you said one of yours was "airbag readiness", you got my attention. Went back to the manual and checked my dash - for the 98 C5, they put that indicator into the tach gauge face. So, i guess that for the 98, all 4 are non-functional, unless thay are for options that I don't have. Thanks for the help.