Hi Everyone, I have seen a lot of posts about dash clusters and various issues. I want to get mine rebuilt, but looking for recommendations. I didn't see any specific posts of who you have used, and why you liked, or did not like, them. There are a few people who sell a lot on eBay, Digital Dash Solutions in CT, and Gary's Corvette in TX. I don't care about the price, I just want it done, and done right. Has anyone used either of these 2? Or can you recommend someone for me? Thanks in advance for the help.

www.zip-products.com has a rebuild service, described as follows: If your Corvette's dash cluster is on the fritz or completely out, consider restoration instead of replacement. Rebuild service includes: disassembly and inspection of unit, all new power supply boards and interboard connectors, new halogen bulbs, and recalibration to factory specs. Rebuild does not include replacement of LCDs. Typical remanufacture time is 7-10 business days. Note: If new LCDs are required for rebuild due to cracked, broken or sun faded displays, average cost per LCD is $75-125 each depending upon year and display. This cost will be added to the rebuild cost of $349.95. CorvetteMagazine.com had an article on how to pull your dash cluster out and send it to Zip. I don't know when it ran, but I can email it to anyone who wants it.

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I had my '85 cluster rebuilt by a guy on ebay a few years ago, and it has worked perfectly since. He did a good job, and was pretty quick on the turn around for it, too. Iirc, it took about 2 weeks from the time I pulled it out, shipped it there, and got it back. I think it was around $180?
I can't access ebay from here at the shop...it doesn't recognize my puter....
I can check who I did my business with when I get home, and post it here.


Doh! I checked my email, and found the info....


Here's who did mine and it was $180 then...it's $220 now...yeeesh!


|UPDATED|4/17/2013 9:56:47 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Joel Adams  
My Link

    
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

I used the guy in Connecticut for the rebuild on my 84. They pushed for a replacement of a somewhat expensive component which I refused. They did the rebuild about 2 yrs ago and it has worked well since. Turnaround was good and the price was as advertised. Something just over $100 back then.

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Well, how about that. I just got back in from the garage after taking care of my dash cluster and caught this thread. Being yours is a '84 you might want a pro to look it over since the first of anything has some weak points that could be fixed for good by someone doing that work day in and day out. My '87 had a cluster that was generally good but had querky issues once in a while. Plus two of the four illumination bulbs were burned out so out it came tonight. The one issue I had was when the interior would get hot on summer days, the cluster would lose a ground connection and would cause the gauges to be very dim while the turn and high beam indicators would light up steady. A very common thing and pretty easy to fix at home. The illumination bulbs are a slight PITA in that the original lamps aren't usually found at the big box part stores. If anyone wants to put the spec bulbs back in, do not get caught by some selling them for $36+ each on the web. Rock Auto has them for under $5 each. Number 882 size. The problem is the originals ran very hot and would/could degrade the socket they're in and possibly the circuit board nearby. The heck with that! I just got new twist in sockets so I could put more standard (and cooler) bulbs in. Number 158's from Sylvainia are just 1 watt less than originals but they're still plenty bright. Being lower wattage will help with the heat problem. I'm watching the Mecum auction as I writing this and there's a lot of C4's going across the block. A '90 ZR1 with 10k just went for $25,500. The hosts keep on saying our series is the downright best value out there in Vettes.

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Well, I can see that they are working without a backlight (on mine), so I am going to take it out and see if I can resurrect the dash cluster. Otherwise, I'll be going with this rebuilder:

Here is a video of the LCD dashboard (that I have to have repaired given it is working intermittently):

http://tinypic.com/r/2a7g7mg/5 

This video was taken yesterday evening. As you can see in the video, when I first start the car, it shows bright for 2 seconds), then goes dark. I turn on the lights and then I get the LCD’s at about half brightness. The LCD’s then turn on and off whenever I hit bumps or a few minutes pass.

|UPDATED|9/15/2013 2:42:48 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Just sent my 85 cluster to Batee.com     believe his full service price is 319.00 currently that is replacing and servicing everything.

That looks more like a loose ground issue, or a problem with the connector on the dash itself. Might be worth it to remove the dash, disassemble it, and check the connectors before condemning it.

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Joel Adams  
My Link

    
(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

I realize I'm getting into this late, but have a question.  If the suspicion is it's a bad ground, wouldn't be easy to just run a temp ground from the cluster to the body somewhere and see if that fixes it?  Seems alot easier and quicker than disassembling the cluster.

You could do that, but you would still need to remove the cluster to get to the connectors to run a separate ground(to the chassis, tho...not to the body). A couple of more steps, and the cluster is opened up. Another thing is that it could also be a bad/loose ground somewhere else on the car that could effect the cluster.

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Joel Adams  
My Link

    
(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Here's another one of my cheapo fixes, until I have time or inclination to pull the dash and have the digital darkness enlightened by a distant pro. I went to the auto parts store, bought a one-foot long LED light strip, stuck it on the underside of the dash overhang, spliced the wires into a cigarette-lighter plug from an old cell phone, and viola! I plug it in when I'm driving, and it doesn't kill the battery if I forget to unplug it. My son-in-law said they sell lighter plugs with on/off switches, so I'd not have to pull it out every time, but that, too, will have to wait. For now, it works, and makes my daily driver OK to drive daily, especially at night.

PIC 1

PIC 2

(modified large images to links-aapple)


|UPDATED|3/18/2014 9:57:45 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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I fixed my 85 my self following the instructions on battee.com. cost me 28 dollars for the film. but they even tell you how to fix other problems while your in there. just an option.

Hi, on my last '85 I could see the gauges working, it was just the backlighting.. I bought new bulbs from eckler's and changed them without taking the entire cluster out, just the front facia. I modified a pair of need nose pliers by putting black elec. tape on the ends and pulled and replaced the bulbs carefully.. no problems and it worked great..

Funny you should bring this up Joe, as my cluster started doing the exact same thing as yours this past weekend. Have you tried a flashlight in the sensor to trick it into thinking it needs to adjust its brightness? See if your dash responds to different amounts of light and dark.

On mine it still adjusts until it goes out. I think my money is on the power supply section or a gunked up trace on a board, but it could still be the sensor. I won't know until I take it apart this weekend. I will be following this thread along with you.

Bob in "The Copper State" as well 


|UPDATED|3/18/2014 6:49:59 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Can ya'll see the gauges correctly with the headlight switch on? Turning the headlights(or park lights) on dims the panel illumination. If the problem is the light sensor, you should be able to see the panel with the headlight switch on....

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Joel Adams  
My Link

    
(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Hey Bob, thanks for the advice..All the gauges work, but the Oil Temp shows 370 deg. (cold), can't find the sending unit for that ??? AND I found more bad news under the hood, some burnt wires by the battery, some to the harness and toast to the cruise unit.. working on that today... my luck the ECM will have issues.. 

|UPDATED|3/19/2014 11:09:37 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

@Adam: yes, they work fine at night (besides the normal "both direction arrows lit" thing every once in a while), so that would mean the sensor is going? I saw an article about changing it with a Radio Shack part somewhere; Ill try to find it and post it.

@Joe: The oil sender is by the oil filter, right above the mount. Another thing is grounds....they are very important for obvious reasons. G101 is the "big guy" and in mine, it's behind the passengers side kick pad. It might be in the same general area in yours.


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Remember, there's no place like ~ ;)

This wasn't what I was looking for but it has a wealth of info....

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=10&ved=0CHQQFjAJ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.australiancorvettes.com%2Fdocs%2FCorvette%2520digital%2520dash.doc&ei=MesqU8uPLeHq2AWY8IGYDQ&usg=AFQjCNEJoZ2wRxnpFlPYkaFLBP4kIw8q8g&sig2=Mw4CqFSKYpZbwS1wBSOz7Q&bvm=bv.62922401,d.b2I&cad=rja


This is the site that has it all, plus parts for sale:

http://batee.com/corvette/dcrg/repair/


|UPDATED|3/20/2014 6:49:14 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Remember, there's no place like ~ ;)

Spent all day repairing burnt/bare wires, had to R&R the dist cap & wiper motor, cruise actuator and more to get to the upper eng harness .. used up all my small heat shrink, a load of 60/40 rosin solder, harness covering and an entire roll of electrical tape, Oh my aching back, not near done & giving up yet. It's the challenge I love..  
O.K., let's see if these pics post.. try clicking on the link.  One of wiring in progress, another of my car in my basement/garage.. Later.../member_uploads/15101_15200/15174/733EE_Wiring.JPG/member_uploads/15101_15200/15174/B981E_working.JPG

|UPDATED|3/22/2014 11:14:21 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

  

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Joel Adams  
My Link

    
(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Hey Bob, just an update.. been working on wires under the hodd and haven't had the dash apart yet but I have played with it a bit.. flashlight makes no difference, but if I put the 4WF on it goes dark immediately, stays that way and the t/s and high beam ind. light up.. Called a real corvette expert friend of mine back in N.Y. and he said first try disconnecting the turn signal switch and see if the lights stay on.. a short in the t/s switch will screw up the cluster lighting.

 I also need a diagram of the fuse panel.. the chilton book generic pic. is worthless ( I also found errors in their wiring diagrams ! ) and I don't have an owner's manual for my '85... ideas?.

wish me luck, Later, Joe.

|UPDATED|3/30/2014 12:32:05 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Well, have more problems than I planned for.. Now I have the entire dash out, found some broken and bypassed wires.. repaired all that.. I think someone had the entire interior out, maybe this was a theft/recovery (and a bad job at that).. I asked for it !!! 

   

Find one of these manuals. It has the wiring diagrams, and the most comprehensive troubleshooting info on the planet for these clusters.



  

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Joel Adams  
My Link

    
(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Hey Thanks again..  meanwhile picked up a good used cluster and it didn'y work.. found a bad -no ground at B1 at the cluster, so far so good...  special thanks to Bryan -www. batee.com for wiring diagrams and reccomendations.. will send him my old dash and get bulbs from him..

/member_uploads/15101_15200/15174/Z2Z41_P1020896.JPG O.K., check out this pic and you'll see what I'm up to with my dash..

|UPDATED|4/27/2014 3:24:34 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

What cause the melt down in your car? Was it chafed wires? Just curious if something can be avoided

I think the car was vandalized and possibly a small gas fire under the hood.. Whoever put the interior back together was an idiot or didn't care and just wanted to get rid of the car.. The other idiot was me trading my '83 El Camino SS for it, but I just had to have another Vette.. and thank God I have the time and background to do it..

Yes. You will want to contact Bryan at Battee.com  King of cluster rebuilds.

Hi everyone, just wanted to say Thanks for all the help I got online here..

Glad ya got the cluster fixed, but sad ya had to let it go like that. Hope you get better in the future...soon!

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Joel Adams  
My Link

    
(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Ditto that mrfusion.