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.

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|

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|

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....

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.

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|

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|