Topic: 87 digital dash goes dark, every once in a while..
in Forum: C4 Electrical
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San Tan Valley, AZ - USA
Joined: 11/29/2009
Posts: 90
Vette(s): 87 Red Coupe, not as pretty, had 213G miles, great running engine; got 20-21 around town, 27-28 on hwy; I got to drive a Vette, every day for 6 yrs. It was my first; so now I know what the fuss is all about. (Sold it 2015 for $3000, still ran great.)
... sometimes, on my way home from work, the dash goes dark and then comes back on after a couple miles, or if I hit a bump in the road. Car still runs OK, just looks like a short or something. Any ideas on where to tell a mechanic to look, if it stays dark one of these times?
(Otherwise, the ole horse is still galloping along nicely, especially after I had new Monroe shocks put on, though he had to torch off the bolts from the udder ones, which he thought looked like they may have been the original Bilsteins (after 166,666 miles)!)
(Otherwise, the ole horse is still galloping along nicely, especially after I had new Monroe shocks put on, though he had to torch off the bolts from the udder ones, which he thought looked like they may have been the original Bilsteins (after 166,666 miles)!)
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 3/18/2009
Posts: 2246
Vette(s): 1985 Coupe-L98/Auto,Bright Red/Carmine.
1974 Coupe-L48/4speed, Medium Red Metallic/Black Deluxe.
I'd seriously suspect a loose ground, either on the driver side kick-panel area, or the ones that go on the trans/engine bellhousing bolts. If those are loose, it will effect the dash display, and possibly the A/C system, depending on which one(s) are loose.
I'd be looking at the grounds first, then pulling the dash/display out, and checking the connectors there.
|UPDATED|8/20/2011 3:12:47 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
I'd be looking at the grounds first, then pulling the dash/display out, and checking the connectors there.
|UPDATED|8/20/2011 3:12:47 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
Joel Adams 
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San Tan Valley, AZ - USA
Joined: 11/29/2009
Posts: 90
Vette(s): 87 Red Coupe, not as pretty, had 213G miles, great running engine; got 20-21 around town, 27-28 on hwy; I got to drive a Vette, every day for 6 yrs. It was my first; so now I know what the fuss is all about. (Sold it 2015 for $3000, still ran great.)
Thanks, Joel. You are one of the most faithful members of this congregation! ... and one of the best people to hear from when calling out for help. Much obliged.
[QUOTE]
i have an 84 and mine did the same thing. i took my dash out and took it to a guy that restores vettes. he told me that the digital dash was problematic like that. mine turned uot to be a loose solder joint. worked fine for two years and the l.c.d.s went bad. had to take it out again and found a place in midlothian va that repaired it . been three years now and no more problem.
BATaylorEsq said: ... sometimes, on my way home from work, the dash goes dark and then comes back on after a couple miles, or if I hit a bump in the road. Car still runs OK, just looks like a short or something. Any ideas on where to tell a mechanic to look, if it stays dark one of these times?
(Otherwise, the ole horse is still galloping along nicely, especially after I had new Monroe shocks put on, though he had to torch off the bolts from the udder ones, which he thought looked like they may have been the original Bilsteins (after 166,666 miles)!)
[/QUOTE](Otherwise, the ole horse is still galloping along nicely, especially after I had new Monroe shocks put on, though he had to torch off the bolts from the udder ones, which he thought looked like they may have been the original Bilsteins (after 166,666 miles)!)
i have an 84 and mine did the same thing. i took my dash out and took it to a guy that restores vettes. he told me that the digital dash was problematic like that. mine turned uot to be a loose solder joint. worked fine for two years and the l.c.d.s went bad. had to take it out again and found a place in midlothian va that repaired it . been three years now and no more problem.
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Roscommon, MI - USA
Joined: 9/13/2009
Posts: 24
Vette(s): 1991 Coupe L98 Turquoise with spoiler and Black interior
My 91 does the same thing. Sometimes it is temperature related and other times a sharp bump in the road will black it out.. The colder it is outside (55 or below) the more it happens but after the car warms up it is ok. I can tap on top of the dash just just right of the display left of the center of the cars dash and it comes back on or another bump in the road turns it back on. I have done a minor look see under and into the dash but gave up since my problem seem to be intermediate. Everything works even if it is out(i.e. the odometer still racks up the miles). I have a feeling it is a lose ground or poor connection someplace. If I have to I drive by the tach but not for long. Good luck finding it.
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Bandera, TX - USA
Joined: 1/4/2012
Posts: 28
Vette(s): one ea. 1996 LT1, red on gray interior, stroker 383 Dart heads w/ 2.02"int,1.60exeh 11.8:1, Comp Cam 230/236@50 .570/.576 113LSA , Crane 1.6:1`rocker arms, GM Delphi roller lifters HiFlo Cats, Xpipe and low restriction muffles, it sounds lumpy at idle!!!
My two cents!
There must be crack in the printed circuit on the backside of your display. I had a similar problem on a 1994 Caprice. (My land Yacht ) Any how that display got replaced. There is silver print paint that can be purchased from electronic supply houses. The silver paint is usually sold in small containers, it is silver, with a brush in the cap. If you decide to repair the display yourself, look for cracks in the printed circuit board even with a magnifying glass when you find a crack touch it up carefully w/ the paint. You must use care to avoid drips from one printed line to another.
Also use the paint to cover the input/output terminals. The terminals on the airbag systems are said to be gold plated for reliability. I have used this to repair the instruments on my BMW K100 that had an intermittent speedometer at $450.00 in 1982 dollars.
One of the Corvette catalogs has an analog dashboard that looks real nice, like a race car. I would like to have one of those just because it must be easier to read with sunlight shining over my shoulder. JRB
My 1984's dash is showing several different problems including dim dash and the infamous "turn signal and high beam lamp" issue. It also will scramble the display sometimes.
I don't mind spending the money to buy a refurbished display and install it, but I am worried that even after replacing the dash, at least one of these problems are due to a poor ground and will reappear after the unit is fixed.
I have read on here and other forums to check the dash's ground wires, but does anyone who has successfully corrected the issue have pics of exactly where to look for the ground wires?
I'd appreciate any help that can be thrown my way...!
I don't think the grounds have changed that much from mine...."G101" is located behind the kick panel on the passengers side under the dash. The panel comes out and it's up there. This is a very important ground and could cause things like you're experiencing with it. Make sure that G101 is good and everything to the dash is good from there. Good luck with it
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in Forum: C4 Electrical
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