Question: Cluster and odometer in 88 not working. 5Amp fuse arching when i plug in

[jimgiggles]

Hey guys,

New to the form, and new to owning a vette Just acquired a 1988 that needs some TLC. but heres my first issue..

The digital cluster is completely out, everything is black, and the odometer isn't even recording miles. I checked the fuse box, and noticed the 5A LCD fuse was out, so i tried changing it.. It just arc's out, and blows the fuse immediately.. However, i decided to pull the cluster, and plug in the fuse.. no blown fuse..

I opened up the cluster to have a look, but couldn't visually see anything.

Should i send the cluster out and get it rebuilt? Or could it possibly be something else. And.. who is the best person to send it to?

I'm in Canada, and would prefer not having to send over the border, if thats possible.

I've been reading through the forums, and it seems i've got my work cut out for me

 

[Schrade]

Hey guys,

New to the form, and new to owning a vette Just acquired a 1988 that needs some TLC. but heres my first issue..

The digital cluster is completely out, everything is black, and the odometer isn't even recording miles. I checked the fuse box, and noticed the 5A LCD fuse was out, so i tried changing it.. It just arc's out, and blows the fuse immediately.. However, i decided to pull the cluster, and plug in the fuse.. no blown fuse..

I opened up the cluster to have a look, but couldn't visually see anything.

Should i send the cluster out and get it rebuilt? Or could it possibly be something else. And.. who is the best person to send it to?

I'm in Canada, and would prefer not having to send over the border, if thats possible.

I've been reading through the forums, and it seems i've got my work cut out for me

Welcome onto the boards there!

Don't send it off just yet...

If a fuse is lighting up when you put it in, then the ground side is shorted - literally - to ground. Either follow the ground lead FROM the fuse block to the fault, or work backwards from the voltage source INPUT (LED harness connector), BACK to the fuse panel. Somewhere between those 2 points, you'll find a shorted lead.

It the ground for the LED is NOT dedicated (grounded right there where it screws to the dash frame, you might have to follow THAT ground lead AWAY from the LED harness connector.

I don't have a FSM in front of me. Do you have a multimeter?

 

[jimgiggles]

I do have a multimeter, a buddy and i checked at the fuse box, and we were 12.5 volts from the power when grounded to the chassis, i haven't been able to figure out how to get the passenger side under dash apart yet.. I'll try to figure that out this weekend, then i can follow the wires..

Is there any way i can bench check the cluster? Just to absolutely sure, because i find it a bit strange that the odometer is not recording miles either.. I inherited the car off my pops, and the lcd worked until he tried boosting the dead battery, which i am assuming was dead because of the short.