digital dash

[uptomyearsinit]

Hi,
Can someone tell me why the display on my dashboard is telling me that I only have seven more miles to go until I am on reserve, and yet I have a full tank of gas? The fuel level display and the average/instant MPG displays seem to be working correctly. I'm pretty sure that I have some sort of ground problem in the dash. because every once in a while it goes dark and the parking light, as well as the high beam indicators, both come on. If I press slightly on the instrument panel, or hit the right bump, all the lights come back on. However, the range indicator is still incorrect. Is this related to the ground fault, or is there some sensor somewhere that has gone kaput? Incidentily, this is an 84 dash that I am writing about.
Thanks

 

[Top]

The turn signal and high beam indicator are the classic signs of a bad dash ground. I'm at work but there are two grounds D1 and D3 on the 32 pin connector. Just solder them both together and run a new fresh ground wire to the driver's side door pillar. You can also search my posts to read more.

As far as the gas gauge, I will check the book when I get home on what to test and look for.

 

[uptomyearsinit]

Thanks Top!

 

[Ken Anderson]

Your cluster has a power supply (internal) that is failing. Eventually it will go dark. Soldering in extra grond wires will not fix it. You may also have a failing microprocessor on one of the boards. You should seek out profesional repairs, as there is not much you can do without the proper test equipment. Good luck.

 

[Eagle85C4]

Before you do anything...do yourself a favor and search the threads and look for vigman and send him an email or PM. He at one time repaired the displays and can tell you down to the specific part what is going wrong. Could save you 400.00....

 

[Top]

Search all you want but according to Gordon Killebrew's book on the dash cluster the "Most common cluster Problem" is "The dash lights will go dim and the high beam and turn signal lights come on." "The most common problem is a poor dash ground on the 153 circuit. This is a black/white striped wire in cavity D3 of the large connector to the cluster."

Seeing as Mr Killebrew's book and his experience is recognized Corvette community wide, you might follow my advice and make sure you have a good ground first. 30 minutes of your time and less than $2.00 in wire may be your only needed fix. I know two local owners who upon checking their ground wires fixed there dash problem.

Now if you have verifed good grounds then I suggest Vigman and any of the cluster repair services.

Ken you have no idea if he has a bad ground or not and if he DOES then soldering a new ground wire WILL fix it. They should be checked before throwing $400.00 at it.

A story. One owner here had his cluster go dark. Nothing, Said he checked everything. I suggest we check the grounds but they were good also. He had resigned himself to rebuilding his cluster and paying out the nose for it. I asked him again what fuse he had checked, he said he had checked the cluster fuse. Well I asked him if he had checked the LCD fuse also. He said LCD fuse?? Guess what? One 5 amp fuse later his dash was working perfect. Sometimes it is the simple fix for our cars.

Now to your gas reading problem. Mr Killebrew's book only addresses a reading of full all the time and empty all the time and an accuracy test, so it seems you need the Vigman for help with that part.


Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

 

[uptomyearsinit]

Thanks folks! I will check the ground and see what happens.