I took off my gauge cluster for the first time. I am thoroughly disappointed with GM. This Crap that they call "PCB" on the back of the dash is simply pathetic. I suppose that was "Technology" back in 87, but damn.. its basically copper lines covered in a flat sheet of plastic. I don't know how to describe it, but if you've seen it, you know what I am talking about. They should have just used wires.

At any rate, in removing it, I was able to discover why my gas gauge does not work. There is a significant break in the copper "line" and a piece is missing. Although it looks as though I could repair it, I would still like to have a new one. My question, is the PCB for the gauges available from GM and if so, is it expensive? I don't have the part numbers on me now, but I will post them when I get home.

With the frailty of the PCB, I know i've not been the only with this problem, has anyone else found a temporary solution to this ?

 

bump

With all the faulty fuel gauges on TGO, no one else has attempted another solution.. ABSURD!!

 

Hello omnipotentgoku,

Well you already know from a previous post that in their infinite wisdom, Gm no longer has these items available. There was an article posted on a website about repairing the damage if it wasn't too severe. Something about using a copper paste similar to the type used to repair the gridlines on the hatch defroster and lightly heating it with a heat gun or blow dryer

 

You've been a vital asset to me thus far Trickster, and I definitely appreciate it. It would seem that you own the Electronics board. I just hoped someone might have concocted a better way to wire it. I've got one stirring in my mind currently, but wanted some other ideas..

 

Is it better?...maybe
Does it work?...yes
Is it pretty?...no

The black wire crosses a break in the line to the fuel gauge; the white wires are for the cluster lights, and the circles are where the traces were broken. Not all at once though...

Pete

 

surprise surprise.. thats exactly where mine is broken.. thx for the pic though

 

I think thats what I will do for now.. I've got a 4th gen gauge setup that I will install later, just wanted the gauge to work for now... Thx for the idea.

 

just out of curiosity, did you use solid wire on the gauge or stranded wire ?

 

It's all stranded, and probably way heavier than it needed to be.

 

i fixed a 84 camaros gauge by soldering some thin (22gauge i think) wire to jumper over the break.


i would NOT use what they use to fix the defroster... that stuff has high electrical resistance and is made to become warm when heated. so it would throw the gauge off and be a potential fire hazard.

 

How accurate is it after your fix ?

 

I didn't notice any difference...it would still go a bit above the full mark when the tank was full, and when it was square on the empty line, it was empty!

 

fixing it that way will make it just as accurate as it was stock.

 

Well I applied a similar fix to min last night. Wasn't pretty at all, hopefully it will be functional however. I'll let ya know.

 

just an FYI if you don't want to fix it yourself and want it, I know an aftermarket company has them. I think its Classic Industries, but I can't swear to it. It was in someone's recent catalog though.

 

You'd be the man if you could confirm that. I've already applied "a fix" but would still want to replace if new... :hail:

 

Classic does not carry the circuit plastic like was mentioned above for thirdgen Camaros, at least in the 2003 catalog. The 2004 catalog may have them, and it may not. I know that they have the printed circuits for the Firebirds, but not the Camaros at this point in time.

 

Why not get a used instrument cluster from the junk yard for a 3rd gen Camaro, find one with a good "PCB" or "circuit board" (for lack of a better descriptor) and install on YOUR instrument cluster?

I would think that that would be the simplest and most effective repair you could make to restore proper operation to your gages.

Just a thought.

 

I lie in a desert town... alternatively named "the sun city". Most of the junkyards here have had their thirdgens in the sun for many yeas, and most of them have almost crumbled into nothingness. Can't call it a definite, but a fair number have.

 

How about eBay???