Hey, I just bought a '92 Camaro. It has some sort of flip out radio that isn't working. I pulled it out and checked the fuse in back which was fine. Also, the climate controls aren't illuminating, and it doesn't blow out of the vents, only the dash for the windshield. The temp control doesn't seem to change anything either.

I don't know if it's related, but the speedometer also doesn't work.

Anyone have any ideas what might be causing these problems, or where I could start diagnosing? Thanks!

For the radio, check the fuse in the block under the dash. Underneath on the driver's side closer to the door. It should be a 10amp fuse labelled radio.

If that fuse is good, you will need to pull the radio out and disconnect it. Check the ground wire(usually black) for a good connection to the chassis, check the +12V wire(usually orange) for battery voltage whether the key is on or off, and check the remote/accessory wire(usually red) for voltage only when the key is on. Some harnesses have a an inline fuse in the battery wire.

For the lights on the HVAC controls, I assume the other dash lights work? If not, check the fuse on the block. Its a 5amp fuse labelled Inst Lps. Do the parking lights/headlights work? You might have a problem with the headlight switch.

From your other problems with the HVAC controls, I would suspect the control module is disconnected from everything. You'll need to remove it from the console and check all the connections on the back. The temp is controlled via a cable that moves a flap door in the ductwork to open or close the path through the heater core. Determining where the air comes out is done using engine vacuum through a series of vacuum tubes. There should be 4 or 5 connected to the back of the control unit. The dash defroster vents are the default setting if the module is unable to control the vents for some reason. You'll need to check the tubes for leaks if they are not disconnected. Start with the black ones that come in from the engine compartment. They are the ones that provide vacuum to the system. If those are good, you'll have to check the other tubes individually for cracks or leaks.

The speedo is all electronic on a 92. There is a speed sensor(VSS) located in the tailhousing of the transmission that runs to a VSS buffer box then to the computer and then to the gauge. The problem could lie in any of those connections. Has the engine or transmission been swapped? Are the other gauges working ok?

Checked the 10amp radio fuse and it was good. I had already pulled out the radio and disconnected it and tested the wires you mentioned and everything seemed to be working properly...hopefully the radio is just blown. Not sure the best way to test it though besides taking it to a car electronic place...

All other lights work (gauges, headlights, brights, drls, tail lights). I haven't disconnected it yet and checked everything so I'll post when I do that.

As for the speedometer, as far as I can tell it is the original trans and engine. All other gauges work properly. I disconnected the VSS from the transmission and cruise control stopped working, reconnected it and it worked again so I'm pretty sure that's not the problem. I also took out the instrument panel and tried testing the connections but didn't really get much result for the speedometer or the tach (which is working) so I probably wasn't testing correctly. I'm not sure what else to test other than the computer. If I have to replace the speedometer, can the 110mph and 140mph be interchanged without having to make any other changes? I've heard conflicting answers to that but I think from what I understand the mechanical ones cannot but electronic ones can?

Thanks for all your help!

Yes, the speedos can be interchanged as long as its an electronic one.

The only other way to check the radio would be to install it in a different car. But if you've got good power on the right wires, and a good ground I'd just replace it. You only need 3 wires for the radio to turn on. Battery, Ignition, and Ground. Everything else is extra as far as the radio is concerned.

Not sure what you mean by DRL's as no thirdgen came with those from the factory. If a PO added them that may be part of your problem. Have you checked the wires and bulb on the HVAC cluster? Make sure you are getting +12V to the bulb connector when the parking lights are on and check the ground wire. May just be a bad bulb. That wouldn't affect the airflow or temp though.

I'm referring to the front turn signals. I consider them DRLs because even though they are not automatically always on, when the **** is pulled out one click they are on but not my headlights. My '98 Buick Regal has the same functionality (after I pulled the fuse for the lights to function automatically) and they are called DRLs on it so I figured that would be the correct term for the Camaro as well.

So far I haven't had a chance to disconnect the HVAC control, but now the A/C is coming out of the vents, but when I switch it to vent it only comes out of the top of the dash whether on warm or cool.

This is probably a shot in the dark, but I'm thinking about flipping HVAC control and radio so that the HVAC control is on bottom and radio is on top. That way I could have a flip out screen and it wouldn't be in the way of the HVAC control. My concern is that the cornet of the instrument panel cover will be in the way of a flip-out screen. Do you have any idea if anyone has tried this before?