85' Berlinetta, (Mostly) No Guages
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Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Aurora, CO
Car: 85 Camaro Berlinetta
Engine: 2.8l V6
85' Berlinetta, (Mostly) No Guages
Went out to start the car this morning, put the key in the ignition (always wait for the pump to start priming before driving) everything came on as normal for about a second before dying.
I've had some issues in the past with the dimmer going stupid, but that only affects the tach/speedo (and can usually be sorted by giving the dimmer panel a few love taps
). This time the check engine light and all the lights on the right side of the dash have gone out aswell.
I have also lost the voltage meter on the right side, but strangely enough the temp and oil pressure meters are working fine. (The fuel guage has been out for awhile, so no idea if it would be working or not).
The car starts, runs and drives as normal, so im guessing the ECM hasnt **** the bed. And ive replaced the guages fuse (which had no effect).
Edit: Went apeshit and replaced all fuses, and disconnected the battery to reset the ECM. Brake light/rear hatch light panel came back to life, still no voltmeter, speedo tach, or check engine light (that whole panel reamins dark)
Edit2: Tried cleaning the connector, still nothing =(. panel has been removed (pretty easy, the connector was the hardest part to remove ofc) http://s10.postimg.org/pi2qddxbt/WIN..._10_52_Pro.jpg
I've had some issues in the past with the dimmer going stupid, but that only affects the tach/speedo (and can usually be sorted by giving the dimmer panel a few love taps
). This time the check engine light and all the lights on the right side of the dash have gone out aswell.I have also lost the voltage meter on the right side, but strangely enough the temp and oil pressure meters are working fine. (The fuel guage has been out for awhile, so no idea if it would be working or not).
The car starts, runs and drives as normal, so im guessing the ECM hasnt **** the bed. And ive replaced the guages fuse (which had no effect).
Edit: Went apeshit and replaced all fuses, and disconnected the battery to reset the ECM. Brake light/rear hatch light panel came back to life, still no voltmeter, speedo tach, or check engine light (that whole panel reamins dark)
Edit2: Tried cleaning the connector, still nothing =(. panel has been removed (pretty easy, the connector was the hardest part to remove ofc) http://s10.postimg.org/pi2qddxbt/WIN..._10_52_Pro.jpg
Last edited by pmccall2; May 11, 2015 at 02:12 PM.
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From: MN
Car: 85 SC, 86 Berlinetta
Engine: V6, V8
Transmission: 700r4, 700r4
Re: 85' Berlinetta, (Mostly) No Guages
Sometimes multiple failures can be caused by a bad ground. Since you were having problems with the light switch I might check that out along with the headlight grounds (up by the front passengers side engine compartment) and also the ground for the cluster. A multi-meter would help greatly.
There is also the possibility of cold solder joints contributing to the issues with the cluster as well and for that you could re-flow the solder. When you smack it and it responds then that might indicate where the problem is via a loose connection like a cold solder joint but doing it too often can make it so that it's more difficult to repair. The control pods up by the steering wheel are similar in that they are easily repairable but if abused too much it becomes more difficult to repair those as well.
As far as I know you can have the cluster rebuilt but that is expensive.
There is also the possibility of cold solder joints contributing to the issues with the cluster as well and for that you could re-flow the solder. When you smack it and it responds then that might indicate where the problem is via a loose connection like a cold solder joint but doing it too often can make it so that it's more difficult to repair. The control pods up by the steering wheel are similar in that they are easily repairable but if abused too much it becomes more difficult to repair those as well.
As far as I know you can have the cluster rebuilt but that is expensive.
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