I've found an '88 GTA that I might be possibly interested in, and it has the digital dash. I've heard that they sometimes are problematic. Are there any real issues with the digital dash in terms of reliability and parts etc?

 

I have an 88 trans am with a digital dash. I have had this car for almost a year and the only problem I have encountered is my rpm meter sometimes goes crazy. It will go up to 6k and stay there until I restart the car.

 

I've got an 88 GTA with the digital dash.I've had it for years and no problems yet.Of course it could happen at any time.So far i'm happy with it.

 

Ok thanks. Is your's an auto or manual?

 

a 5.7L automatic

 

Does anyone know how easy it would be to replace the digital cluster with an analog one? Is it a pretty easy swap?

 

Why on earth would you want to do that?? And if you do I would more than gladly take that dash!
It should be fairly easy.... Swap dash and wireharness......

 

If I do pick up the car, and someday down the road the digital cluster goes out and it might be difficult to get it working again, I'd just like to know if it is easy to swicth to the analog dash.

 

Well when I first got the car I actually wanted to put an analog dash into it. My thinking was that a digital dash is just one more thing that can go wrong. I am very happy with the digital dash now though because it is something that will set your car apart from almost everyone else's, not to mention you will have a Trans Am with a digital dash. I have yet to see in my life another digital dashboard Firebird or Camaro. That being said, I checked into it and switching the two dashboards is not that easy. From what my local mechanic said, it involves a lot of rewiring and although it does not take more than a day or two of work, 100% of the work done is a huge pain in the butt. It is up to you what you want to do with a car you might own but I love the digital dash.

 

I had a digital dash in my 87 GTA. I hated it. In bright sunlight you couldn't even read it. I also had problems with the center pod fading out. (although I pulled it apart and reattached it and it never happened again) They are not as rare as you might think either. I search e-bay all the time for third gens and I swear I see plenty of them. Given the choice between one with and one without...I'm going without every time.

 

Does any one have any pics or links to pages where there are pictures of the digital dash? I've seen some not too detailed pics of the dash, but have never seen one in person. I'm just trying to get a feel foe it.

 

I was just looking on the internet for pictures and you are right. There are no pictures of the digital dashboards so I will take a few pictures of mine and post them. Unfortunately I can not do it today because my car is in the shop getting repairs. However I can take some tomorrow when I get it back and if I have time before work I will post them. If I do not have time then I will post them tomorrow night. Just check after 1:30 pm or (worst case) 11 pm.

 

I don't know how to post individual pictures. But here is a GTA currently on E-bay. It has some pictures of the dash toward the bottom.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ponti...04825261QQrdZ1

 

Ok thanks alot. If you get around to it great, if not then don't worry about it. I"ve seen like one pic, but it wasn't on so I don't know it it looks illuminated. If you can get some pics, I'd really appreciate it. I don't want you to go out of your way.

 

Ok well I put them on photobucket here:
http://s175.photobucket.com/albums/w132/w4yn3st4tik/

They are a little blurry but you get the crux of the dash. The level of gas is not highlighted by orange as many think. Actually it is green, the orange part marks the danger area. The individual green lights actually turn off starting from the top. You can see what im talking about on the picture 0486.
Any questions you have, let me know.

 

[quote=w4yn3st4tik;3290916. I have yet to see in my life another digital dashboard Firebird or Camaro. T[/quote]

84-86 Berlinettas had them. I had an 84 that was a short term project, and I had no problems with the dash...even after 136,000 miles were put on the car, then the car was drove into someone's backyard where it sat for 8 years until I found it. 8 years of hot sun and leaky t-tops....turn the ignition on, dash was perfect.

I absolutely loved the interior of that car, and I was sad to see it go.

 

That dashboard is nice and all good and well but it is not an Fbody and it is not what the thread starter was asking. That being said, that is a sweet knightrider-looking board. How exactly was it driven into a backyard for 8 years after you owned it? Did you lose it? Did somebody steal it?
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oops! i was looking at ferrari berlinettas! anyways, the dash he was looking for isn't that one but I thnk that one is really cool. Something I will look into.

 

Thanks alot w4yn3st4tik for the pics. It's definitely different from an analog gage that's for sure. Well at least now I have a good idea of how it works and looks like.

 

Well there it is. I love my dash and I think you would like it too judging by the interest you have shown in it. It makes your car a lot cooler-looking i think. Good luck making a decision!

 

Oh, and not sure where else to put this, but are there any particular things or common problems to look for on an '88 GTA? I figured since I've received some replies here you guys would know. Any help?

 

I meant I found and bought it after the original owner had it sitting in their yard for 8 years. But I can understand the misinterpretation. sorry for the lack of clarity.

That being said..I loved that dash, and the whole interior...but the engine spun a rod bearing...and I had no time to fix it up, and then my Trans Am fell into my lap

 

Since this thread is regarding the digital dash, I would like to know what specific problems are common with the digital dash and is it expensive to repair? I know one problem is that the lights will eventually burn out!

Thanks

 

I have experience with a digital dash. It isn't in a 3rd gen, but my reply is focused on helping answer, "I know one problem is that the lights will eventually burn out!".
I own a digital dash '89 Jimmy with over 370,000kms and it has never failed and works perfect.

 

I have a digital Dash and I am having problems with the MPH. It is changing way to fast, and I think it in Kilometers. I have not gotten under the dash yet. Any one have any ideas? thanks

 

is it a GTA or berlinetta?

If its a GTA, then press the ecm button on the dash next to the driver info center.

 

yeah if you are worried about the lights burning out, then you must be expecting to own that car for 200 years. Those things go out when the wiring screws up. If that little LCD light goes when you own it then I want your autograph. No seriously though there really aren't any problems with that dash except that some people do not like it... that's about it.

 

The only problem I ever had with the one in my berlinetta was the Oil gauge not working because the wiring was loose. took the connector apart, sprayed it down in contact cleaner, and it was perfect. All this was after weeks of just banging on the dash pad until the gauge registered, and even with that abuse, nothing ever failed. All the lights worked, LEDs will never burn out if you have the right resistors and I trust the GM knew the tolerances or the LEDs the used.
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And if it's a berlinetta, there's a miles/kilometers button on the left hand control pod. I can't remember which button it is but I think it's next to the one that converts the odometer to a tachometer.

 

lol! that was some funny **** dude with the wierd name! but yeah I know what u mean about liking it or not....and actually I like that type of dash!! thanks for the info!

 

Guess what? This is the Car I currently own that you see on Ebay link shown here... My Dash is pretty messed up. the only thing that works without a problem is the OIL, Water, and Battery gauges. the rest is kinda fading out and not lighting up like it should be. I love the car though. Im even considering if I get Dakota Digital gauges if it'll work with my current digital wirings? (Just fyi, Im the new member of thirdgen.org and new first owner of my dream Car... in other words... KNIGHT RIDER FAN!

 

i own an 88 GTA with a digital dash, and like the above poster, i wanted to swap it out when i first got the car. yuky looking i though. it grew on me. i love it now.

that said, the only issue i have is that some of the lights in my buttons do not work. specifically th controls on the millage indicator. i can only see the ECM and CHECK lights at night, the other three i just have to guess.

here are some pictures.

 

I searched for my 88 GTA. I wanted a 5-speed, T-Tops, and a digital dash. Because its different. and adds to the fact that these cars were high tech race cars with 4 seats. But I do have one problem with the readout; my tach stops reading correctly when I rev it or accelerate. Just a nuscence though. Someone may have the answer to my dillema. Best of luck to yours.

 

no, it is far from easy but can be done.I did this to my 89 gta which originally came with the digital dash.I swapped in gauge cluster and dash from an 88 firebird with the analog style gauges and used the gta dash wiring harness.Yes it was a major PITA. The gta digital dash harness's have alot more to them than the standard harness's.anyway,can be done,but not reccomended.

 

I have a digital dash and the only problem I ever had was 2 lights go out. But still I prefer the digital over the analog anytime.

 

Hey on my 88 GTA My digital dash speedo can stop changing numbers and the anologe screen in the middle is out. I changed the VSS and the speedo still does not correct itself. Any comments on how to get the dash back on track.