Digital cluster repair

Ok, this is my 3rd or 4th post involving issues I'm having with lights or indicators in my dash.

The issues are as follows:

Digital components flash opposite hazard lights when activated, headlamps off, tag light flashes too (possibly my 194 corner lamp to 1157 swap was the culprit there)

Low fuel light does not illuminate when the fuel gauge typically would turn it on, but it illuminates at key on so its not burned out

High beam indicator light stays illuminated wether they are on or not, but on only when headlamps are illuminated (obviously)

The FSM is practically telling me the cluster needs to be swapped or serviced. My problem is, who services these things?

I don't want my mileage screwed with if I put in another cluster. I believe there's a 9C1 CERTIFIED difference too.

Also, my sir bag light is on (box steering wheèl swap) could be the cause of all of this to begin with. I didn't have any of these problems until recent.

I have some info on cluster repair.
Not on my hard drive here at home so it must be at work
Not sure if it covers more then dimming repair but...
I think I did a cut & paste so it has pics & everything
I'll find it

Thanks Steve. I'm looking to do everything I CAN, before having someone else do it for me.

That's where, for the first time, the FSM has failed me.

I will tell you....I just had a bad wire/socket = front parking light

Went to turn the lights on....cluster blacked out

Directional = same thing...it was strange

ANY bad bulb will mess with your head when trying to use logic to explain whats happened

Also know the cluster ground is down in the pass side kick panel....you been doing anything there?

Good points.

No, I haven't done anything there.

I haven't done any electrical work besides REMOVING the 1157 sockets I put in place of 194s which effectively solved the strange flashing problem.

All other issues are still issues.

Like I said, it seems as tho all of these things started happening after I swapped out the steering wheel. The fuel light just started Saturday at 12 am no doubt :/

I don't have much help with the cluster, but if you get down to needing repair I have a good contact, let me know and I can dig it up

Pooge wrote:

I don't have much help with the cluster, but if you get down to needing repair I have a good contact, let me know and I can dig it up

Thank you!

I'm hoping it won't come to that.

I'll take my time, trying to trace wires and grounds, and getting input from you guys.

Another option is to swap out the mainboard on it and reuse the digital display, you'll keep your mileage if you do that.

Let's see that info Steve. Sometimes the display in my Caprice is blank.

GasTT wrote:

Sometimes the display in my Caprice is blank.

I have that issue in my head alot.

http://www.grail-ss.com/Digital%20Dash%20Repair.htm
Not sure if it is related but well worth checking out too.
http://www.impalassforum.com/vBulletin/showthread.php?t=241753

Good info Tom, I'll give that a shot. Seen it on the web a million times.

I thought the DD Repair was in Qualo's Impala SS handbook but was on the GRAIL website, top notch instructions.
This should be a DIY sticky Along with Qualo's handbook, a must for nOObs and of course for the B & D Body veterans!

I've got the handbook printed out and sitting right here on my bookshelf at work.

Good info!

Before we stray away from the problem, my digital display works fine. There's no fading or intermittent display.

MASShole9C1 wrote:

Good info!

Before we stray away from the problem, my digital display works fine. There's no fading or intermittent display.

Thread states: "Digital cluster repair", ? Title caught my eye but I skimmed over the meat of the problem . Try my bottom link, about ground issues.
http://www.impalassforum.com/vBulletin/showthread.php?t=241753

Call me critical, but how does anyone expect to help by JUST reading the title and skimming through the main body?

Idk, there are a lot of threads here where the title isn't exactly what the topic covers.

Just saying.

Thanks.

Cant find what I have...yet...

I think the grail repair that Tom posted was it though

I JUST got into work so I'll look for it again

PS...you forgot your sarcasim emoticon in your last post....again..

I also did alot of reading thru the electrical schematics about the cluster....

might help you to chase individual pins out to the end...

maybe find a short or open?

In the links topic it used to be lenco or something...it changed...I'll try to update that topic when I can find the schematics again

If you find them 1st please post them up & I'll cut & paste

Have you tried swapping in a known good cluster (borowed from a friend at a mod day)?

This will tell you if it's your cluster that's the problem or the wiring/car.

Perhaps even simply removing your cluster and then putting it back in could clean the contacts enough to make it work. This is FREE.

Steve

Dont know if you already looked at this

I'll try studying it later...I did that before..for some reason...maybe Dougs ailing cluster?

http://www.goldsswagon.com/diagrams/impala_96cluster_1of2.pdf

http://www.goldsswagon.com/diagrams/impala_96cluster_2of2.pdf

Yea, that pesky emoticon. Thanks Steve. And thanks for the links!!

As far as swapping in a known good cluster, that would be my first step but I didn't ask. (No friends) that live close.

No Moa wrote:

GasTT wrote:

Sometimes the display in my Caprice is blank.

I have that issue in my head alot.

Just letting you know that this wasn't missed by everybody, Glen. I lol'd.

Sorry, but I have nothing to add aside from check all the common grounds. They do all kinds of funky things. But I just kinda skimmed this, and may not have anything to do with anything...

PLeeeeease lets fix this with our heads.....

I reeeeeally dont want to pull my 96 cluster AGAIN.

I'll make some time.....but I'm leaning towards a silly fix

Did we already confirm that ALL your external lights work?

If I didnt already say it...I had 1 front marker light (with 1 bad wire in the socket that did EXACTLY the same thing...)

Did you splice in the aforementioned lamps that you just took out?

Is this the car you played with the sequential tail lights?

Yes, this is the sequential car, however that point is moot. I replaced the entire harness ages ago.

As for the splice in the front, yes. What's going to happen first is me getting the time to put into this problem and putting the correct sockets back in place.

1 wire on the driver side front parking light (not marker) it was the wire that ran into the little rubber nipple

All I did to fix (for now) was push it into its rubber boot so it maintained contact....everything went back to normal

Like you just said...good 1st step for you at this point (at least you can rule out your tails...50% complete... )

I know the wire/rubber portion you speak of.

Did you have any other symptoms ie lights/turn signals malfunctioning?

I don't have any problems like that, just the dash being screwy.

It might also be important to mention, that before I left work last night, I popped the swapped 1157s out, left the sockets wired in as I didn't have the 194s with me.

The arrows on the dash were previously illuminated or "outlined" while I had the 1157s in. Now of course, they are not. The indicator arrows worked fine then and do now, minus the green outline. Is that normal? The outlined arrows or no?

MASShole9C1 wrote:

Call me critical, but how does anyone expect to help by JUST reading the title and skimming through the main body?

Idk, there are a lot of threads here where the title isn't exactly what the topic covers.

Just saying.

Thanks.

Your welcome.

I'd like to get involved with this thread,
Although I had my hands in your car Brian, there is stuff I have not seen or have forgotten about.

I remember you splicing in the rear tails, which is now back to stock. But what was changed up front?
I have extensive knowledge of custom light set ups front and rear (94 wagon had the 56 tails and the RMS clip)
I just need to know what you put in and where.

Yes, the rear is back to stock and has been for some time now.

The front corner lamps were swapped from 194 to 1157 but cutting/splicing.

I did have HIDs but those have been out for a while now with new sylvania bulbs installed.

Also, the 2 Cadillac horns were added to the harness by splicing them into the green horn wire on the drivers side.

When you added the 1157, and went from a 2 wire 194 to a 3 wire 1157 what did you do with the third wire?

No 3rd wire. Curb lamp sockets. 2 wires only. Worked fine up until I took them out today. Cluster problem still continues.

Sorry to keep harping...

Did you say ALL your lights work properly?

Parking headlights & markers?

Yes Steve. ALL lights work.

A point was made that says these two things could be separate situations not related to one another.

Maybe, my stalk has gone bad.

Maybe the fuel gauge could have an issue.

But it's my understanding that when the tank is full, there's 90 ohms that is sent to the gauge just as when its empty, it hits that 0 ohms threshold and turns the light on.

Look at the 1st wiring diagram I posted

See the 2 Black ground wires that go down to the drivers sdie kick panel (I think I told you it was passenger side originally)

I think thats your problem

Follow that up on the schematic & you'll see it is in series with all your problem lights...SIR, directional, highbeam

I'd start at the kick panel & chase that wire up to the socket where your cluster plugs in (then check the pins on the cluster)

1A9 & 2B4

Thats where my money is now..good luck

EDIT: should be able to check continuity from the ground to the pins (so dont tear up your harness)

Thanks Steve. I was just down at the kick panel. Had it removed. Those grounds have never been touched and there is no corrosion or breaks upon physical and visual inspection. However, I am unable to tear the entire dash out as I need the car to get to work.

So, to be continued I guess.

Not gonna lie. This is stressing me the fuck out...

Stressing out over car problems just proves youre a car guy.

If the grounds are intact then all you need to do is remove the cluster & check continuity to the pns where the cluster plugs in

While your there you can check power where indicated on the wiring diagram & see if you get fluctuation when you re-create the problem

Ya...this doesnt give you very clear info as I'm typing but maybe you understand?

Pulling the cluster & re-installing isnt so bad...maybe when you have a couple hours free?

Thanks Steve.

I'm afraid Sunday is my only day :/

Buuuuut, we'll fix this.