89 digital dashboard

SafariRob · Post by **SafariRob** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 7:19 pm

So I'm cruising down the highway tonight and all is cool. I drop the hammer to pass a pokie car; the engine comes alive and away we go.
However, as I'm completing the pass, I glance down to see what my speed is. Yikes! The digital dash is utterly dark except for the engine temperature bargraph, and it's screwed up looking.
Great, just what I need--something else to fix.
So I get to where I'm going and park the van. About an hour later I start the van up for the return to home trip. Lo and behold, the gauges are working fine, and continue to do so as I travel the 30 miles back home.
I don't have a clue to as what happened, but I suspect the problem will return. At that time, I'll resolder every solder joint on the back of the gauge unit; that trick worked fine about a year ago to get the temperature gauge to work right.
But if that doesn't work, I figure it'll be time to install aftermarket analog gauges like Larry did on his 89 Astro.
See, Larry, what kind of influence you are?

trybe13 · Post by **trybe13** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 7:46 pm

Or you could keep your dash by having it repaired here:

http://mrwhizard.com/

SafariRob · Post by **SafariRob** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 7:52 pm

Thanks for that website, Trybe, I'll look into that when the time comes. But, truth be told, I'm weary of the digital dash and would much prefer an analog one filled with aftrmarket gauges.

jakepatch · Post by **jakepatch** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 7:57 pm

SafariRob wrote:Thanks for that website, Trybe, I'll look into that when the time comes. But, truth be told, I'm weary of the digital dash and would much prefer an analog one filled with aftrmarket gauges.

Yep, just looking for a reason to change something, and then you go and blame Larry. :-k

trybe13 · Post by **trybe13** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 7:59 pm

jakepatch wrote:
SafariRob wrote:Thanks for that website, Trybe, I'll look into that when the time comes. But, truth be told, I'm weary of the digital dash and would much prefer an analog one filled with aftrmarket gauges.
Yep, just looking for a reason to change something, and then you go and blame Larry. :-k

I think Jake just busted ya!!! #-o

astrozam · Post by **astrozam** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 8:10 pm

but just in case ya change your mind ...LOL

1989-94 Astro Van - Symptoms: Dark, Intermittent, Garbled Display, Odometer non functional or missing segments. Repair Cost $169

Kidhauler · Post by **Kidhauler** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 8:11 pm

This happens on my 89 everytime you honk the horn the dash dies.

As soon as you turn the key off and on the dash will reset I have even done this at highway speed just dont turn the key all the way off pop it into "n" flick the key of and on and stuff it back into drive and it will be good. I thought my problem was due to bad grounds as my power windows also do not work.

SafariRob · Post by **SafariRob** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 2:54 am

Kidhauler, thanks for the tip! It freaked me when I saw that most of the gauges had disappeared, but when I restarted the van and all was good again, I really began to wonder what was going on. I'm prone to think that it's bad solder joints on the display's circuit board because that's a known issue with these things, but I wonder why the temp gauge was still visible, although garbled.
Yes, it IS Larry's fault that I'm thinking about aftermarket analog gauges. FACT: He posted a photo on AS.com some months back of his revamped dashboard gauges. FACT: He knows that I'm a freak for automotive instruments. THEREFORE: It's all his fault. I rest my case!

Kidhauler · Post by **Kidhauler** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 4:14 am

Tell you what how about you do the solder on your dash and I will do the grounds on my dash and we will compare notes and see which fix worked best and then we can post it for the next guy that has this problem as both our dashes are doing the same exact thing.

I am thinking of changing my sig to "I love my van but hate the wiring!" ](*,)

peter · Post by **peter** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 5:31 am

Yes, it IS Larry's fault that I'm thinking about aftermarket analog gauges...... He knows that I'm a freak for automotive instruments. THEREFORE: It's all his fault. I rest my case![/quote]

First honest thing you've posted in this thread, isn't it? I bet you were praying to the forces that be that your dash would crap out just so's you could start planning your custom analog excursion

SafariRob · Post by **SafariRob** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 7:10 am

Well, Peter, it's no secret that I think the digital dashboards nothing but bling. However, I don't need another project just yet--I've got too many unfinished ones as it stands.
Having said that, though, I'd just love to have the time and money to do what I feel is a 'proper' instrument panel for my Astro.

Kidhauler, when I had the dash panel out to fix the temp gauge problem, I looked over the rest of the solder joints on the board. I didn't see any other problems then, but who knows what could have happened since that time. GM sure put the solder on thin.
If there's anything cool about seeing this problem for the first time, it's that it happened while I had the van on a wide open throttle run to pass a car on a two lane highway. Maybe, just maybe, the incredible G forces generated by the unleashed 305 caused the dash instruments to go crazy...yeah, that's the ticket...

SafariRob · Post by **SafariRob** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 7:45 pm

Well, just got back in from a 70 mile run and the dash acted up twice. Kidhauler, I followed your tip and it restored the gauge's operation just like you said it would. Man, that is freaky. Wonder how long the panel will keep doing this before a power recycle does nothing?

Kidhauler · Post by **Kidhauler** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 10:32 pm

My van has been doing it on and off for nearly a year and the ignition trick works every time. I finally have a little spare time on my hands and was going to start tearing through the wiring looking for shorts and bad grounds. If I see anything obvious I will let you know. Sure leaves a stain in the seat the first time the dash dies eh!

SafariRob · Post by **SafariRob** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 3:27 pm

Sure does, Kidhauler, and i half expected to see smoke curling out of the dashboard, too!

SafariRob · Post by **SafariRob** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 3:15 pm

I swear the digital dash is now off more than it is on. Seems like I'm always turning the key off and then on to restore the gauges.
This is getting very old. Looks like I better pull the dash and check the solder joints and look for something obvious...

Chevy & GMC Vans

Chevy & GMC Vans

89 digital dashboard

89 digital dashboard