gllundy

1987 C4 yup i'm a Vett nubee and this is the other problem, when i turn on the lights i can barely see the LCD cluster.all the lights for radio and heater area turn up n down fine and the cluster fuses test out good.nothing happens when i shine light to the light censor either. 1987 C4
can anyone help me?

Cliff Harris

The cluster back lighting is set up so that it's dim at night when you don't need much light to see it. The headlight switch controls the "night" mode.

In the daytime the photocell controls the cluster brightness. It over-rides the headlight switch setting in case you turn on the headlights during the day.

Sounds like your photocell is bad. You can bridge across the pins with solder, which will make the cluster bright all the time, even at night. You can replace the photocell with one from Newark Electronics:

http://www.newark.com/excelitas-tech...ar%20Resistors

gllundy

Thanks Cliff, makes sense because i can see them come on but they just don't get bright enough to see well during the day.

leesvet

If you can DIY go to Batee.com

Complete instruction with pics, detail. He sells all the parts as well. And, if you get it AFU, he'll fix it for a fee. Around $350+...
LCD panels are $125 ea...so buckle up...Digital cluster repair CAN get painful.

gllundy

Alright clusters out and the LCD panels look good(not sunburned or chipped)but i'd like to replace bulbs & photocell.Exnon bulbs aprox.10$and photocell kit 25$ or just photocell 9$ w/shipping.Do i really need those other two parts and solder? I don't want to sound cheap but i'm trying to save money for next project(AC).

powerpigz-51

Check the CLSTR fuze in the fuze box..........

gllundy

That was the first thing I checked.

HlhnEast

And I will tell you to make DAMNSURE the little retainer springy deal on the center cluster is tucked carefully to the side of the LCD before screwing the PC board back into the dash assembly and ALL 3 of the LCDs are carefully centered in the cutouts provided. If you hear crunchy sounds when tightening the scews well....., your screwed. It helps to place the assembly on a firm but non scratchy surface as a towel may be fluffy enough to unseat the LCDs and cause issues. Carefully clean the LCD and PC board contacts and the pink block connectors. Watch and make sure you put the pink blocks back in exactly as they came out. I am still trying to figure out which one i have out of place.

So take your time, visit batee.com, and be very, very careful with those LCD's. They are $100 each X 3. Prices quoted for repairing the dash generally do not include new ones.

Good luck!

gllundy

Thanks HlhnEast Great info! Will use alcohol to clean surfaces i imagine.