1994 blank instrument panel

fishingirl · 01-07-2010, 07:18 PM

Hello All,
I've got a HUGE problem!! I was filling up the tank couple of days ago and when I fired her back up I had nothing on the panel. A little bit of history-
EGR valve was clogged up AGAIN. You know when the egr valve is bad they run really crappy and the service engine light comes on. Well, I was trying to make it thru till payday (today) to get it replaced (which I did) Funny thing is though, once the instrument panel went blank she started running like a kitten again. My guy couldn't figure out whats going on w/the panel (not a fuse). He didn't have time to take out the dash today and said he wants to think about it for a few days before he makes such a major decision (on his time & my $) It could be something simple ==right??
I've got lights, head. brights/dims, rear, backup, brake, map, ashtray & glovebox. Radio works and when you click for high beams that does show up in the bottom left of the panel.
Anyway, bottom line---I'M DRIVING BLIND!!! Hell, I just filled her up Tues. so I know I'm not on E but I have no idea how fast I'm going or if something else was going on I'd have no idea (ie. overheating).
Please---does anybody have any ideas what to look for?
I really am desperate as this is my daily driver and I love her but how can I take care of her if I can't see if something is wrong?
Plus--WE MAY BE GETTING SOME SNOW!!!! It's a rare occurance here in Raleigh NC.

danielsatur · 01-07-2010, 07:23 PM

Are you a Grethen Wilson fan?

It could bad a bad fuse, or a simple connection to your cluster.

fishingirl · 01-07-2010, 07:37 PM

gretchen wilson--why do you ask?
Garner??Dang --you're just down the road.
Do you have a bravada?

danielsatur · 01-07-2010, 07:46 PM

fishingirl, Wendell, cars, and NC. is a dead give away!
Nope!
If your cluster did go bad, I would consider LKQX, or another salvage yard.
You were suppose to say, Hell Yea!
Do you have an owners manual with the fuse locations?

fishingirl · 01-07-2010, 07:52 PM

yea, I went to LKQ got a transfer case & an ashtray out of a 94 a couple of years ago--shoulda cleaned that sucker out while I had the chance. Only prob. there is you have to pull you own stuff and being a girl, well, you know, upper body strength and all. I went back a few months later and they had already sold it or crushed it or somthing. I guess it wouldn't hurt to check them out now tho. There was a 94 on Raleigh craigslist a few months ago I thought about buying if nothing else then just for parts. Looked just like mine-green and everything. I think all 94's were green weren't they?
Oh yea, Hell Yea!!!

fishingirl · 01-07-2010, 07:56 PM

No I don't have an owners manual. My guy checked all the fuses today tho. He also hooked it up the that machine, you know with the codes? Well, it really won't tell hime anything I guess because the check engine light's not on now. But It probably wouldn't anyway would it?

danielsatur · 01-07-2010, 08:02 PM

There's plenty of used parts, because of Cash for Clunkers.
If you don't have an owners manual, theres plenty of those in the salvage yard too.
I bought a Jaguar S Type Jag from local craigslist years ago, and put all the fix's on AF.
If you can pull a p-code and use google, you can fix it!
Google ''Troubleshoot Jag P0420 & P0430''

Did he knock the cluster out trying to fix the CEL?

fishingirl · 01-07-2010, 08:48 PM

No, he put it on the code machine last night before he replaced the erg today and it didn't say anything about the instrument panel. I don't know why it didn't-maybe because it has nothing to do with the engine? All I know is I've got to have my stinking dash lights!!! I mean, I can kinda stay with the flow of traffic as far as my speed goes but I still gotta have that thing fixed!!! I guess I'll call lkq tomorrow. It seems like last time they just told me I would have to come out and look around the yard to see if they had a bravada. I think a what-GMC jimmy is about the same thing?
I don't even know what I'd have to do to get a cluster. Pull an old dash?
What a pain--I wonder if you can pay them to pull it for you?

danielsatur · 01-07-2010, 09:09 PM

The Crazy horse burnt down next to the LKQX in garner, it was a Carrie underwood fan ''Befor he Cheats'' Ha ha

Maybe there's some unemployed strippers that could help us with this project, thats probably why the LKQX has a $2 cover charge.

It's best to practice on the cars in the salvage yard, befor working on yours!

Leeann94astro · 01-08-2010, 04:43 PM

'94 Owner's Manual:

http://content.gmownercenter.yahoo.c...ada_owners.pdf

Oh, and my '93 is green

By the way, don't replace the EGR when it starts running like doo-doo....get a $5 screened gasket from the HELP! section of your local autoparts place, remove the EGR and clean the pintle and seat, then reinstall with the screened gasket. That should save you well over $100 a pop.

As for the digital cluster, it's usually bad cold solder joints on the back. If you're handy with a soldering iron, re-solder the joints and you *should* be good to go. The other normal reason for this is a bad/missing/weak ground to the cluster.

danielsatur · 01-08-2010, 05:23 PM

Yep! I would block the EGR port, and go with an external PCV filter.

fishingirl · 01-08-2010, 06:26 PM

leeann---YOU ROCK!!!! Thanks so much for the manual link. So it sounds as if you know something about removing the dash. If you've done it how hard is it and could you give me some pointers? I will be doing this tomorrow or Sunday and it's freaking freezing out there. I don't have a garage and the high will be around 35* but I've got to get this done ASAP. Also, do you drive your bravada?
Oh and Daniel, you wanna meet me @ LKQ tomorrow? I could always use some help. Just kidding. I think when it warms up I'll put a screen on for the erg valve.

Leeann94astro · 01-08-2010, 06:55 PM

No problem

Nope, I've never removed mine. And I have an analog dash, not a digital (in both my Astro and Bravada). I'd say go slowly and be gentle. You'll have to remove the mirror control, fog light control, HVAC controls (be VERY careful - there's a red or orange clip that you easily can break left-hand side that holds the cable to the controls) and light controls. Then you'll see the screws to remove the cluster stuff - and that's as far as I've gone.

I drive my Bravada most days. I love the thing. It's the perfect size - not too big but plenty big enough for the 3 of us and our stuff - and loaded with all the goodies.

I don't have a garage, either, and I need to swap out the coil and the thermostat. High here's supposed to be 29°....hands don't work that well in that temp, so take your time and warm up your hands often.

danielsatur · 01-08-2010, 07:04 PM

Need to pick up a VSS, I could help you pull a cluster for practice @ noon!

fishingirl · 01-08-2010, 08:33 PM

sounds great---I've got to take my cat to the vet though. They're only open from 8-12 and I don't have an appt. so I've got to call them @ 8:00. If I can get there by 12:00 I'll be driving a green 1994 bravada. My plates are "quitbugn".

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