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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.com/docs/manuals/oldsmobile/1994_oldsmobile_bravada_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".

fishingirl
01-08-2010, 08:34 PM
whats a vss?

Leeann94astro
01-08-2010, 08:34 PM
Vehicle Speed Sensor

fishingirl
01-08-2010, 08:42 PM
oh--o.k.

danielsatur
01-09-2010, 01:36 PM
It sure was cold, I found a how to video ,see
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jXiwgm3bPg&NR=1

We could of made our own video, and put this thread on Youtube!

fishingirl
01-10-2010, 06:33 PM
It sure was freezing yesterday. We were out there for about 3 hrs. Finally found a didgital instrument cluster from a 93 GMC Jimmy. Also got a seatbelt assembly for the back seat. The dash and everything looked exactly the same as my bravada so hopefully it will work. My mech. is going to put it in tomorrow. I'll post tomorrow afternoon and let you guys know how it turned out. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

fishingirl
01-13-2010, 07:25 PM
Hey everbody!!! Well, finally got the instrument cluster put in yesterday. All's well except now my light doesn't work for my heat/ac panel on the right hand side and it's now showing I have 220,000 mi but that's ok. I really had about 190,000 so I guess it really doesn't matter. Also I noticed today that it's staying at 220,000. The trip works so I can tell how many miles I get per tank of gas. Just wanted to let everyone know that an instrument cluster from a 93 Jimmy will work for a 94 bravada. Thanks for everything!!!!!!:smooch:

Leeann94astro
01-13-2010, 07:30 PM
I'm glad you got it to work ;)

Chris Stewart
01-14-2010, 06:20 PM
Thanks for the update.

danielsatur
01-14-2010, 06:34 PM
Good job!
The orginal cluster probably has a cold solder joint, you can reheat the cold solder joints with an soldering iron.

Do Google ''Youtube cold solder joints effects''

Hey! Gretchen Wilson was at City limits (Ral) the other day.

fishingirl
01-16-2011, 01:49 PM
I know this thread is a year old but guess what??? Instrument panel went out again!!! I think I'll try the soldering thing this time. It actually went blank 1x last week but came back on, then went out for good yesterday. Sheesh, it's always something right? Does anyone know what I should look for inside the panel? Like maybe something that's obviously burnt?

Chris Stewart
01-16-2011, 08:42 PM
You might try for a better connection by pulling it out and back in a few times after loosening it, then check.

fishingirl
01-17-2011, 09:39 AM
Thanks Chris, I'll try that and see if that will work. Probably won't be able to do anything until this weekend. Will let you guys know how everthing turns out.

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