DIC (Driver Information Center) Out

[sharpie22]

I have a 2000 grand prix GT that I just bought and the digital DIC is out. The traction control light will still work and the button will work for that, but the digital screen and the three buttons on the right will all not come on or even light up. Do I need a brand new DIC? Fuses seem all allright also and everything else works flawlessly.

[tblake]

I did a conversion where I sucessfully installed a GT Digital DIC in an SE with the analog DIC. I wrote a big article on how this can be done sucessfully and also included pictures and wiring diagrams.

I would remove the DIC and see if someone attempted to convert, if so, make sure all the wires are spliced to where they are supposed to be. Also could be as simple as 3 burnt out light bulbs in the DIC itself

Here is my writeup....

1997-2003 Grand Prix Analog to Digital DIC Conversion

[sharpie22]

Will have to look into that...didn't really think about it. I have seen your article and you do a great job describing how to change the analog to the digital. Later tonight I'm going to take it apart and check the wires, hopefully I can find the issue.

[grandprixgtx00]

i had the same problem with my DIC in my GT. if you remove the DIC and look at the back of it...there is like 8 screws. remove the screws, and you will see like 5 little blue things. these are bulbs. replace all the bulbs, and your DIC should look good as new

[sharpie22]

tx00 -

When your DIC went out did the buttons go out also? I finally got into the dash tonight and took it apart and it looks like I do have 2 burnt out bulbs. I'm going to have to wait for the replacement seeing as I stopped at every auto parts store and couldn't find them, but hopefully more tomorrow on that. Looks like the lights for the buttons are little mini LED's built into the center and none of them come on when the dash lights are on. Would this be a wiring problem, or is the circuit simply connected in a series fasion where if one is out the whole thing is out??

[SsHaDyGt]

shine a flashlight into the LCD, if you can see info displayed, the DIC is fine and it's just the bulbs.

[sharpie22]

Okay....

More bad news.
Removed the Heater Control Center located below the radio because the light was out that indicated the driver knob, figured I'd replace that while I had the dash apart. Apparently something happened and once I got it apart I realized that those bulbs for the knobs are attached permanently to the circuitboard, so I put it all back together. Upon doing that I turned the key back in the ignition and now all of the lights attached to the circuit board are out. ......

This is the same issue with the DIC also....the lights on the side buttons will not go on and those are directly connected to the circuit board, not removable.

Is it possible that these are all shorted out now and I need to replace both??

The heater/ac control still works, its just the lights that are out.



Just in a hole trying to dig myself out of here.

[tblake]

Do your Instrument panel lights work?

Alot of times these filimants in these bulbs get brittle and when one burns out, and you go and replace it. A lot of times when you get it back together, more are burnt out since the have been jarred around. All of them have been on the same amount of time.

I had an issue like this, kept chasing around and replacing light bulbs.

You are right, the ones in the heater controll unit ar soldered it, but can be removed and replaced if your good at soldering. The bulbs can be purchased at radio shack.

In my factory cd player, some of the light bulbs went out. It was annoying the heck out of me, so I sent it to a guy from ebay that specializes in pontiac radios. He replaced all my light bulbs in my radio and returned it for just 40 bucks. I dont see why he wouldn't do this for a climate controll also. I will see if I can find his URL to his ebay store.

As for the DIC display bulbs, no they are not LED's, they are regular incandescant. Most all auto parts store carry them on the shelf. Part number 21 rings a bell. But, jump on over to my thread about the DIC conversion and scroll to the bottom. You will see where I have posted links to DIC bulb part numbers from Bob's (bnaylor) prvious posts.

[sharpie22]

Okay time for another update...

After struggling well past the wee hours of the night, I managed to get a voltmeter on the DIC. Accidently I must have jogged the lights to snap on and I blew the fuse out seeing a spark fly. Replaced the fuse and every single light works! Viola I'm a genious...until I look at the screen. Straight red and no car or words on it....and in the meantime I have managed to knock out my fuel, speed, and tach gauge. Looks like more fun with a fuse I can't find well offhand. Also knocked out my on windshield fuel display.

My question is, since the display doesn't work on my dic do I need to replace it?

Also, think I might brave sauldoring the lights into the Heat Control Center because i'm pretty sure they are blown now. Do i need red lights, or just clear ones? I assume red.

If it isn't one thing...it's another

[tblake]

Yeah, sounds like a bad display on the DIC and the digital ones arent cheap.

the bulbs in the heater controll are more than likely clear. You should just be able to bring one to radio shack and match it up.

If I were you I would replace all of them though.

[grandprixgtx00]

you can get a used DIC here (click link) before i found out that my DIC could be repaired i ordered one of these. i actually ended up sending it back once i tore my old DIC apart and found the bulbs inside.

[sharpie22]

Ended up breaking down and buying a new DIC from the website that gtx00 suggested above, by the way thanks for that, otherwise I was looking at least another 20 bucks more from anywhere else.

As for the climate control box, I saudered in some led's in place of where the four bulbs that control the knobs were and they do not work when I plug it in. Do you guys know if it is just the type of bulbs I used and I need incandescants or if that part of the circuitboard is shorted out? it is getting voltage by testing with the voltmeter, but none of those lcd lights will start up glowing, even when all the others on the dash are on.

[doctorhrdware]

I would make sure that there is voltage at the bulbs. If there is, then the bulbs are bad. I would use led's for that. The led will not burn out like a bulb does because the led does not have a filament that is bounced around.

[sharpie22]

like I said...I put in the new LED's already and they do not work, although they are getting voltage. I don't get it!?

[doctorhrdware]

First thing LED's have polarity. Since the LED's has voltage I am guessing that the LED's are not installed correctly. Also the LED's need to have 1K resistor to limit the current through the LED. Otherwise the LED will burn up.