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Strange dash problem...

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Old 02-25-2003, 07:05 PM
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Engine: slowtacular L03 305
Transmission: slushem 700r4
Strange dash problem...

Ok since the guys in electronics aren't any help, ill ask here. I got in the car last night and turned on the lights like normal (cops just get angry for some reason if you drive with em off at night) and look at the guage and see that both turn arrows are illuminated and figured that i might have some blow turn signals or left my flashers on. Well when everything worked out side i was confused. Then i turned off, what i thought was the high beams, and it got brighter outside. Needless to say the high beams were actually off when the indicator was on. So now i have a dash that says both turn signals are on solid and my high beams are on when my low beams are on. Now it gets better. When i hit a turn signal with my low beams on the right side of the gueage cluster dims in time with the blinkers. This includes the amp guage, temp guage, and ruffly 0-1500rpm on the tach. Non of the needles move irregularly, they just dim. To top it off it seems my headlights are actually brighter. Is this something to worry about? What the heck is going on any way? anybody else got this before.
Old 02-25-2003, 08:47 PM
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Car: 89 Camaro RS
Engine: 2.8L V-6
Transmission: T-5
...Thats crazy...I have no clue what to tell ya...
Old 02-26-2003, 11:07 AM
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Engine: slowtacular L03 305
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Well get this i got in this morning and it did it then about 4 or 5 blocks later i look at it and its back to normal. Guess something got bounced around or something. Gee with some of the roads i have to drive, what i surprise.
Old 02-26-2003, 01:58 PM
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Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: A4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
im willing to bet you have a wire loose somewhere behind the cluster or the connector is not fully pluged in. Just to be safe though, get yourself a fire extingusher and keep it in the car. you never know what can happen with the wiring on these cars. Trust me, I had a 91z28 go up in flames for no reason while driving and it started behind the cluster
Old 02-26-2003, 03:07 PM
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Engine: slowtacular L03 305
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Hmm, might have to look into that since i have already had one electrical fire (damn getto rigging sumbitch previouse owner.) so it might not be a bad investment once i get a paycheck.
Old 02-26-2003, 03:40 PM
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Car: 91 camaro rs
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This is an earthing problem. Nothing serious! It is the only common link between all of the mentioned circuits. As each circuit is operated, the current is flowing to the lowest potential. If the earth point is not good, it will flow through other circuits in it's way to earth. That is why bulbs glow/flash dimmer since only partial current is going through.
I have the GM 1991 service manual. I will go and check the earth points for the circuits mentioned.

Get back to you soon.
Andy.
Old 02-26-2003, 04:02 PM
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Car: 91 camaro rs
Engine: 350
Transmission: T5
Right.
There are 3 earth points for the lights that could be causing the leak through.
There is one behind each pair of headlights, secured with a 10mm bolt. Remove both, clean them up and reinstall. Solder (or crimp) on new connectors if you are in any doubt.

The third is on the convenience center panel bracket (the plastic panel that houses the horn relay etc) under the dash on the driver's side. It should be quite close to the ALDL connector.

Have a look at the attached photo. It is the one marked G200/G203. Hope you can figure out where it is!
Please let me know if you find/don't find anything.

Good luck.
Andy.
Attached Thumbnails Strange dash problem...-wiring.jpg  
Old 02-26-2003, 06:15 PM
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Cool. Well since the car is now working properly and its been a bit could lately for working on the car with no gloves on, so it will wait a bit, but thanks for the picture and the info. Atleast i know what was going on.
Old 02-26-2003, 07:35 PM
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Car: 88 IROC convertible, 88 Sport Convertible---both RED
Engine: 350 TPI in the IROC, 305 TBI in the Sport
Transmission: 700R4 in both
for those of you that don't understand the Queen's English, Andy Fanshawe was referring to what we colonials call GROUND...



:sillylol:
Old 02-26-2003, 09:37 PM
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owned a bmw, with a maintinance manual written by a brit so its already known.
Old 02-27-2003, 05:06 AM
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Oops! Different cultures!

Sorry, I am trying to learn the language! You have very interesting words over there!

To go off topic slightly, what you call a rocker-panel, we call a sill.
A fender is a wing.
A hood is a bonnet.
We call a convertible top a hood. What do you call a convertible top?!
Your tire is our tyre.
Your gas is our petrol (albeit a lot more expensive!). I like gas better!!
Many a time I tell someone to "pop the hood", and get a reply like,...."what?". We have to "open the bonnet"!

I'll try and think of some more later.

Regards.
Andy.
Old 02-27-2003, 07:43 AM
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Convertible top is usually just called a top. I usually say Gas since its easy and short.
Old 02-27-2003, 11:15 AM
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sounds like the car needs an exorcism.
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