This maintenance video!Click here
Symptoms you need to do this procedure
If you are considering doing this, you have a Corvette that is over 25 years old. Vibration, current, heat and time combine to crack internal components and weld joints. This manifests itself in the following ways:
The four lamps that illuminate the panel remain off, even when the ignition is on
The dashboard remains black with no information displayed when the ignition is on
Sometimes hitting a dash or hitting a pothole will cause the pool to start working properly
All four bulbs are on, but too dim (or too bright)
If you light a flashlight in a cluster, the message will appear
You can see the information in the cluster during the day, but not at night.
cruise control is not set
Color information is displayed on the LCD screen even when the group is disabled (it should show black)
The LCD screen lights up but the information cannot be read unless polarized sunglasses are used or our free trial samples are used (email us for a free sample).
The lamp goes out and the segments on the LCD screen flash randomly
Before deleting the cluster
Checking these things can save you a lot of work!
Check the fuses supporting the board. These are labeled "CLSTR", "TAIL", "INST" and "LCD".
Make sure the headlight dimmer switch is turned all the way to the bright setting (clockwise all the way)
Open the key. For the first few seconds, the lamp test should cause all sections of the group to light up. Note which lights did not come on during the light test.
Cover the photocell port (upper left corner of the group housing). The clumps should be visibly dark.
Set the DIC switch to Volts and note the battery voltage. If the battery voltage is below 11.5V, the test procedure may be unclear.
Check the factory wiring in the instrument panel wiring harness.Click hereto find out more information.
(Video) 1984-1989 Corvette Instrument Panel Troubleshooting #1 (2021) by batee.com
To maintain a digital trunk, you will need these supplies:
25-40W pencil soldering iron with sharp tapered tip ($8.99 at Radio Shack. DO NOT use a soldering iron or high heat iron! Do not use if the tip is dirty, not smooth and not tinned, it will damage the board)
60/40 lead/tin solder with rosin core. Do not use acid core solder or lead free solder! We provide the correct welding for all components that need to be welded.
Radio Shack Solder Wick/Pair Strip (or desoldering method of your choice)
Replacement Board Connector Repair Kit -Click hereCompare.
Optional LCD Polarizing Filter Kit -Click hereCompare.
Optional Photocell Kit -Click hereCompare.
Optional Xenon Bulb Kit -Click hereCompare
Optional power rebuild kit -Click hereCompare
or the new optional power supply -Click hereCompare
Sails & Windex Sails
Canned Air/Compressed Air
Cotton swabs and isopropyl alcohol
Optional insurance, but very good: Static control wrist straps (Radio Shack)
delete the set of numbers
Follow the removal instructions foundhere.
When disassembling the digital cluster
Strongly consider replacing your factory bulbs with cold run xenon bulbs as halogen bulbs will destroy your cluster.Click hereCompare.
Example of heat damage to a light bulb in a factory
Sunlight will destroy the LCD polarizing filter, causing the group information to disappear. The LCD panel should appear black when the cluster is powered off. If you can see the color information when you close the group, it means the polarizing film has faded and needs to be replaced.Click hereCompare.
(Video) 1984 C4 Corvette digital dash sunburn repair
Example of a sun-faded polarized film star cluster
If you are having problems with the groups being too bright or too dark, consider replacing the photocells when the groups are separated.Click hereCompare.
Example of cluster with photocell failure
Cluster disassembly
Use the documentation to partially uninstall a clusterhere.
Use the documentation to complete the cluster cut.here.
Some precautions for soldering and desoldering
Solder Removal - Use a solder wick to remove the solder holding the old part in place. Place the wick over the solder you want to remove and heat the top of the wick. When it is hot enough, the solder will flow from the connection to the wick. Use a new wick (copper color) each time you remove.
When soldering, heat (simultaneously) the connecting wire and the pad on the board. Once those two spots are hot enough, feed the new solder into the connector.
Replace the circuit board connector
Over time, heat, vibration, and poor design can cause a board connector or its solder joints to fail. They don't all look as bad as the one in picture 1, but they almost always need to be replaced.
Figure 1 - Burned circuit board socket
Figure 2 - Replacing the bottom of the front board connector
3) On the bottom circuit board (the last one you removed), use a soldering iron and a desoldering braid or other desoldering method of your choice to remove the old connector. Once the solder is removed and the connector is ready to be removed, you should be able to pull it off the board by hand. Do not use force to remove the connector, as the lining of the hole (connecting the top and bottom rails) may be damaged! See Figure 2.
Figure 3 - Backplane connectors removed - Backplane
Figure 4 - Bottom board connectors removed - top board
4) The joint will be deformed during re-soldering, resulting in uneven pin spacing. You can prevent this by temporarily installing the top board connector over the bottom board connector pins.
5) Solder the pins of the new connector to the board.
Figure 6 - Bottom Connector Installed - Bottom of the board
Figure 7 - Bottom Connector Installed - Top of Board
Figure 8 - Top board connectors before replacement - Bottom board
6) Using a soldering iron and desoldering braid (or desoldering method of your choice), remove the old white connector from the top plate. Once the solder is removed and the connector is ready to be removed, you should be able to pull it off the board by hand. Do not use force to remove the connector, as the lining of the hole (connecting the top and bottom rails) may be damaged!
Figure 9 - Top plate removed - Top side of plate
Figure 10 - Reinstalling the Top Board Connector - Bottom of the Board
7) Next, solder the new connector back in place with 60/40 tin/lead solder with a rosin core.
Figure 11 - Top panel connector installed
8) Use alcohol and a cotton swab to remove excess resin from the connectors and circuit board.
Rework other problem welds
9) Peel off and re-stick the connection point on the yellow plate capacitor in picture 7
10) Peel off and re-stick the brown resistor shown in picture 7
11) Unsolder and then re-solder the step-down transistor (three black wires) as shown in Figure 7
12) Heat from the factory bulb can cause the dimmer transistor rivet connection to loosen over time. Scrape the sides of the heat sink (the other end of the three wires) and solder it to the large heat sink on the base plate. See Figure 7.
LCD panel repair
13) Check the polarization filter on the LCD screen. If you see a fading ring around the edges, consider replacing the polarizing filter on the LCD. Now is the time to fix it.Click herethis market.
Figure 12 - Membrane bleaching on the left, new membrane on the right
Figure 13 - If you can see the color information with the panel closed, the polarizer has faded
14) Install the new polarizing film as detailed -Click here
LCD paint modification
15) If the black paint on the back of the LCD screen is worn, light will pass through the panel in different areas. Repaint the area using black enamel acrylic paint designed for glass and a small brush. Please note that if you purchase the LCD polarizing film kit, we include the correct paint and brushes. Be careful to avoid the area near the factory graphics and the LCD part area!
NOTE: Allow the paint to dry completely before reassembling or the panel will stick to the color diffuser!
17) Hold the painted panel up to the light, making sure the new color completely blocks the light. Please fill in if necessary.
internal power supply
If the cluster shows random LCD segments that blink with intermittent backlighting, you may need to rebuild the built-in power supply (Figure 1). We sell parts kits to replace common parts:Click here
Documentation for troubleshooting and rebuilding the internal power supply can be found athere.
If you prefer to replace the power supply rather than repair it,Click here
Photocell dimmer inspection
Example of cluster with photocell failure
If your pool is too dark during the day or too bright in the evening or at night, the photocells may be faulty. It's an inexpensive component, and when the group splits, it's a good time to replace the photocell.
With the group on, place your hand over the photocell (upper left). The clumps should be visibly dark. Otherwise, the photocell may be defective. Consider replacing available partshere
You can also test the photocell with a digital multimeter. Measure the resistance of the photocell (it's fine as long as it's in the circuit). It should read less than 75k ohms when exposed to room light and greater than 1 megohm when dark. Otherwise, the dimmer function will not work properly. Consider replacing it with parts available here
Follow this document to replace a faulty photocellClick here
cluster reorganization
Partially reassemble the cluster using the found documenthere.
Complete the reassembly using the documentation foundhere.
Certificate of repair
Consider benchmarking your cluster:Click here
Turn off the ignition before reconnecting the group!
Reconnect the dash to the two electrical plugs and turn on the ignition.
Figure 14 - Repaired group
FAQs
1984 - 1989 Corvette C4 Digital Instrument Repair? ›
1984 Corvette ECM's come in two variations: one for a manual transmission and one for an automatic transmission. Each module has an EPROM chip attached which acts as the “brain” for the computer.
Does a 84 Corvette have a computer? ›1984 Corvette ECM's come in two variations: one for a manual transmission and one for an automatic transmission. Each module has an EPROM chip attached which acts as the “brain” for the computer.
Is a 1984 Corvette a C4? ›So, when Chevy's C4 Corvette launched at the end of 1983 as a 1984 model-year car, General Motors had created a car with the goal of restoring the Corvette name to greatness.
What is the Z button on Corvette? ›In addition to the exhaust sound, steering, suspension (when equipped with Magnetic Ride Control) and braking settings that are configurable within MyMode, Z-Mode also includes a powertrain setting that controls gas pedal, transmission and engine response.
Why are 84 Corvettes so cheap? ›The 1984 model was built in the thick of the Roger Smith era. There were very few good GM vehicles made during that time, with the most expensive models often getting shot and neutered quality wise well before they left the factory floor.
Are 84 Corvettes any good? ›C&D also said that the '84 'Vette was “hands-down the fastest American automobile,” with its 140 mph top speed, sub-seven second sprint to 60 and 15.2 second, 90 mph quarter-mile time. If speed and handling weren't enough for you, Car and Driver was also sure to point out how well the '84 stopped.
How much horsepower does a 84 C4 Corvette have? ›The engine was a 305 CID V8 that produced 205 horsepower.
How rare are C4 Corvettes? ›Only 1 Produced
For all intents and purposes, the 1983 C4 serves as the rarest of all Corvettes, even if it's only on a technicality. After all, there was only a single Corvette produced during the 1983 model year, because no actual production run ever materialized.
Production of the C4 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 ended in 1995, with a total of 6,939 examples built. Q: What was the most expensive Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 - C4 ever sold? A: The highest recorded sale was $101,000 for a 1991 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 on April 15 2022.
Is a 1989 Corvette collectible? ›As such, base-model C4 Corvettes are not generally considered collectible, and it's doubtful they ever will be. Essentially, a C4 from the '80s makes a good starting point for an enthusiast's ride, but it is a poor investment for resale.
Are c4 going up in value? ›
The C4 is typical of the 1980s and 1990s with sleek styling, pop up headlights and even more coolness. It reinvented the wheel for the Corvette, but it has only ever felt like it was actually respected and not loved. Now though, prices have shot up with the C4 going from around $5,000 at one point to up to $30,000.
Is a 1984 Corvette fast? ›Item: It is hands-down the fastest American automobile, capable of 140-mph top speeds, 0-to-60 times under seven seconds, and 15.2-second quarter-mile forays at 90 mph. In fact, these figures qualify the Corvette as one of the half-dozen fastest production automobiles in the entire world!
How many 1984 c4 Corvettes were made? ›90 g-force rating that ranked the 1984 Corvette as one of best handling cars in the world at that time. The 1984 model year was the second highest production year in Corvette history as total 1984 Corvette production reached 51,547 coupes, the second highest in Corvette history at that time.
Is it easy to remove dash cam? ›Removing a dash cam is often trickier than mounting it on the windshield. This is because the adhesive on the mount is very strong and can almost be impossible to remove with just your fingers. We recommend using a prying tool (one may have been included with your dash cam) to slowly loosen the adhesive.
What does the C mean in Corvette? ›The C-number combination is used to denote specific Corvette generations. The original Corvette, C1, was built from 1953-1962; the model has gone through 6 major revisions since then, yielding todays C7, or seventh-generation Corvette. You can probably guess what the upcoming mid-engine Corvette will be known as: C8.
What is E on a Corvette? ›Electric Performance Vehicle. | Chevrolet. The 2024 Corvette E-Ray | Electric Performance Vehicle | Chevrolet.
Why Corvette is a muscle car? ›Corvettes are constructed using lightweight materials, which is a sports car thing—they're designed to go fast. But they're comparatively inexpensive and have less luxurious interiors, which is a muscle car thing.
What is the best year for the c4? ›If you're looking for an investment-grade C4 Corvette, focus on the 1990-to-1995 ZR1 and the 1996-only Grand Sport model. Another good one to watch is the 40th Anniversary Edition 1994 Corvette.
What Corvettes to stay away from? ›We recommend staying away from the 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2013 models. These may require pricey fixes, especially since the car is one of the rarer choices. The biggest fault in these models of the C6 Corvette is in the transmission. Unfortunately, this part is expensive to handle, along with the engine.
What year is the most undesirable Corvette? ›The worst years for Corvette—including 1953, 1975, and 1979—had a variety of performance issues. Chevrolet has manufactured dozens of quality Corvettes for nearly seven decades. Despite their iconic look, there have been a few lackluster years for this beloved American sports car, including 1953, 1975, and 1979.
What year Corvette is the most desirable? ›
The 1969 Corvette ZL-1 is perhaps one of the rarest and most highly sought-after 'Vettes ever made.
How can I make my 1984 Corvette faster? ›- 1) Remove the Frisbee. ...
- 2) Eliminate the muffler. ...
- 3) Air smog pump eliminator. ...
- 4) Spare tire removal. ...
- 5) Performance Cold Air Intake. ...
- 6) Throttle Body Coolant Bypass. ...
- 7) Throttle Body AirFoil. ...
- 8) Headers.
C4 just means it is of the model years 1984-1996. (There were 1983 Corvettes made, and they were of the C4 style, but were never sold to the public.) 35. Jasen answered 13 years ago. c stands for corvette, 4 stands for 4th generation.
What engine is in the 1984 C4 Corvette? ›The 1982 and 1984 Corvettes (plus a handful of other GM vehicles) were equipped with a 5.7-liter small-block V8 topped by a cool-looking fuel-injection system dubbed Cross-Fire Injection.
Is the C4 Corvette a supercar? ›The C4 version of the Corvette ZR-1 is an underrated supercar. Looking like a standard Corvette, its heart is a Lotus-designed 32-valve dual overhead cam V8 producing 375 horsepower. Extremely fast by the standards of the time, it set a 24-hour endurance run averaging 175.9 mph and is still fast today.
What is the rarest color Corvette? ›Chevrolet produced 27,004 Corvettes for 1972, offering buyers a choice of ten paint colors. The rarest of these is Pewter Silver which graces the panels of our feature car.
Are C4 Corvettes fast? ›The 350 cubic-inch engine of the 1984 C4 propelled the vehicle to 60 mph in a solid 7.3 seconds. It ran the quarter-mile in 14.62 seconds at a speed of 87.2 mph, and reached a top speed of 150 mph.
Which Corvette holds its value the best? ›The 2022 Chevy Corvette won the KBB 2022 Best Resale Value Award in the Sports Car category. As a reminder, GM produces the 2023 Chevy C8 Corvette in the Stingray and the Z06 versions.
How many C4 Corvettes were made total? ›The Corvette C4 was built from March 1983 to the end of 1996 with a number of 358,180 units, including 74,651 convertibles.
What is a 1989 c4 Corvette worth? ›| STATUS | SELLER |
|---|---|
| FOR SALE $8,200 | Country Classic Cars updated May 11, 2023 |
| FOR SALE $33,000 | Gateway Classic Cars updated May 2, 2023 |
| FOR SALE $35,500 | Classic Auto Mall updated Aug 9, 2022 |
| SOLD | Collectible Motor Car of Atlanta May 17, 2023 |
How many 89 Corvettes were made? ›
Pay Attention to Cost
The cost of owning a Corvette can be steep, so be prepared to pay for the luxury of owning this classic car. However, they are a good investment if you like to fix and resell cars. Unless you plan on purchasing a Corvette that needs repair, be ready to pay a hefty price.
There are a ton of special-edition Corvettes out there, but perhaps none more obscure than the 1986 Malcolm Konner Edition C4. With just 50 units produced, it's incredibly rare, and the signature dual-tone paint will make it a standout among the Cars & Coffee Corvette crowd.
How long will C4 last? ›When it comes to C4 energy drinks, you'll notice an effect immediately, with peak levels likely occurring about an hour after consumption and lasting for 3-4 hours after ingestion. If you're more sensitive to stimulants than you'll likely feel the effects for an even greater amount of time.
How many miles do C4 Corvettes last? ›I've found 2 lt4 cars, one with 114,000 miles, the other with 96,000 miles. One person said that c4's don't tend to last much more than 100,000 miles before a lot of stuff begins to fail.
Is the 1984 Corvette a stingray? ›These generations did not use the name stingray: Chevrolet Corvette (C1), the first generation of the Corvette, introduced in 1953. Chevrolet Corvette (C4), the fourth generation of the Corvette, introduced in 1984. Chevrolet Corvette (C5), the fifth generation of the Corvette, introduced in 1997.
Can a Corvette outrun a cop? ›The driver of a C7-generation Chevrolet Corvette has shown that with enough power, outrunning the police can be a simple matter of flooring the throttle for a few seconds and escaping into the distance.
What year Corvette was the fastest? ›2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (C7)
The 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is the fastest Corvette ever made, with a 0–60 time of 2.85 seconds when equipped with the optional ZTK package. It can do the standing quarter-mile in 10.6 seconds while achieving a top speed of over 210 mph.
The C4 Corvette is a classic sleeper that can offer close to supercar performance for far, far less than traditional supercar prices – and can be a durable, reliable and inexpensive car to run as well.
Are C4 Corvettes easy to work on? ›They are very easy to work on compared to other cars because of the "clamshell" designed hood. If you can get an LT1 , go for it . The L98 (85-91) had alot of low end grunt , but once in the 120mph range , it kinda fell flat on its face.
How much was the C4 Corvette when it first came out? ›
The Release of the C4 Corvette
A total of 51,547 C4 Vettes were sold in 1984 for around $21,800 each. Buyers appreciated the car's modern amenities, such as the instrument cluster with a digital LCD and the 16-inch 50-series Goodyear Gatorback tires.
The Corvette Gas Vapor Canister Purge Valve Solenoid is responsible for reducing emissions and increasing gas efficiency. Mounted on the top of the gas tank, the solenoid redirects excess gas from the gas tank to your intake so it can be burned off when you start the engine.
Can you put a new dashboard in an old car? ›As we said above, pretty much any part of your car's interior can be upgraded if you have the time and money – and that includes the entire front dashboard and steering wheel.
How much does it cost to replace a dashboard? ›The average cost for a Dashboard Replacement is between $1,951 and $2,099. Labor costs are estimated between $567 and $715 while parts are priced between $1,384 and $1,384.
What would a bad purge valve do? ›Simply put, air will be allowed to enter the engine in a quantity that is not predicted by your car's computer. This will change the car's air to fuel ratio, and can cause rough idling (car feels rough and bouncy when the engine is running), as well as difficulty starting.
How do I know if my purge valve is working? ›To test your purge valve, set your multimeter dial to Ohms, place the probes on the power terminals of the purge valve, and test for resistance between the terminals. A reading below 14 Ohms or above 30 Ohms signifies a bad purge valve, and it needs to be changed.
What code will a purge valve cause? ›There are several things that can trigger error code P0441. The main cause is a faulty purge valve. Other common causes include a disconnected or clogged purge line, circuit issues like loose connections or damaged wires, or problems with the control module.
Can you release parking brake manually? ›Parking brakes can be manually operated (via a lever) or can be electronic in nature. The benefit of a handbrake is that a driver can use it to stop the car even if the main hydraulic brake system fails.
How do you manually release a stuck parking brake? ›Disturb the brakes manually.
Apply and release the brake a number of times. Shift into drive and reverse, and back between drive and reverse again to slightly move the vehicle back and forth. This may dislodge some of the rust.
When Valet Mode is activated, Tesla's operating system restricts some of the car's functionality. Valet Mode will limit the car's maximum speed to 70 mph, reduce acceleration by about 50 percent and disable the use of autopilot.
What does Corvette valet mode do? ›
Before handing over the keys, a Corvette owner can activate valet mode by entering the settings menu and entering a 4-digit code. This will electronically lock the center console and glove box, and it disables the stereo and infotainment system to protect the owner's privacy.