[ladybug111387]

My brother's 85 laser has been parked at my parent's house for the last 3 years. When it was parked, everything was still working perfect, but when I got it out last week the odometer, mileage, and fuel won't light up. I was wondering if anybody could point me in the right direction here. Is this a fuse or wiring problem? I'd appreciation any suggestions.

 

[dony409]

Well try fuses first... You never know!

 

[DodgeG24Man]

Hi,
So there is a problem with the dash,
How was the car stored ? Inside, outside, outside with a tarp etc.
Did the car get lots of moisture trapped inside while it was parked?
I just thinking that with lots of moisture the connections on the back side of the electronic gauge package may have corriosion on them.
Or the vac floresents may have been damaged by extreme cold or heat they're a bit finiky that way.
There is a way to check them ( service diagnoistics ) I believe you have to push the trip + reset + Us/Metric 3 times in a row 1-2-3 all at the same time ( together ) and the display will flash all the areas and any service code for the dash. I'm trying to remember this was sooooo long ago when these cars were new that I knew this.( hope I remembered this right )

 

[yellonoma]

I think you remember correct DodgeG24Man, I cant remember exactly but could do it if it's in front of me.

So only the odo mileage an fuel does not light up and everything else works, You have temp and oil? (just double checking). Sounds like the vfd driver(s) that light them up may have gave up or intermit. Unfortunatly there is no service diagrams or literature released for these so the most common fix is simply replacement with a known good unit. However it is not impossible to fix these and I have heard of some people in the US that will but for a premium dollar. All else fails give it a good whack, works for me..!

 

[ladybug111387]

Thanks guys,

I checked all the fuses inside the car, but I haven't really dug under the hood yet.

It was stored outside in the weather, which is Northern Idaho, so it saw it's fair share of moister. The blinkers, low and high beam, and parking break all light up, but the odo, mileage, rpm, oil, volts, heat temp, and fuel don't.

First thing I did was give it a good whack, but not such luck for me....

I appreciate all the tips and I'll get to work!

 

[yellonoma]

Thanks guys,

I checked all the fuses inside the car, but I haven't really dug under the hood yet.

The blinkers, low and high beam, and parking break all light up, but the odo, mileage, rpm, oil, volts, heat temp, and fuel don't.

OK, does the speedometer light up? If that doesn't either than I would suggest a fuse or power feed wire has worked loose from the connector or corrosion on the connector contacts. The blinker, low high parking brake etc all use seperate bulbs and individual power ground feed from the other displays.

 

[yellonoma]

First check fuses, if fine remove the cluster and stick a multimeter probes into the connectors, Check pin 10 (battery) to pin 6 (ground) for 12V, with key on check pin 21 (ignition) to pin 6 (ground). If nothing on either check pin 6 (ground) to bare metal on the body for continuity (near 0 ohms). If good ground trace the battery wire to the fuse panel and check ignition. If everything is good disassemble the cluster and have a quick glance at the circuitry, if nothing obvious is wrong a used replacement is the best option.

 

[ladybug111387]

Thanks for all the info!!!

 

[ladybug111387]

Hey! Here is an update:

The other day we went to move the car to a different location and tada when we started it up everything was working! However, after turning it off and back on again the dash was again blank. We called a local dealer and he said that it sounded like our logic module was the problem so we're now checking into that.

 

[spudwiser67]

Its not your lm its the dash. I have an 85 laser with the same dash and the same prob.
I pulled mine out of the car and found for one thing a rats nest in the back of the dash panel., the other being all the conections on the back of the dash board were coverd in corriosion. I fixed up the wires that got chewed on. had to work a bit to get the conectors out of the dash, but get them out clean it up good then put a small amount of grease on your conectors. put it back together and if you get lucky it will all go back to working. as for mine the od and gas are still not working but the tach, temp, ect are all working now. good luck.

 

[DodgeG24Man]

Its not your lm its the dash. I have an 85 laser with the same dash and the same prob.
I pulled mine out of the car and found for one thing a rats nest in the back of the dash panel., the other being all the conections on the back of the dash board were coverd in corriosion. I fixed up the wires that got chewed on. had to work a bit to get the conectors out of the dash, but get them out clean it up good then put a small amount of grease on your conectors. put it back together and if you get lucky it will all go back to working. as for mine the od and gas are still not working but the tach, temp, ect are all working now. good luck.

I agree with this, It's not your logic module. the dealer is wrong on that for sure 100%
I do think that the plugs in the back of the unit have corroision on them from sitting outside for a long period of time. Hot temps and cool down of the car will cause condensation through out the interior and will cause havic on the electrical connectors

Pull off the dash cover by undoing the screws on the panel
Remove dash cover panel ( theres clips on the bottom )
Now you'll see the display unit
Undo the digital display units mounting screws ( not the cover screws )
Carefully pull unit towards you ( if car has tilt drop steering wheel down all the way to make it easier for removal ) Only pull unit out a bit reach in behind unit to release the connectors ( 3 connectors in total )
To release connectors from unit theres a tab that locks them in place,
The two large connectors have the tabs on the bottom of the connectors
these are on the unit itself ( the connectors are color coded )
There is a green connector that hangs loose in the upper right hand corner behind unit. It also has a locking tab on it carefully pry the tab upwards and carefully pull apart the 2 halfs ( do not yank on the wires leading to the back of the unit !! The wires are attached to a printed circuit board mounted on the backside of the unit ) The unit is now separated from the connectors and is ready to be pulled forward and out from the mounting area of the dash panel.

 

[ladybug111387]

Thanks guys! I'll keep working on it before I spend the $$ on a new logic module. I appreciate all the help!

 

[spudwiser67]

well unless you just want a hotter lm to make the engine run better. I would spend my money on a known working dash unit from someone on this site or a junk yard. the lm on your car just like on mine dose not do anything to control the dash. if the dash panel will work one time and not the rest its needs to be cleaned up and try it that way or just replace it.

 

[ladybug111387]

It works! Thanks so much for all the help! You saved me a lot of time and money!!

 

[spudwiser67]

cool

 

[DodgeG24Man]

Hip Hip Horay !!:thumb:
Glad to help out in any way that I can!