98 Instrument Cluster Repair

Does anyone have experience with any of the companies that repairs the instrument cluster.

I have

one indicator out "Traction Control"

one unoperating guage "Engine Temp", it stays in the cold position to the left. It did work for a while.
The engine is running correctly and has full coolant and the cooling fans come on and off ok, and I get heat from the heater vents

PRND321 Indicator has 7 square lights up indicators under each of the gear positions. so it is not as easy to tell gear selection.
OOOOOO

The second two faults both went out one time when I was starting out one day when i shifted into D

Look up behind the dash and see if one of the wiring harness connectors to the instrument cluster has worked loose. It happens. May be tough to reach - you may have to take off the trim panels to get to the cluster, there's posts on this site about taking the dash apart - use the advanced search function.

OK, thanks for the info, to get at the connectors, do i start by prying the front pieces off or take the top flat panel off the dash first. I don't want to break anything.

Bob, when are you doing this job? I have some pictures that would help you.

When you say the TC light is out, it could be the bulb is burned out. You can access the bulbs on the left side without removing the dash. Swap a bulb that is tested to work, and that will tell you if it's the bulb or something else.

Aaron,
I just acquired this riv, and just want to fix the cluster, the temp guage is the most important, the tc light and prnd321 indicator are just irritants. I am in no hurry, just interested in fixing.

can the top panel, the flat horizontal piece removal give me connector access? I ordered a cluster off ebay for spare parts in case I need them for $20.

Thanks !

Here are some pics I took while taking off the dash. I have some more of the cluster, while post later:

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t1187-write-up-riv-dash-and-door-removal#12617

You don't need to take the visor off, just the side caps, underside of the visor, then the front dash panel.

ok, thanks, i guess i just start by pulling the front plastic off , if its all clips, sb easy enough.

Be careful, there are a few screws on the sides behind the cap pieces. Take the underside visor panel off first. The plastic clip fasteners will probably break, so need to buy a few new ones. I have some I can sell you if you need. You'll see 4 or 5 more screws where the visor and dash panel meets. Bottom edge of dash is held in with clips.

I see screw heads on the underside of the visor panel where it joins the dash panel, are those the ones that come off first? the the dash panels should unsnap if pulled forward? still wondering how i get at the bulbs without taking the cluster out, is there assess behind the fuse panel on the left of the dash.

You want to take off the side panels (one is around the fuse box) on both sides, first. They are clipped in. Behind there you will find access to 5 of the lamps on the left side of the cluster. To access the others, you must remove the dash and the cluster. To remove the dash, remove two screws on the sides, and the 4-5 where the dash meets the visor.

The cluster comes out with 5 screws. You can access the two plug connectors with a long screw driver from the front and side. I used a small flash light to help see behind the cluster.

mcwho wrote:

I see screw heads on the underside of the visor panel where it joins the dash panel, are those the ones that come off first? the the dash panels should unsnap if pulled forward? still wondering how i get at the bulbs without taking the cluster out, is there assess behind the fuse panel on the left of the dash.

Hey Bob this might help.

I understand that GM's point in attaching the dash panels was to make it relatively easy to assemble (NOT disassemble) and to use enough fasteners to keep it from squeaking (much). You will find fasteners of one sort or another every 20-30 centimeters or so around that thing as well as on the end caps and the panel under the dash pad.

The end caps have little hooks in them that engage under the face of the dash panel. They also have spring clips that snap into slots. They are tricky to remove but in general it's done by pulling out at the vent holes on drivers side, at edge closest to firewall on pass side.

The push fasteners that hold the black plastic plate under the dash pad have pins in the center that lock them in place. I forget whether you push the pin in a little to disengage or just pull them out. Hopefully AA will chime in.

You will find screws, primarily, all around the dash face panel, including the left and right edges.

Again the idea is they used lots of fasteners to keep the dash tight and free of squeaks.

Albertj

The push fasteners are not designed to release, only to engage for assembly. Just pry them out. If you break them, new ones are available from the dealer, or let me know and I'll send you new ones for a fair price. I broke about 75% of mine taking them out.

AA wrote:

The push fasteners are not designed to release, only to engage for assembly. Just pry them out. If you break them, new ones are available from the dealer, or let me know and I'll send you new ones for a fair price. I broke about 75% of mine taking them out.

I've had dash off 3 times and have not broken any of those little push fasteners yet -- but honest to pete I don't recall how to get them out and I'm not near the car to check.

Albertj

They only come out one way that I can tell: force. First time I salvaged all of them. Second time 3 out of 4 broke. I now have a good supply for the future. It's not like I take the dash apart that often.

I assume you are talking about the panel that goes across the underside of the overhang?

Those funny little pins are 3 position. Push the middle in deeper, and they will release so you can remove the whole pin. Before you reinstall, push the middle all the way out (2 clicks). When you install, push the pin in to flush and it locks in place.

I have about 5 of them left from the 10 I bought to replace the one I lost.

Ahh, I need to give the engineers credit then. I couldnt figure it out, but now that you mention it, that makes perfect sense.

I think the FSM told me how to get them out. If I hadn't lost one I would have been in great shape!