Digital Dash repair

[Dr.Fiero]

Pulled the digi dash out of my 'new' 89 Blazer since all it had was the speedo, and vary rarely the odometer. After a good deal of poking around under a loupe looking for cracks on the board, I started probing the ribbon cables that link the two boards together.

http://www.s10forum.com/forum/attach...d=12142832 37

Probing each end of the cable, then wiggling it, I found an internal break on a few lines!! Thinking what the heck I could replace it with... I remembered some old computer floppy cables I had. The floppy cables are 34 pin, and the dash ones are only 17, but... spacing is the same, the dash ones just have a single row instead of two.

http://www.s10forum.com/forum/attach...d=12142834 18

So, after desoldering the strip off the board:

http://www.s10forum.com/forum/attach...d=12142834 85



I'll then strip the end of the ribbon cable, omitting every second wire (they were common grounds used as shielding in the PC), twiddle the ends, insert them into the board, then resoldering them in place. It's a double sided board, so make sure you get good hole fill (I'm not sure if the holes are plated through or not). That's tomorrows project, so I don't have any pictures of that phase.

[timtp2004]

Sweet stuff! My 89 blaze has this same problem....

[Dr.Fiero]

Ok, here's the follow up...

Cut the ribbon cable straight across (scissors work fine!) about 4" long:
http://www.s10forum.com/forum/attach...d=12144560 55

Cut each alternate wire off, then strip the ends:
http://www.s10forum.com/forum/attach...d=12144562 00

Carefully twizel each wire so there's no loose strands. Insert them through the board, and solder carefully in place:
http://www.s10forum.com/forum/attach...d=12144562 48

Reconnect to the rear board:
http://www.s10forum.com/forum/attach...d=12144563 35

Now go plug it in and test it! I just did... and was instantly bathed in the glorious blue glow of VF lighting.


(now... does an admin want to fix the pictures to make them inline.... move this to electrical... then sticky it? )