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Cadillac Repair/Digital Dash 1991 Seville

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Expert: - 11/5/2010


Question
Hello Rob,
You replied a few days ago to a problem someone had with a Digital Dash and I have a similar problem where my digital display will go dim and then suddenly reset itself and become bright again. I had this problem 6 years ago and the problem turned out to be a faulty Twilight Sentinel Light Switch ( the complete unit on dash that turns lights on/off and controls Twilight Sentinel). I put a new unit in and it has been perfect, until now,6 years later. Problem is a new unit is about £300 ( i'm from UK)-is it possible to repair these units and if so what should I be looking for,could it be a dry joint or is it not really a diy repair??
Many thanks
Andy

Answer
Hello,

The bad news is that the twilight sentinal switches are not servicable.

I do not know if you have access to an auto wrecking yard in your area, but if you do try to find a used one.
The other option is check ebay. The Chinese seem to be making everything these days and the prices are low.


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Rob Painter

Expertise

Alarm system questions cannot be answered on this forum. These systems are not what I can answer. Without being physically at the vehicle and not knowing what kind of electrical service has been done on the vehicle, there is no possible way to give an accurate answer over the internet. My expertise is in Ignition/key based anti-theft systems. These issues include GM VATS (resistor chip in key blade) PASSLOCK (MRD)-ignition lock rotation based, no special ignition key and the PKIII Transponder (computer chip in key) systems. These systems are not alarm based and are integral with the starting of the engine. This is why I cannot diagnose alarm problems without physically looking at the vehicle: Alarm systems are a completely different annimal than ignition key/lock based anti-theft system. Many alarm questions come from vehicles 10 years old, and since older, many hands that had been involved over the years.I am an expert in all GM factory (ignition/key based)systems. Alarm system questions pose to many situations beyond my knowledge as to what has been done to the vehicle over the years. Some guy may have actually wired the stereo into the alarm system. Who knows? Over my past 30 years in vehicle wiring repair, I have seen unbelievable wiring disaters done by guys that consider themselves "mechanics." I have seen stereos and alarms intalled using surgical tape. I have seen modules burn up, un-fused circuits, wiring jambed between the doors and even lamp cord used for a starter kill. To answer alarm questions over the internet without examining the vehicle is like asking; What does it take to remove a dent?

Experience

Education/Credentials-ASE certified. 11 years with a GM dealer and 17 years with a repair facility dealing with only the repair of theft recovered vehicles.

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