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Cadillac Repair/electric/computer issue

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Expert: - 2/14/2011


Question
i have a 86 Cadillac roadster its all electric. Everything works but the dash display where the speedometer and such is. as of right now it is all blank? just wondering on a estimate on such a part or what other issues could be causing such a problem and if its worth purchasing since i got the car at $1200 has 120,000 miles. thanks for any advice.

Answer
Hello,
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There is a whole host of things that can be wrong with the dash. As simple as a fuse to a new head unit for the cluster. these dashs were always problematic in their first years of use.

You could remove cluster and check the connections, reattach and it may work. Dealers used to use authorized stereo stores to repair the dash clusters and at that time (in the 80's) the price tag was $1,200.00.

You can't buy new parts for this because they were discontinued 20 years ago! If you found one in the junkyard, it may not work either.

Go for checking all fuses with a test light first and get back to me.

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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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