87 starwars gauge cluster problem

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87 starwars gauge cluster problem

January 05, 2008, 04:43:51 PM

I'm having a problem with the center speedometer bulb(?) on my 87 starwars cluster. its not completely not working, its just acting quite weird. Since I was told it was a bulb, its got me really confused. is it a back lit bulb or is the whole thing a bulb? see the problem is that its not 100% dead. its just that when i lean to the left i cant read the readout very clearly, but when i lean to the right it's perfectly visible. it started when the interval oil check light would come on, it would do this and for the longest time (due to my laziness and not reading the manual) i let it run for i guess to long. see i thought it would go away after i changed the oil, but it didn't, then i found that you could reset it. once i reset it the problem went away. now its doing it again, but I've reset the thing a million times yet it hasn't gone away, if i set the speed notification it goes just about dead.

Now here's my question. is it possible that theres resistance that is causing the back lit bulb dim? or are there a couple of back lit bulbs back there and one could have gone out? or is the whole middle thing a bulb and the bulb is bad?

if the whole thing is a bulb, how do i replace it? NOS parts or could i get the parts from a parts store or even (cringe) a dealership?

one last question is to get the gauge cluster out would i have to disassemble the whole dash? are there anything interesting like a modification that i could do while the cluster is out? i heard of a log time ago about a modification where i could get rid of the 85mph limiter with a jumper?

~AC

87 starwars gauge cluster problem

Reply #1 – January 05, 2008, 10:14:48 PM

i know i didn't wait too long for a response, but does anyone know much about the backlit starwars guages?

but anyway i was just wondering - something regulars could answer - when does this forum get busy? just wondering, i gotta go finish putting my transmission in tomarrow so i'm not ganna be on except early in the morning, then church, then working again so i might be on 3 times tomarrow, whens the best time to check?

87 starwars gauge cluster problem

Reply #2 – January 05, 2008, 10:56:55 PM

What is a Star Wars cluster?

Is this a variation on the Fila package?

87 starwars gauge cluster problem

Reply #3 – January 05, 2008, 11:01:17 PM

nah i mean the digital cluster that has the computer... from left to right it has the tach etc, then the speedo in the middle, and then a computer that gives you like mpg average, mpg instant, a milage counter, miles till empty etc i forget all of them.. but its basically got a computer in the 3rd thing on the right. i'd imagine its the same as any other digital cluster they came out with as far as the backlit portions go.

87 starwars gauge cluster problem

Reply #4 – January 05, 2008, 11:06:30 PM

Quote from: ~AC;195941

I'm having a problem with the center speedometer bulb(?) on my 87 starwars cluster. its not completely not working, its just acting quite weird. Since I was told it was a bulb, its got me really confused.~AC

its a good possibility they bulb (s), qty 2 are bad.

Quote from: ~AC;195941

is it a back lit bulb~AC

yes

Quote from: ~AC;195941

or is the whole thing a bulb?~AC

NO, it is LCD

Quote from: ~AC;195941

see the problem is that its not 100% dead. its just that when i lean to the left i cant read the readout very clearly, but when i lean to the right it's perfectly visible.~AC

Stop overthinking, correct the problem with bulbs

Quote from: ~AC;195941

it started when the interval oil check light would come on, it would do this and for the longest time (due to my laziness and not reading the manual) i let it run for i guess to long. see i thought it would go away after i changed the oil, but it didn't, then i found that you could reset it. once i reset it the problem went away. now its doing it again, but I've reset the thing a million times yet it hasn't gone away, if i set the speed notification it goes just about dead.~AC

"IT" started= the speedo went dim at that moment? unlikely you are remembering correctly.

Quote from: ~AC;195941

Now here's my question. is it possible that theres resistance that is causing the back lit bulb dim?~AC

YES, its called high resistance,,,ie-an open circuit.,,,ie- a blown bulb.

Quote from: ~AC;195941

or are there a couple of back lit bulbs back there and one could have gone out?~AC

Yes, there are two bulbs on the upper rear portion of the speedo.

Quote from: ~AC;195941

or is the whole middle thing a bulb and the bulb is bad?~AC

NO, the whole thing is not a bulb, as stated before, the speedo itself is LCD.

Quote from: ~AC;195941

if the whole thing is a bulb, how do i replace it? NOS parts or could i get the parts from a parts store or even (cringe) a dealership?~AC

Bulbs widely available
Speedo modules will be found at bone yards but you will aquire an "S" dead center bottom of your speedo to signal the general public that the speedo is not original.

Quote from: ~AC;195941

one last question is to get the gauge cluster out would i have to disassemble the whole dash?~AC

No, check my diy link below

Quote from: ~AC;195941

are there anything interesting like a modification that i could do while the cluster is out? i heard of a log time ago about a modification where i could get rid of the 85mph limiter with a jumper?
~AC

Yes, jumper w2 on the speedo circuit card but you already siad your lazy,,lol:hick:

87 starwars gauge cluster problem

Reply #5 – January 05, 2008, 11:10:01 PM

Quote from: ~AC;195975

i know i didn't wait too long for a response, but does anyone know much about the backlit starwars guages?

Yep,, we know all of it with wiring diagrams.

Quote from: ~AC;195975

but anyway i was just wondering - something regulars could answer - when does this forum get busy? just wondering, i gotta go finish putting my transmission in tomarrow so i'm not ganna be on except early in the morning, then church, then working again so i might be on 3 times tomarrow, whens the best time to check?

calm down, we were not sitting around waiting for just you to show up with problems:hick:

87 starwars gauge cluster problem

Reply #6 – January 05, 2008, 11:27:41 PM

i wasnt trying to rush you guys, the speedo thing is quite a small issue compaired to the transmission job im doing. but thanks im glad that its just a bulb, im confident that the LED componant is working just fine. i do apreciate it cassidy! is there a picture somewhere (saw it a year or 2 ago) to show exactly where the W2 jumper is? i was lazy about looking at the manual, im not lazy (at least right now) about getting things fixed!

i do appreciate it :)

87 starwars gauge cluster problem

Reply #7 – January 06, 2008, 09:16:20 AM

Quote from: jcassity;195983

Bulbs widely available
Speedo modules will be found at bone yards but you will aquire an "S" dead center bottom of your speedo to signal the general public that the speedo is not original.

The original bulbs are halogen and can be tricky to find. You can use normal, common, and cheap 194 bulbs in their place.

As for the "S" - that appears ONLY if the speedo is remanufactured. There is a jumper on the circuit board (similar to the W2 jumper for the 199 mod) that must be connected to activate the "S". Simply swapping a junkyard cluster in will not illuminate the "S"

87 starwars gauge cluster problem

Reply #8 – January 06, 2008, 09:22:53 AM

does anyone have a picture or a link to a picture of the W2 jumper location?

87 starwars gauge cluster problem

Reply #9 – January 06, 2008, 09:59:55 AM

http://www.coolcats.net/tech/advanced/s_speedo.html
http://www.coolcats.net/tech/advanced/199speedo.html

87 starwars gauge cluster problem

Reply #10 – January 06, 2008, 03:47:00 PM

thanks eric.. i guess i should try askin you with your website and all at least where to find it on there, but i bet you get bugged like that alllllllll day! haha thanks again!

87 starwars gauge cluster problem

Reply #11 – January 07, 2008, 01:32:24 AM

btw, the speedo mod is super easy as long as you are good at taking things apart and putting them back together. Make sure to use a wire from an electronic part like a wire off a resistor and such. it will take solder easier which im sure you already know.

good luck and let us know how it turned out.

87 starwars gauge cluster problem

Reply #12 – January 07, 2008, 02:05:39 AM

i got a soldering iron, but i was just wondering if that metal tape would suffice? I rummaged around till late in the morning (its 2am already), and i couldnt find the right wire like cassidy said, im ganna make a trip to the parts store anyway to get the bulbs, so is there any wire at autozone specifically that you guys know of? also whats a good brand and type of bulb that im ganna need for the new bulbs (im ganna change all of them as long as i dont find corrosion or other resistance)

87 starwars gauge cluster problem

Reply #13 – January 07, 2008, 09:17:35 PM

i accidentally dropped a solder ball on the spot and that worked fine for me... bulbs are pretty much all the same.... just get the right ones.

87 starwars gauge cluster problem

Reply #14 – January 07, 2008, 09:29:59 PM

since one went out, would it be wise to replace them all? (i'm thinkin i should) if so how many are in there, remember tho i have the lil computer on the far right so i don't even know how that works (i don't like taking things apart until I'm ready to work on it) I'll prolly solder a jumper wire to it instead of the metallic tape. i think thats a bit too cheap and although the glue works as a conductor after a while i don't want it falling off over time.