[ZetsumeiKuro]

Well when I first bought my '87 spg it only had one dash light working (one of the two larger bulbs that light up the speedometer, boost gauge, tachometer, etc.). A few days later that last light stopped working so I removed the left speaker grill and replaced every damn bulb on the backside of the dash pod. Even after replacement of all the bulbs (yes even the warning lights :x) the dash still won't light up with the headlights or running lights on. So my next step is to pull the cursed dash pod out to check the crappy printed circuitry on the back of the dash pod. Anyone know what could be causing this? Yes I did try wiggling the light bulb sockets to see if it was just a loose connection.

 

[Dans_t16s]

dodgy rheostat (or turned down!)

I'm assuming youve checked the fuse?

Dan.

 

[ZetsumeiKuro]

Yes and No.

Yes I checked the fuses, replaced all that were bad and no I don't think its the rheostat because I tore the whole dash apart this week making sure all the connections were good (what fun!). All the quality that was put into making these cars were obviously spared when it came to making the dash... The center piece of the console is pretty flimsy, held in by small plastic brackets... Well anyway, if I find that the circuitry is faulty I'll fix it, I'm considering trying to find a junk classic 900 and taking the dash from it to replace this dash, its pretty whipped and I really don't think its worth saving.

 

[peva]

In my experience I've found the dashboard lighting on all my 900s to be marginal in reliability,even the new ones I had. In practice it's so difficult,as we all know, to get close and inspect the problem without whipping the whole dash out. My theory, and it seems to be born out in practice, is that the small contacts on the dash bulb holders deform the flexible PCB away from the contacts. And the more you remove the holders to fiddle, the worse it gets.

I have had reasonable success by bending the bulb holder contacts up very slightly so they press into the PCB more and then not fiddling with them.

Up to now I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[ZetsumeiKuro]

Thanks, I'll try tampering with the bulb sockets. I did buy an instrument cluster from a junk yard. The draw back is that it is from a non-turbo, so I'll have to install a separate boost gauge. This may be better however, seeing as the original boost gauge does not indicate psi. I'll let you guys know how this turns out.

 

[t3raposa]

I am experiencing similar issues... I have the Bentley (Just came today!), but I wonder, from those of you who have already done it in the past, how hard is the dash to remove?

 

[rawill]

Taking dash out is not hard, takes a little time, mostly thinking reading time for the first time. Two awkward bolts you get to from the A pillar, to take out the bolster under the dash. Bentley describes it. It is a great book too!

 

[peva]

Dash board removal. This is worth a look. http://www.fixmysaab.com/900_repair/diydash/intro.asp?nsteps=6

 

[ZetsumeiKuro]

Dashboard is not difficult? Try doing it in the freezing cold like I am. The dashboard trim is very flimsy and it breaks very easily (in fact my dashboard trim was broken in MANY places by the last owner or whoever he had working on the thing). Not to mention they leave absolutely NO slack on the wiring going to the rear defroster button. Be very careful when you do this because it does not take much for the dash trim to break. As far as it being complicated, it really is not.