Monaro 05 cv8 dash cluster woes

[SOCO]

It would appear that my dash cluster is partially fried probably due to a jump start or battery change. Everything works apart from some idiot lights including the ABS light and whilst having the mot done I've just found out is an mot fail.

Cluster Repairs UK can't fix it because they say it's a software issue, not bulbs.

If I can't get this fixed I'm up the swanny. Has anyone else had this problem or know how to get another cluster to be programmed to my car?

[SOCO]

I do indeed need another cluster. I also need to get someone to code it to my car.

Without getting it coded, the car probably won't even start.

[SOCO]

SturdyHSV said:

You don't need the dash connected to the car to drive it, so that won't be an issue at all

What other lights other than ABS are there? It isn't just that there is actually an ABS fault of some sort? Have you had the codes read by a Tech2? Monkfish / Walkinshaw etc. would be able to read if there is a code that's triggering the light.

Or do you mean the ABS light never comes on? So it doesn't flash up the ABS warning on the central screen, just the idiot light doesn't come on at all and thus is an MOT fail?

How do Cluster Repair UK know it's not the bulbs (LEDs)? Have you sent it off to them to look at?

EDIT for pics:

Getting to this stage requires no special skill beyond putting a bit of tape on the black backing so you know where to press the needles back on.

You could then quite easily test if the LED actually still lights up, and could feasibly change it over without taking the white plastic bit off.



They're relatively annoying to take apart beyond that stage as the screens are through hole mounted and de-soldering all the pins takes a while (took me a while anyway, as I had no soldering experience when starting, and was using solder wick as opposed to a sucker (Mud got quite adept with the sucker but he's less of an oaf than me!)

You have to take the screens off in order to take the white plastic cover off.



I was just changing the colour of the LEDs, but if it is just that the LED itself has gone pop, it could be a 'simple' fix?

Edited by SturdyHSV on Friday 13th January 14:40

Thanks everyone for your input, its much appreciated.

I'm told that I should not try to drive the car without the cluster as it'll bring up SRS faults if it starts at all and possibly a raft of other problems. The engine check light doesn't come on either. Cluster Repair UK have looked at it and in their report cited corrupted sofware from a high volt incident such as when I've jump started it.

We are probably all familiar with the process of pressing Mode and Set buttons together when turning the ignition on, then scrolling down to the bulb test that lights up all of the dashboard bulbs and sets all your dials to half way until you switch off or scroll back. At that point everything lights up other than abs and engine check and they don't illuminate when the ignition is first turned. If it was bulbs, they could have fixed it. They have told me that I need a replacement cluster and that it has to be coded to the car. They cannot do coding though.

I'm surprised but pleased that I appear to be the only one to have suffered this fate.

I'm hoping that the coding info isn't sitting fried in my cluster and that the necessary coding info can be found through factory records or chassis number. I am in touch with a company in Aus who can do coding, but they haven't got back with what coding info they need. There are companies in the UK who do Vauxhall coding but make no mention of Monaro/ R8 clusters.

[SOCO]

Mud_ said:

I would try swapping the offending LED, what have you got to lose?

I appreciate your kind sentiment but I gave the cluster to a well known company who change LEDS all the time as an everyday repair. They have tested the unit and the leds are not the problem. They have found evidence of corrupted software due to a voltage overload.

[SOCO]

I want to thank absolutely all of you for taking the time to help offer advice and suggestions to get me back on the road with my Ro. I'm pleased to tell you I have a couple a hacks to keep me mobile for now at least

I was advised that a different cluster would have to be matched to my car's id. Having had a punt around the tinterweb it may be duff info. It may well be that a different cluster would just need to be coded to the model if it came from a different body style/v6/v8/manual/auto etc. Over here the choice was limited to just a few models and so hopefully another late model CV8 cluster would just need the mileage to be changed.

I got the info below from

http://forums.justcommodores.com.au/threads/vy-vz-...

Programming requirements
Now looking into the technical side of changing instrument clusters. For those going to change their instrument cluster with a second hand one, there are things you should get reprogrammed and aspects that you will more than likely need to get the cluster reprogrammed to get it to work correctly!
To reprogram the cluster correctly, the following needs to be updated:
- Odometer
- Engine Size (V6 or V8)
- Transmission (Manual or Auto, VZs also have 4spd or 5spd choice)
- Body Type (Sedan, Utility, Cabchassis ect)
- Series (1 or 2.. only applicable to VYs)
- SRS configuration (0,2,3,4 or 6 loop)
Its vital the SRS configuration is CORRECT otherwise it will cause the SRS warning to pop up! I still see this on a regular basis!


I have seen info on more modern cars that does indeed state that the cluster has to be coded to the car.
It appears that our Ro's weren't that clever. If that's true, thank God for that.

I'll keep you posted on progress, and feel free to comment. I'm amongst friends here!

Adrian

[SOCO]

Deep deep joy! It's fixed!

There were no blown LEDs. There was no evidence of a voltage overload.

It just needed a software tweak to correct a masked value.....no, I don't know what it means either. I didn't need a replacement cluster in the end, but in the course of my investigations I at least discovered that if a cluster dies we won't need a replacement to be coded to the car, just a like for like replacement.

There was a moment or two when I feared the worst and that it just couldn't be fixed.

Thanks everyone for your support, it was and still is very much appreciated.

Adrian

[SOCO]

Everybody kept telling me that it was extremely unlikely that the ABS led had blown, and they were right.

Do you still have the Vauxhall logo in your lcd display on start-up? or have you had it changed?

[SOCO]

Codswallop, you have a personal email.

Suffice to say it should be a quick fix.

[SOCO]

Well, if your ABS light isn't working then it's likely you've had a cluster mod.

That being the case, it's also likely that you've had the gear shift light activated. At least two cars, modded by different people have had this problem, but it was solved by plugging into the cluster with the appropriate laptop software and deselecting the gear shift warning beep/light option. That's my observation, but although I can talk a good fix I have no technical skills whatsoever.

If I've got this right, this option can also be set at the rev limit of your choosing but as I said, doing any of this then switches off your ABS light and you fail the MOT. This is separate to the warning you get when the engine is cold and telling you to behave yourself until things are warmed up.

This was discovered with some trial and error work by a very helpful individual on the forum who then got us back on the road and through the MOT.

Have you got this problem Mud?

[SOCO]

ARAF said:

Well done. I'm glad you've shown yourself, so that you can get the recognition you deserve.

Nice one Ferret,

He's not the Messiah, he's a bloody good bloke who kindly gave up his time to get me back on the road.