Reworking the rework damage. This cluster put up a fight.
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 เม.ย. 2019
- 2003 full size GM Cluster. The owner took a shot at repairing the cluster.
Besides a rebuild with white LED's and new X27.168 this one needed many solder joints cleaned up, and needed two open via's fixed. More info below ↓
Contact Info: • How to Contact for Ins...
Below are some of my favorite tools:
Hakko Solder Sucker:
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Uni-T Power Supply 30V 5 amp (cheaper on ebay, don't pay over $100):
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My favorite soldering station (cheaper on ebay, don't pay over $50) :
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Soldering mat:
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Microscope:
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Solder:
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Solder Wick:
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Multimeter:
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Yes I know at 25:15 the left blinker is cutting in and out while I'm seating the needles. My connector is worn.
Fuel gauge also looks a little lazy. A mammoth job well done.
@@gplusgplus2286 that's intentional. It so the fuel gauge isn't dancing around every time you take a corner, hit the brakes or gas.
@@gplusgplus2286 The fuel gauge will always be a little slow to respond due to its programming. This is to account for fuel tank slosh and all the fluid movement that goes on in a fuel tank.
Hey Jeff,
So, by you saying "my connector is worn", you mean the terminal on "B1" is worn out & loose? I'm surprised that you don't just swap with one of the unused terminal & wires in the connector? Or are they all used?
Thanks for the video!
@@robtemple3445 I could replace the pin or connector, but it doesn't bother me enough yet to do so. Once the power pin connector starts to wear out, I'll finally retire the connector.
There's something almost peaceful watching nasty, globbed solder joints get turned into clean ones.
Yes, very peaceful. When I'm having trouble sleeping, I'll come back & watch this again, & then sleep like a 👶. 😆
Jeff, you work like a surgeon. Cleaning up all the components and solder. It's amazing. Greetings from Calgary, Canada 🇨🇦
Love your work. It also show these boards are well made. I splattered some solder on the three lower pins of the (U29) OKI THAI L9203-02 4172B10 for a 2005 Chevy Avalanche. Everything works but not the VFDs. You think I can resurrect my cluster?
Really enjoyable to watch someone that knows what they are doing
I love watching your videos. I did some minor cluster work on mine. Ever since I'm fascinated with both how complex these clusters are, and how poorly they hold up to aging. And people attempting to repair them poorly of course. Keep making these videos, we love them.
Amazing how much better it looks when you're done
This is why my cluster is coming to you to get fixed. You do it right the first time.
what a mess!! some of the resistors didn't even look like they were soldered on one side!! It's great that people try to fix their own stuff and save some $$ but if you dont have the tools and know how, in the end you may get lucky, but most times it causes more of a headache and problems for the person who actually has to fix what the customer did and then the problem. Great video Jeff as usual! Sending much respect from the east coast of Canada!!
Thanks, yes good eye. Those 511 resistors like to fracture and are often times barely hanging on.
Normally I would agree, but in this particular case, I’d say the guy had nothing to lose. It is my understanding that Jeff charges a flat rate no matter how bad the board is. So this customer got a little practice with the soldering iron, learned their limitations, and spent the same amount on the repair as it would have cost to begin with. I’d say it was well worth the gamble on the off chance of success and it is hard to beat a free education. Hopefully the customer learned something or honed a skill during this attempt. If nothing else, they good tutorial to show where they went wrong and provided us with a video that was a little different, which is never a bad thing! I doubt there are very many proficient solderers out there that started out with clean solid solder joints. Heck, my soldering education started with welding a plastic model car together with a radio shack iron. (CA glue just didn’t cut it for my liking lol)
@@athhud you are correct. As of now I charge a flat fee. Although I've been thinking about changing my pricing as the clusters that are coming in are getting more and more nasty.
@@jeffescortlx I think you're getting those screwed up clusters because you've shown that you're capable of fixing them. People probably wrote them off as junk until they saw your videos haha
@@Eastahtata I'm assuming it's start off as a budget decision, "why send it off and pay more when I can fix it my self for a fraction". And then it turns into "jeffescortlx doesn't charge extra for messed up boards and he's still cheaper than a replacement". So here we are!
Skills A+ - Knowledge A+ - Patience A++..but hey...be nice let your kitty have the box. ☺ Seriously..I am very impressed with your surface mount repair skills.
A lot of that soldering looked like a 5 year old did it. No wonder everything wasnt working right. You can cheat using rosin core solder but if it isnt working right it's time to break out the flux. And when your finished clean everything up. Jeez. I like seeing someone who takes pride in doing their work correctly. Keep up the good work.
fantastic work as usual
Super satisfying to watch!
Awsome workmanship by the way
Great vid, as usual.
Awesome work
Your videos encouraged me to tackle my 98 Chevy k1500 cluster. The fuel gauge never worked (had it almost twenty years) and the tach and also speedo started to stick. I had since replaced the fuel sending unit last summer when the pump failed so I knew it had to be in the cluster. I was shocked at the construction, no PCB just that plastic ribbon style trace overlay with metal clips with friction fit for contacts. All my issues just came down to the adhesive that holds the overlay on failing and it lifting and putting pressure on the needles. New double sided tape fixed everything other that the fuel gauge while work, it flutters or vibrates very fast sightly. Sounds like a common issue and solution is a new "stepper motor" although it looks more like a radio coil. I was thinking about installing a cap in an attempted to smooth out the signal because it sounds like a new motor is never a long term fix. Ever dealt with these older clusters?
I'm not really a fan of anything 98 and older. I specialize in PCB repair, and well as you saw they don't really have a traditional board. Your needle is vibrating because the dampening oil inside the air core has dried up. I don't believe you'll beable to find a "new" one as I'm sure they quit manufacturing them 20 years ago.
Great video Jeff
Someone once said "The bigger the glob, the better the job!" The previous repairer lived by that motto. Good job bringing it back to full chooch.
Canadian spotted LOL
You are a master! The Louis Rossmann of instrument clusters :-)
Correction, your soldering looks better! And you say: "soLdering" not "soDDering". Are you really from the US?? :-) ps: a "Sod" in the UK is not a piece of "turf" or "grass". A "Sod" is "someone considered to be unpleasant or difficult". 😊
@@tonybrock5288 yep from the US, with just a touch of a Canadian accent.
Another job well done
You are a freaking genius.
Dang, you do some nice, neat solder work...I'm not that steady anymore...
You are the man! :) I did have nearly similar today, except the lower display still was working. BTW hello from sunny North Carolina, I finally moved :)
Got the work bench all squared away?
Jeff, funny, but still working on it. I left the old bench due to the weight and size, so I will need to figure out something. Right now Ikea table is saving the day :)
I need to replace the bulbs and reflow the broken solder joints for the PRND123 display in my 3 gauge 02 impala cluster, and every time I see you get one of these fine pieces of art in, It makes me hesitant...
but then I remember that I know how to solder. And I've learned quite a lot of tips specifically for this process from your videos. Also I find it weird that nobody's done a video on repairing the 3 gauge cluster, no one's even sent one to you. Granted its for a car not a truck, but still.
I've had plenty of the impala/monti clusters come through. But haven't had one exciting enough to film/edit/upload. Plus yes, full size GM repair is more common.
It always gets me that people with zero soldering skills will attempt electronics repairs especially on SMD circuits.
It's darn near impossible to get scratches out of polycarbonate, acrylic/perspex no worries. Brasso sometimes works but if you have a replacement dial it probably isn't worth the effort to try.
Fantastic work as always.
Smashing job :-D
That was an odd one, he didn't ruin the pads on the stepper motors but made a mess everywhere else lol.
That signal connector is just asking for trouble, no real support, just the solder.
i'm supprised they don't break on all of them.
i thought the display heater supply was dead, nearly right lol :-D.
Your cat is great, frendly and mad :-D
The connector and it's solder joints are actually reliable and generally fault free. They only become a problem when people mess with it. The cat got over it and found some packing material to chew on : )
Just as an anecdote I work in electronics manufacturing, so a lot of my days are filled with soldering. I soldered all the common points you mention on the front of the board in your other videos and it still didn't fix it but re-flowing pins B12 B11 B9, A12 and A11. seemed to fix my dead cluster, specifically B9 seemed to be the culprit. I think a lot of people try soldering without a decent flux and it causes issues and im sure no one really wants to spend 100$ for a cheap little hakko soldering station . I personally like to use a liquid no clean flux from alpha.
Yes sometimes the joints on the connector fail. Although it doesn't happen nearly as common as bad joints at the resistors and diodes.
Love your cat.
It’s nice to watch someone who knows what they are doing.
a real master
14:39 I love the "Conti-Nudity" test. Did anyone else notice? 😉
That one was fighting you tooth and nail....but you told him who is boss...👍
Enjoyed the video. I recently bought a 03 gmc yukon denali. The only thing on the cluster that works is a few lights.
A good rebuild service will take care of that.
I work at a electroncs shop. All the good stuff.what if it has no power getting to it. What should i look at first?
@@jamesmartin2659 power to the input of the voltage regulator.
Got it apart,pretty sorry solder job on the resisters DS19 AND THE 3, 240 RESISTERS.
What is your fee to fix a cluster?
Your talent and knowledge is truly amazing. The workmanship is outstanding. I’m. A retired aircraft mechanic. On high performance. Aircraft. And. I’m.Trying to learn and breakdown how systems on to days cars operate. Your videos are very helpful and filled with knowledge and techniques. Will be following to learn all that I can. So many interesting inner workings in today’s cars and systems. Any ideas where I can get a used cluster to to learn from? Thank you and any tips would be extremely helpful. Thanks much. If easier we can converse through e-mail or messaging. Thank you 😊😊😊
The best place to find a old cluster would be a junk yard or eBay.
FYI when you were putting the needles on the assembly the left blinker blink occasionally but the right one did not I don't know if that matters love the videos keep them coming
Muy buen trabajo..👍🇵🇷
What LEDs do you use for these LED "upgrades" on these clusters? They look really nice and I'd like to pick up a few for a project I'm working on!
I know it's an older video but on a 06 sierra what would cause the speedometer to get buried below zero on engine startup ?
Either a failed stepper motor, or failed repair attempt.
Could u tell me if the hvac is also controlled through the dash thks ..enjoyed your video thks
Wow, that display lens sure took a beating didn't it? There's a freaking hole in the display lens and that owner is more concerned about his fancy, low-quality, LED lighting.
Do you have a video explaining how you generate the test signals to make the circus work? thanks!
No not really. It's been talked about in the comments though.
Jeff, you told me what you use to test the clusters with the ecm/bcm. Do you have a schematic so I can build one? I have the ecm/bcm and wiring out of a parts truck I bought.
I have a paper copy but it's like 3 feet long and not something I can scan. Just do what I did and sweet talk one of your mechanic friends with access to all data or what ever they call that automotive tech service.
@@jeffescortlx Thanks Jeff. My son works for a dealer but does not have that info. I'm sure he can talk to one of the guys who can get it. Keep up the videos!
Hey jeff, thanks for all the great content. Im learning a lot about GM clusters and I gained the confidence through your videos to attempt changing out the bulbs in my climate control unit, and of course I messed it up the first time by burning out a couple pads on the board. Anyway I was going to ask if there is a good reliable factory incandescent bulb replacement that you put in for customers who want completely stock? I like the reliability but im not a fan of the super bright LEDs blasting me with light at night. Asking this before I send my cluster to you some time this spring
Is the left turn signal light flashing at 25:15 when you are installing the needles?
Yes, good catch. My connector plug has been in and out of thousands of clusters by now. It's getting a little worn. The check engine light will also go in and out with movements on the plug.
Beat me to it
@@jeffescortlx Maybe time for a trip to the local wrecking yard for a supply of connectors...maybe! However man, great work as always.
@@nbrowser oh I have more connectors, but they aren't my lucky connector.
Jeff I have one that the odometer display works but will randomly dies but comes right back my plug is new for the cluster.
Sounds like it has fractured solder joints.
@@jeffescortlx reflowed everything on the display side and the u29 chip and can't figure it out
@@BowtieClusters it's usually either the 122 resistor next to the transformer or the VFD hot wire outside pins
EXCELLENT WAOOOO!!!!
Might I ask what solutions you use for the flux and flux remover cleaner whatever?
I love your videos! Very informative for common problems! I need to try to repair a few clusters. Got my original one I wanna try and do common lights and stepper motors and dim gear indicator. Also got another denali cluster that was dead gear display and backlighting. Hopefully it's easy things and not crazy like some of your repairs. Lol
The flux is amtech 559. The cleaning solution is just rubbing alcohol. I'll be updating the description with links to stuff soon. The clusters you have should be straight forward rebuilds as long as someone hasn't tried to repair them.
jeffescortlx thanks! Ya I'm hoping for a easy fix. Got two spare boards for parts if needed. Been hoping to get my old bosses nice solder gun. Wish I had your sweet de soldering gun but I cannt justify spending that much on a small project. Lol
Kinda sucks radio shack closed all around me. Used to be my spot for electronic parts supplier :( unfortunately most people throw away and get new stuff now instead of fixing them!
@@addiction2bass you can get a manually operated solder sucker for less than $15. Good for small projects.
Wow.. lots of cold joints there
Does anyone know where to purchase the replacement leds he uses, the resistors, and the displays?
I purchase the LED's direct from the manufacturer in Shenzhen. The flat tops are custom and require a minimum order, wholesale only. The resistors can come from any parts supplier, Newark, mouser digi-key or who ever you like to buy parts from. The VFD's come from donors.
After you clean the board what are you putting on the board. Liquid flux??. I can’t get my soldering to stick.
The clear liquid is rubbing alcohol and the pasty thicker stuff is flux.
What did they use for flux? Nicotine?
New subscriber your videos are excellent. What are you using to clean the circuit boards if you don’t mind my asking? Will definitely watch the rest of your videos and purchase some of the items. 👍👍👍
I use rubbing alcohol to clean the board.
Thank you for the reply 👍👍👍
@@arthurfricchione8119 your welcome!
Great job! I have a 03 Chevy TrailBlazer instrument cluster that has a stuck needle/burned out backlights and an A/C cluster that has burned out backlights. If like to have both repaired and blue backlights installed. If like to talk to you about the job if your interested? Thanks!!
patience is the key...
Is possible to change the color of the little displays such as gear display.....? Thank you
Yes with colored transparency film laid over the VFD glass.
Hi Jeff I’m a new subscriber and I would like to know more about providing power and signals to the cluster in order to test it properly. Would you suggest me where to get those info please? May be you already explained all this in some of your previous video perhaps... By the way, I like the way you work!
I found a wiring diagram with a Google search.
What about the sensors testing, how do you provide the signals, pwm or a sort of bus? I see you connecting a magic green plug sometimes, what’s that signal for? Thank you for the answer.
@@ictrepairs6963 I built a ECU/BCM bench testing system.
Man I definitely need you to do my 99 vw cabrio cluster, the clocks stopped working all of a sudden after my car wouldn't start, cuz bad started connection, who knows what it is, I have opened it up before for Speedo not working but, it's other issues.
Sorry I'm not setup for VW.
What do you use to clean your circuit boards
Rubbing alcohol
Would I be able to send my cluster to you for repairs? It's an 03 Chevy Silverado with no trans gauge. Thank you.
I service the lower 48 states yes.
th-cam.com/video/T_2WnJMsZaU/w-d-xo.html
Hi there !!
i have following your page for a while now great videos btw!!👌👌
I have a 2003 GMC envoy and my some of my cluster lights stoped working. I would like to fix it & if is possible I would like to know where to send it .
Contact information can be found here:
th-cam.com/video/T_2WnJMsZaU/w-d-xo.html
Thanks!
i have same 04 gm cluster bench tested and absolutely no power to anything ...totally no life i was wondering circuit to and or power transformer would be the likely cause .. I know im jumping over a few steps thx knowledge is always a good thing
The only transformer on the board is for the VFD. The VFD doesn't need to be powered for the rest of the board to work.
Love your work, very clean. By the way, I'm willing to bet the broken glass (actually plastic lens) was a result of fisting by frustration. lol
Yes I get at least one a month that has the lens broken out from people trying to get there cluster to turn back on.
I replaced my 04 cluster with an 06 cluster. No cruise light or other lights. Any suggestion would be appreciated.
Might be better off having the original 04 repaired rather than putting in a cluster from another vehicle.
@@jeffescortlx not possible to get cluster repairs where I live. only replacement from scrapyard is the available option. thanks though.
@@sfh2050 where do you live that clusters can't be repaired?
@@jeffescortlx Middle east. Some place far away from main city.
@@sfh2050 if the 06 cluster has been previously worked on someone may have knocked the cruise light off the joints. The back lighting could be burned out.
I notice a lot of your content is a similar cluster. Is this the most prone to having issues or do you specialize in this one??
Yes and yes. It is the most common to see with issues. 03-06 full size GM. While other GM clusters go bad, the full size truck owners are most likely to spend the money to fix it and do it right.
Are you set up to do work on non-GM clusters? Other than the harness and schematics, I am curious to know if other manufacturer use a similar design concept or if they are entirely different animals? Never mind the completely digital clusters of course.
@@athhud I'm set up for some ford clusters and climate controls (although last night I did a Toyota HVAC) but I never really got into imports. But to answer your question, yes other manufacturers certainly have a different flavor.
Do you ever do step by step tutorial on fast forward like scraping cleaning solutions etc interested
No, haven't done a beginner's basics video.
Jeff need my cluster repair f250 02
The one dislike is from the guy that tried to fix it originally...
Where are you located Jeff?
Mid west of the United States.
25:16 I noticed the left blinker kept going out while you were remounting things. I hope that's your harness and not another problem on the board.
yup..several times
Mathue below beat you all to it.
How can I get a hold of you?
th-cam.com/video/T_2WnJMsZaU/w-d-xo.html
well, what's the price to bring this cluster to the life?
I think is better to buy another one then resell it
My contact information is here for a price quote: th-cam.com/video/T_2WnJMsZaU/w-d-xo.html
Hey Jeff, lost your contact info, and need a cluster repair. Thanks. Carl
It's in my video titled "how to contact for instrument cluster repair".
Has helper done his apprenticeship yet.
If by apprenticeship you mean knocking things on the floor and chewing on wires then yes.
You really got me Interested in cluster repairs.
I want to make a power supply from computer power supply. should actually have a DIY how to set up a test bench and 1repair clusters classes. Like other guys have a TH-cam premium. I would pay for that. Or if there is a way to PRIVATE msg to get the help to get started.
Maybe some day in the future!
After watching several of these videos I am beginning to get the sense that many people that (re)work these inst. clusters really have no clue as to what the problem could be. Seems to me that they are using the hit or miss approach of repair.
Many of the clusters that find there way to me have first passed through someone that has had little to no experience with soldering and don't have the equipment to bech power or have any documentation. So I see my share of shotgunning trouble shooting.
@@jeffescortlx After swapping comments with you last night on another video I got to realize that the clear lens and the top black plastic are one piece and that is where the chrome accents are on my cluster. I just happened to go to Rock Auto and they have an OEM ACDELCO lens cover for my cluster. I ordered that last night so that'll solve my issue about the chrome look on the cluster. I'd like to see what LED color and brightness options you have. Circuit Board Medics have some picture examples I'll copy and email to you. Hopefully we can do some business soon regarding my cluster.
@@williamjones4483 I also stock both new and used lens, but I can't match rock auto on that price. While I stock the popular colors of LED's, I reccomended OEM incandescent bulbs. They match the color temperature of the rest if the dashboard, and have a predictable life span instead of inconsistent.
@@jeffescortlx I don't drive this vehicle much but I do not plan on buying another in my lifetime. I am trying to reverse some of the changes my brother made in this vehicle and get it back to OEM as much as I can. I am also concerned about reliability. In your estimation, how long in terms of years would OEM incandescent lamps last?
@@williamjones4483 OEM quality incandescent can last up to 100k fairly well. Many cluster rebuilders offer a lifetime warranty on parts like this. A LED might last 10 years or 10 weeks.
Hi Jeff, I was wondering what is the audience your videos are aimed at? I have a mediocre understanding of what you're doing. I would have a far better understanding if you added further details and close-ups of what you're doing along with where parts are available and rough costs of the components. A lot of the content would be repetitive, however, I believe the number of subscribers would increase greatly for the DIY community. Possibly add text to videos with additional information. My 2 cents.
I'm not necessarily aiming for a specific audience, although electronic repair tech's with some cluster repair experience will probably get the most out of it. I think of it more of a invitation for people to come along and watch as I fix stuff.
@@jeffescortlx I guess I will be re-winding a lot of your stuff and nut it out. The recent close ups are great. Noticed your soldering station tip has the standard bent tip. Great show on breaking items down. Hope to put my Weller station and Fluke Meter to good use soon.
Omg who soldered this previously?. A 5 year old? It’s so bad lol
if u dont use literally the cheapest leds then u dont have that problem, ooo wait a sec actually they used really expensive leds.... nevermind their over 6 bucks for 10 of those but they also produce the most bright beautiful blue but if u run them straight off 12 volts which theyre designed for, but not without a current resistor they stay too hot n eventually dim out or jus burn out one leg at a time, each diode has 3. but seriously if u want nice blue leds get those no joke iv tried about 3 billion diff types i totally jus expected this guy jus shoved the cheapest ebay leds into a cheap stamped out mass manufactured socket
Even the best LED's are still sensitive to transient voltage and inductive kick back. GM had no reason to clean up a circuit that would only see incandescent.