88 crt and instrument panel

[Guest]

When my 88 coupe sets in the sun and gets hot inside, shortly after getting underway the instrument panel will go blank and all the telltales come on. Occasionaly after that happens everything will go out including the computer screen. Any suggestions on cause and fixes? I suspect a slight crack in a printed circuit as I had a similar problem with the digital speedometer in an 88 Regal that turned out to be a circuit board crack. Which, by the way, the dealer srvice techs didn't find. I got frustrated with them and tore it apart myself and found it. Are there any tech or service bulletins on this problem. My dealer has not been able to isolate or fix the problem.

[sahein]

The first thing that I would check is power. When the problem is occuring, take readings of the supply voltages.

[Guest kennyw]

I would suspect 2 different problems. One being the crt itself. The first one is probably what you say. A crack in a circuit board. I had my touch screen doing the same thing. Unbolted it, pulled it forward, and moved the wires. Still it would only come on if you hit it. I changed to another unit and now that problem is fixed. Figure that your crt problem is the same. Other crt post seen to end up with the same conclusion.....ken

[Guest kennyw]

from search,,,,,,,,<P>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>I've had the same fault with my '88 Reatta (twice!!!). It's a real drag when it happens while driving; can't see how fast you're going, how much gas you've got, and the defrost goes into turbo-heat-mode(possible safety feature?). <BR>The last time it happened I repaired it myself. I forget the name of the module, it might be the BCM. It's the one fairly deep under the driver's side dash, accessible if you are on your back with the brake pedal in your ear. The problem was cold solder on an IC chip on the ciruitboard of that module, and I found several. <BR>My only other option was to purchase another circuitboard, which is a few hundred dollars expensive.<BR>My dash has not blinked or gone dead since.<BR>-Rich D. in CA

[padgett]

On your back by the brake pedal sounds like the CRTC (CRT Conroller). BCM is behind the glove box.

[BP]

I had a similar problem with my 1989. Only my IPC would go Blank in the winter when I had the defroster blasting and Max Heat! <P>I pulled out the instrument panel checked for good connections and reinstalled. I found no electrical connection problems. This Black OUT happened 3 or 4 times after reassembly - <P>It dawned on me that it only happened when the heat was High and on defrost. Now I just run the heat and defroster at a lower temperature. I have had NO repeat Black-OUTS since.