'96 Impala Odometer Fix(how-to w/pics)

[gvillepoet]

due to popular demand, many first time impala owners and even veteran owners still want to know how to fi the "fading odometer" all to well known in these 96 impalas. i took apart my cluster panel to show others how to fix the "Fading Odometer". I did a write up some years back because other write ups didnt seem clear to me nor did the impala superstore directions when many of us ordered the relocation resistor. so remember this is just how I did it, i'm sure others did it differently. also again mine is already fixed so i cant really show the old resistors. this was my first soldering job also. WARNING: the resistor gets super hot QUICK. thats why they went bad in the first place most likely. I relocated mine away from the circuit board. I'm sure others have placed it someplace else, mine has been working fine for 5 or 6 years now.

tools needed: 7mm socket and rachet adapter or straight handle adapter, radio shack $20 soldering gun, small 6-point star screw driver, relocation resistor most of us get from the www.impalasuperstore.com, and most of all patience.

two 7mm screws, take them out


notice 4 more 7mm screws holding the entire cluster housing in place, cant get this out so lets take the plastic trim loose.



notice my relocation resistor located away from the circuit board, i mounted mine with the stock screw that holds the housing in place.



3 screws on the bottom




one screw on the side behind the fuse panel

[gvillepoet]

fragile part, this is in very tight, but gently and firmly tug, (dont hold me responsible if you crack your stuff)




notice we have more room now to pull the cluster housing out, there are 2 fixed harnesses this housing plugs into, just pull straight out.




still had to flip it to work it out of there


total of (11) small 6-point star screws

[gvillepoet]

after taking this plastic cover off, you cans ee the circuitry, and this is how i fished the 2 wires up through the board and through the small hole and solder the wires into place. BE CAREFUL not to get solder connecting into the other circuit paths(the copper color lines on the board). if you do this you are basically connecting the paths, and may mess up something. i would suggest solding on some cardboard for practice if this is your first time.






then replace of course in reverse order.

[nineSSexy209]

after seeing this makes me want to take off mine and get to it!

[vettefella]

Thanks a ton for this. The instructions I got from the Impala Store left a lot to be desired. The instructions have to be idiot proof to work for me. :-)

I'm going to do mine Sunday.

[Brown9C1]

What is the part number for the relocation resistor?

[Needles.Kain]

Thanks for the write-up, only a couple of critiques and everyone can take them or leave them.

I've never loosened the lower dash to get the cluster out, just push the steering wheel down to its lowest detent and that should be all the fighting room necessary.

The cluster often requires a little twist action to pull it loose of the back connectors, don't be a gorilla with it but it will likely require some coaxing to release.

[vettefella]

Originally Posted by Brown9C1

What is the part number for the relocation resistor?

The NAISSO Part Number is N 960.

I suspect you could buy a similar resistor from Radio Shack or similar store. I haven't measured the impedence of this resistor yet, so don't what what it is. The three resistors that it replaces are 100 ohms each.

[gvillepoet]

Originally Posted by Brown9C1

What is the part number for the relocation resistor?

that i dont remember, www.impalasuperstore.com , im not sure what size resistor, im guess ing u can also make one from radioshack

[gvillepoet]

maybe this write up should be "stickyed" for future reference by the moderators