Hello. My friend is trying to sell me his 90 GXE and the car a couple of small issues. First of all, it came with the digital display and the display does not show anything. I'm guessing it's burnt out. A search revealed that many of you repaired your digital dash by resoldering the burnt leads. Any HOW2 instructions on how to remove the unit and do it? Also, I think the car will need new engine mounts. It also has the "Sonar"?!?! suspension and I'm guessing it probably has the heads up display as well. When I drove the car I did not see any heads up display. Is this normal or does it go out if the dash cluster doesn't work? What's involved in replacing the cluster with analog unit? If I ever want to change the shocks on the car, will the "Sonar" suspension allow me to do so?

Thank you.
Anton

Sweetsound2001@maxima.org

 

Those aren't really "small" issues! The digital dash isn't known for its reliability and can be expensive to fix. Swapping it with analog gauges isn't practical because the dash wire harnesses are different. The problem with the HUD is probably related to the problem with the digital display. As far as the Sonar suspension goes, those shocks are unique and I'm not sure if replacements are available except from Nissan, which means lots of dollars. I might consider looking for another car that doesn't have those problems unless the price is VERY good and you feel like hunting parts.

 

sonar suspension can be replaced by "regular" stuff, but you have to replace EVERYTHING. best to go to a junkyard and buy some used struts w/ springs and mounts and everything at the same time, then swap them over. if the struts are blown, then replace those, but you'll still need the mounts and everything else from the old struts. should cost you about $150-200 for four struts/springs from a junkyard.


digital dash.. remove the cluster from the dash and crack it open. look at the power leads and the leads going to the display themselves. those are the most common parts to fail, as they carry the most current (and the fluorescent display stuff runs at about 70V, so they have quite a bit of voltage there too). those are the most common places for the solder joints to go bad. should get the dash back up and running.

New engine mounts are fairly easy, but rather expensive. about $350 to replace all 4 mounts. (two on engine, two on tranny. the front mounts on each are the easiest to replace and fail the quickest)

 

Could you tell me or show where the motor mounts are?

 

if you look under the car there is a metal piece running down the middle (somewhat down the middle) the motor mounts are bolted to that metal piece.

 

sounds kinda shaky to me.
I don't think you can fix the Digi Dash by resoldering; maybe, I'm not too sure... I think there is a lot of stuff back there. The resoldering you refer to might be fore the LED clock. Most of us have the Analog dash. I heard that the Digi Dash and the HUD system cam on the 89 Canadian models... not sure on that too.

Sounds like a lot of trouble though... trouble in the sense of cha-ching!!!

I guess it just depends on how determined you are. I done already spent about $2700 on my 91SE.