I've had my '00 Bonneville SLE for a week or so now, and I'm finally starting to figure out what everything does. I have a problem though.

The little rectangle screen that'* supposed to show driver number or my name or whatever is blank. The outline of the car lights up, and shows when doors are open. The compass is also there, but its not right, and it will just shut off randomly and stop displaying a direction. Also, my E/M, and Trip Reset buttons are the only ones that do anything. Where should I start looking?

Thanks

No one has chimed in so I'll just give you my experience. Several members including myself have had to get the DIC panel and buttons replaced by the dealer when they quit operating. Most went out with no warning, just stopped working. There may be other things to check; fuses, grounds, wire connections, etc. but someone else will have to tell you about that.

It sounds to me like you may have a problem with the cluster. I'm suspicious becuase more than (some) buttons not working, portions of the display don't work. It can be normal for your compass to stop showing a direction if it needs to be recalibrated. The DIC would display this message however.

Can I assume that when you turn on your ignition, and the self test illuminates all the cluster lights and DIC segments, that some are also not illuminating during this phase?

I actually got the compass part figured out. I had a box of speakers in my trunk that I took out of my truck before I traded it. Once I took that box out the compass started working fine, and still does. The only thing on the dash that doesn't work is that little rectangle info center below the car outline and compass, and the select, mode, and reset buttons. For all I know the buttons do work, but I can't see anything change because the display is out.

I've had the dash apart a few times, fixing the lights in the radio and installing my xm and stuff, but never had the cluster apart. Is there a way to replace just that little screen?

At a minimum, I suspect you'll need a cluster for parts. GM won't sell you this portion alone. Assuming that you can get one for parts you should be able to swap the DIC module, but my suggestion would be to buy a known good used cluster and simply swap the module that stores the mileage. This is relatively easy.

What is the answer to my question about the power-up self test and display segments?

I'm assuming when you say power up self-test and display segments you mean when I first turn the key to on. When I do that, the gauges light up, the compass flips through all 4 directions and then settles on the right one. But that little display never lights up or anything.

Yes, that'* what I was referring to. It won't actually illuminate all the pixels, but it should display "Driver 1" or "Driver 2" (other messages if they have ever been customized).

If you look for a cluster, you need to find a non-SSEi cluster that has the DIC. This leaves out the SE as well. It may be a bit of a trick to find.

One final check before you replace the cluster might be to disconnect the switches altogether and verify that the display remains blank when you turn on the car. This will verify that it isn't a stuck/grounded switch that'* confusing the cluster.

what part holds your info in the cluster.could you send a pic of it if you got it.