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Insturment Cluster Issue!!!!!

117K views 24 replies 16 participants last post by  davester3500 
#1 ·
I have a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (5.3L V8). For the past few months I have had issues with the instrument panel gauges. While driving all of the gauges (speedometer, gas, voltage, fluid, etc.) simultaneously fail. Once this happens all of the indicator lights will flash on then go off and the gauges will come back to their proper level. Sometimes it will continue to do this over and over, many times in row. The mileage screen will go off and the 'PRND321' screen will go black. Sometimes it is almost a bright flash while everything is failing. Also, at other times everything will appear to be working fine and the mileage screen will go off and the 'PRND321' screen will go black and the gauge needles will become stuck and will not move. Other times while cranking the truck the gauges will be completely unresponsive. Also once the truck is turned off and the key is out it will still do this because I can see the gauges drop below zero and come back to zero. I have changed out the alternator and that did not fix it. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 
#4 ·
Thanks for the replies, I have tried hitting the dash and it never fails when I do that. Also, I have unscrewed the cluster and took it out while still connected and gently shook it to see if I can get it to fail on cammand, but it does not. It is very random when it decides to do it. It never seems to do it just when I hit a bump or if I am on a rough road it never matches the pattern of the road. Sometimes when it is taking a fit, its almost like it can't catch up, it keeps trying to work and failing and trying and failing, sometimes doing that 10 or 15 times in a just a few seconds. As soon as the gauges hit the position where they are supposed to be they all drop again and so on.
 
#6 ·
I had pretty much the same issue with mine. After an one ignition switch, and an instrument cluster later, it ended up being a corroded ground point on the drivers side frame rail. Take a dremel tool to the ground point and either hit the terminals and bolts with the dremel or replace them altogether. Once you get it nice and clean, spray some sealant over it. After I did this to mine, the problem hasn't come back in over 3 months. It used to happen daily.
 
#7 ·
Just replaced the switch in mine yesterday!!! Mine was doing the same thing and one day I went out to leave for work and it was stuck in third gear with no dash lights. It is one of two things the cluster or the ignition! Oh and put the ignition in yourself and save 700 bucks because that is what the dealer will charge you!!! The part is about 250 but the rest is labor. There is a how to on this forum that will show you how to replace it! I wish i would have seen it before I shelled out the cash!! Good luck!
 
#9 ·
Was this problem ever resolved? I'm having the same issue with my '09 Silverado and need to get it fixed before it dies for good. I was told by a friend with a scanner that it was the cluster going bad but after talking to the GM Gauge Guy he's never had that problem with the clusters themselves on those years. I thought the cluster was losing all power until I noticed when it got dark, the back-lighting came on but the rest of the gauges are blank. So it sounds like it might be the ignition switch?
 
#10 ·
Does anyone know for sure what the problem is with the dash light coming on all the time going down the road. I have a 2011 Silverado that I purchased used 18 months ago. And it has done this since I bought it. now it seems to be getting worse with the lights coming on more often.
 
#12 ·
I have the same problem . The dash lights come and go. I have a 2009 Silverado 2500 HD. I determined it was the ambient light sensor failing.
It is a photo sensor located on the top of your dash just about centered. Looks like a 1/2" wide plastic dome, They have been utilized since 2000 to automatically dim the dashboard lighting. The part is available thru Parts Geek &/ or Rock Auto for about $25. Local parts houses charge $40 & up.
It is a plug-in sensor and easy to replace if you remove your radio which is relatively easy on most Silverados. How to determine it is the failure.
When the dash has dimmed shut off the engine and put a black or dark colored plastic cap from a spray can over the sensor. Then restart the engine. In my case the dash lights came back on full bright and stayed on. They didn't fail until I removed the cap. The sensor is a photo resistive device ie: the resistance of the sensor varies with the amount of daylight. The failure mode is that it avalanches with any daylight.
 
#16 ·
I have a similar issue with 08 sierra. It decides when to start or not. The guages act up either working or freezing in place while driving, and I have ABS, and air bags lights displayed. The display on the radio along with the display on the cluster will brighten and dim every few minutes or so. At times when trying to crank the truck, it will do nothing, and then after a few times it will crank and then cut off. Eventually it will crank and stay on but the cluster problem persists regardless, as well as the signal lights are not working when the cluster has a fit. I just finished replacing my "ignition switch" about an hour ago and the problem continues regardless. I do not want to have to go to a dealership. If the problem can be figured I prefer doing it myself. Any ideas?
 
#17 ·
mmontes1945 said:
I have a similar issue with 08 sierra. It decides when to start or not. The guages act up either working or freezing in place while driving, and I have ABS, and air bags lights displayed. The display on the radio along with the display on the cluster will brighten and dim every few minutes or so. At times when trying to crank the truck, it will do nothing, and then after a few times it will crank and then cut off. Eventually it will crank and stay on but the cluster problem persists regardless, as well as the signal lights are not working when the cluster has a fit. I just finished replacing my "ignition switch" about an hour ago and the problem continues regardless. I do not want to have to go to a dealership. If the problem can be figured I prefer doing it myself. Any ideas?
I have a Chevy Express van with similar issues (sometimes no start, dead gauges and radio, abs and battery light stay on, some dash back-lights dim and go off randomly, etc.). I also just finished replacing my ignition switch and still had the same problems. Then I found this video. . I started wiggling everything that looked like a ground wire under the van (video is for a pickup) and now everything works works fine. I still need to locate the bad ground connection to be sure and to make the fix permanent but wanted to put this out there while I'm thinking about it.
 
#18 ·
We have seen a few of these, remove cluster trim etc and wiggle cluster connector to verify if it is a bad connection cluster pin etc.
If still no resolve most likely a cluster issue with internal circuit board/trace short or Micro Controller issue etc. We have not yet been successful in repairing this issue which we have also seen in newer GM Malibu. Try visiting a mechanic with a proper scan tool and perform a cluster sweep test if successful while cluster is not reading then it could point to a communication problem with cluster such as bad wiring/module etc. If gauge sweep fails then I would suggest replacing cluster.
If mileage reprogramming is needed please feel free to contact us. Keep in mind a brand new cluster will require extensive programming for vehicle as built data etc., while a used cluster will only require mileage reprogramming.
 
#20 ·
You need to get a bi-directional scan tool on it and pull the internal codes to see what's wrong. Guessing is expensive and a waste of time.
 
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#25 ·
You can get a knockoff MDI unit for not that much, and "find" Tech2Win, which is windows software that emulates a handheld tech2 machine, and you can do both diagnostic testing and stock gm programming with the same setup. GM's rental fee for Tech2Win is, well, kinda high IMHO for 10 year old software...
 
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