All dashboard warning lights on while running. 2003 Silverado

wartrace · September 28, 2016

My truck (2003 Chevy Silverado) has developed a problem. My dashboard warning lights started randomly lighting up yesterday while I was driving. Today all of them (ABS, Brake,Battery, Anti-theft and airbag) are staying on most of the time. I also notice the gas gauge is at "empty".

When all the lights are on my air conditioner does not work. If the lights cut off for a second it starts blowing cold air. It almost seems as if the truck doesn't know its running. I have no performance issue when the lights are on.

Any ideas? Some have suggested a grounding problem. I suspect maybe it's the ignition? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

cinimaface · October 27, 2016

having a very similar problem with 2003 sonoma , air bag stays on after starting but gas gage drops and shows empty all other lights come on and go off randomly ABS battery etc. etc.Had cluster checked and was tested to be fine also put in a used cluster just in case they where wrong but did not make any difference.Had it hooked up for codes and showed Body U1016,U1301 P-U1016 U1041 ECM U1041 with EBCM then they wanted to do a 4 to five hour visual inspection but at over 100 bucks an hour I wasn't going to go that rout.I have checked and cleaned several grounds and checked all fuses but so far nothing has shoiwed results. I even followed up on a thing I saw on youtube to run a ground wire to different location because I could not reach in between firewall and engine to clean groundwire:( I sure wish someone could help me out so I wwould not have to dole oput anymore $$ alreadt have put out more than I would have liked. Good luck with your problem, and if you come across anything please let me in on it. Thank You

The Zip · October 30, 2016

Had a similar problem a lot of years back (turned-out to be worn alternator magnets). Changed out the alternator and the problem never showed-up again. The lower priced remanufactured alternator works just as good as new especially for an older car investment and if it doesn't work, just take it back. Also, I remember spending around 20 bucks at an auto parts store for an electrical diagnosis, try this if the alternator replacement didn't work.

William Reid · March 4, 2020

I had this exact same problem, I have an 05 Silverado 2500hd. I bought the truck recently, there was no radio in it but there was a harness for an after market radio wired in. It turned out to be the harness for the radio. A few of the wires came untaped and we're touching, as soon as I unplugged the harness all the gauges came back up and all the warning lights went away. If you have a after market radio try to pull the radio out and check your wiring harness.

davester · March 4, 2020

...this is a 4 year old thread, but thanks for posting the fix that worked for you.

The radio harness includes the main communication bus, for things like RAP and for the radio to get the VIN (it won't work with a different VIN), and if those wires short out, it does hoop the computers talking to each other.