Instrument cluster working intermittently

[XJ2.5]

 

I had my cluster for my 03 sierra repaired about a year ago (normal stepper motor issues and dim gear selector) when I got the truck, so im not sure if it already had an issue when I got it, but the gauges will intermittently not work when I start the truck, but if I unplug and plug the cluster back in, they'll start again. Same thing happens if I pull and replace the ipc/dic fuse under the hood(ive tried swapping fuses, new fuse, cleaning contacts, etc.) I made sure the contacts on the back of the cluster were clean as well, and the wires as far as i can see look to be in good shape. Both ground wires and both power wires have good connection. Could it be an issue with the back or something? Ive been driving it for the past year with the dash bezel off and unplugging the cluster to get it to work every time it doesn't. Once it's working, it never shuts back off until I shut the truck off. Nothing works except the backlight, turn signals, and check engine light when it happens. I just sent the cluster back to the guy that fixed it to check it over, and he found no issues with it. Dont know where to go from here, anybody ever deal with this issue?

 

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[carkhz316]

Who's your "cluster guy"? He's missing a few of the key failure points on these clusters that fail, which include the intermittent power up/ power loss to the cluster, which yours is exhibiting. There is a slim chance that it's on your truck, but it'd only be the terminals in the connector (not likely). Where are you located? There are a couple people on here (myself included) that have repaired these clusters more in depth than just stepper motor replacement and the typical dim PRNDL display.

[XJ2.5]

He's jeffescortlx on youtube, I found him by his videos, he does very good work and hes thorough with his rebulds. He went over the whole thing, he didnt just fix the problems. Which terminals/ wires cause these issues on the back so i can look it over again?

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[carkhz316]

Oh $hit, never mind.  Here I am running my mouth assuming it's another DIY repair person, when it was Jeff instead. That guy is a wizard. Admittedly, a lot that I know has been learned from him. If he says it's fine, it is. That would point us back at your truck, and probably the connector/ terminals being bad.

Edited August 21, 2020 by carkhz316

[XJ2.5]

Yeah I definitely take his word for it. Any amount of wiggling the plug, or moving the wires around one by one will get it to turn on. Only when i unplug it and plug it back in. I've been pulling out the terminals from the plug one by one, and cleaning and crimping them slightly so they grab the cluster better. The truck did have an aftermarket alarm system/remote start when i got it, I eliminated it because i didnt have a fob, so im wondering if any of the wires involved in that could have anything to do with it. Some of the wires were cut and i had to splice them back together, but wiggling the spliced wires around has no effect on the cluster

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[swainmedic430]

So My 02 gmc sierra Hd duramax started out with what i thought was a transmission issue 7 months ago when you put the truck into gear the PRND on R and D would just flash and not go into gear could turn off truck and start it again and it would fix it go into gear and be fine for up to 2 to 3 weeks then spontaniously go into safe mode PRND would start flashing again but the DIC would reset or loss power whith this action. My transmission guy swarres its not the transmission that its electrical Ive changed everthing from the nuetral safty switch the tcm, ecm, ingnition switch, and the ingition barrel. still having issues with the DIC lossing power and spontaniously going into safe mode any ideals